The Syrian pound, known locally as the Syrian lira, (Arabic: الليرة السورية, romanized: al-Līra as-Sūriyyah; abbreviation: LS[2] or SP[a] in Latin, ل.س in Arabic, historically also £S,[4] and £Syr;[5] ISO code: SYP) is the official currency of Syria. It is issued by the Central Bank of Syria. The pound is nominally divided into 100 piastres (قرش qirsh, plural قروش qurūsh in Arabic, abbreviated to p.). Only banknotes are currently issued.[6]
Before 1947, the Arabic inscription of the word "qirsh" was spelled with the initial Arabic letter غ, after which the word began with ق. Until 1958, banknotes were issued with Arabic on the obverse and French on the reverse. Since 1958, English has been used on the reverses, hence the three different names for this currency. Coins used both Arabic and French until independence, then only Arabic.
History
French mandate
During the period when Syria was a part of the Ottoman Empire, which lasted about 400 years, the Ottoman pound was its main currency. Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the placing of Syria under a mandate (French occupation), the Egyptian pound was used in the territories under French and British mandates, including Lebanon, Transjordan and Palestine. Upon taking Lebanon and Syria under its separate mandate, the French government sought to replace the Egyptian currency and granted a commercial bank, the Banque de Syrie (a French affiliate of the Ottoman Bank), the authority to issue a currency for territories under its new mandate.
The pound (or livre in French) was introduced in 1919 and was set at a value of 20 francs.[7] As the political status of Lebanon evolved, the Banque de Syrie, which was to act as the official bank for Lebanon and Syria, was renamed the Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban (BSL). BSL issued the Syro-Lebanese pound for 15 years, starting in 1924. Two years before the expiration of the 15-year period, BSL split the Lebanese-Syrian currency into two separate currencies that could still be used interchangeably in either state. In 1939, the bank was renamed the Banque de Syrie et du Liban.
In 1941, the peg to the French franc was replaced by a peg to sterling of LS 8.83125 = £1, as a consequence of the occupation of Syria by British and Free French forces. This rate was based on the pre-war conversion rate between the franc and sterling. In 1946, following devaluation of the franc, the pound was pegged once again to the franc at a rate of LS 1 = 54.35 F. In 1947, Syria joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and pegged its currency to the U.S. dollar at LS 2.19148 = US$1, a rate which was maintained until 1961.
Independence
The Lebanese and Syrian currencies split in 1948. From 1961, a series of official exchange rates were in operation, alongside a parallel, black market rate which reflected the true market rate for Syrian pounds in Jordan and Lebanon where there was a healthy trade in the Syrian currency.
Ba'athist Syria
The Syrian pound had stayed unchanged following the seizure of power by the Ba'athists in 1963. Despite this, the market was allowed to flourish because everybody, including government and public sector companies, needed it. The black market rate diverged dramatically from the official rate in the 1980s.[8] In July 2007, the currency was pegged to the IMF SDR (Special Drawing Rights).[9]
There was a capital flight to nearby countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey, as a result of the Syrian civil war that started in 2011. In addition, Syria has been subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and other countries, which shut Syria out of the global financial system. To circumvent the sanctions, Syrians effected foreign transactions through banks in neighbouring countries, especially Lebanon.[10] As a result, the official exchange rate has deteriorated significantly, falling from LS 47 = US$1 in March 2011[11] to LS 515 = US$1 in July 2017 and 7500 = US$1 in April 2023 (after the Lebanese liquidity crisis)
On 31 October 2019, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad mentioned in an interview that liberating territories had complex economic consequences. While it removed foreign-funded support for terrorists, it also cut off dollar inflows that stabilize local economies:
Post-Assad reforms
Following the fall of the Assad regime at the end of 2024, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the Syrian transitional government, stated that he intended to replace the Syrian pound with a new currency once the currency had stabilized.[13]
In August 2025, it was announced that the Syrian government would revalue the currency by removing two zeros and issuing new banknotes by December.[14] Syrian authorities reconfirmed this plan in October but with the date pushed back to 2026.[15]
On 29 December 2025, the Central Bank of Syria unveiled the new Syrian Pound denominations alongside President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the 'New Syria Banknotes Reveal Event' in Damascus. Some of the executive instructions related to Decree No. 293 of 2025, which reference the new currency, were released earlier the same day.[16] The new denominations began circulating in the general public on 3 January 2026.[17] By 4 May, 56% of the old currency had been replaced.[18] By 1 June, 63% had been replaced,[19] and by 30 July, 95% had been replaced, which ended the replacement of the Syrian pound.[20][21]
Coins
In 1921, cupro-nickel 1⁄2 piastre coins were introduced, followed in 1926 by aluminium bronze 2p and 5p. In 1929, holed, nickel-brass 1p and silver 10p, 25p and 50p were introduced. Nickel-brass 1⁄2p coins were introduced 1935, followed by zinc 1pt and aluminium-bronze 2+1⁄2p in 1940. During the Second World War, brass 1p and aluminium 2+1⁄2p emergency coins were issued. These pieces were crudely produced and undated.
A new coinage was introduced between 1947 and 1948 in denominations of 2+1⁄2p, 5p, 10p, 25p, 50p and LS 1, with the 2+1⁄2p, 5p and 10p struck in cupro-nickel and the others in silver. Aluminium-bronze replaced cupro-nickel in 1960, with nickel replacing silver in 1968. In 1996, following high inflation, new coins were introduced in denominations of LS 1, LS 2, LS 5, LS 10 and LS 25, with the LS 25 being bimetallic. In 2003, LS 5, LS 10, and LS 25 coins were issued, with latent images. On December 26, 2018, the Central Bank of Syria introduced a LS 50 coin for general circulation to replace the banknote of that denomination. Due to high inflation, only the 50p coin is in circulation. All other coins were worthless by December of 2022.[22]
Banknotes
In 1919, the Banque de Syrie introduced notes for 5p, 25p and 50p, LS 1 and LS 5. These were followed, in 1920, by notes for LS 1, LS 10, LS 25, LS 50 and LS 100. In 1925, the Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban began issuing notes and production of denominations below 25p ceased. Notes below LS 1 were not issued from 1930. In 1939, the issuing body again changed its name, to the Banque de Syrie et du Liban.
Between 1942 and 1944, the government introduced notes for 5p, 10p, 25p and 50p. In the early 1950s, undated notes were issued by the Institut d'Emission de Syrie in denominations of LS 1, LS 5, LS 10, LS 25, LS 50 and LS 100, followed by notes dated 1955 for LS 10 and LS 25. The Banque Centrale de Syrie took over paper money issuance in 1957, issuing the same denominations as the Institut d'Emission.
In 1958, the French language was removed from banknotes and replaced by English. Notes were issued for LS 1, LS 5, LS 10, LS 25, LS 50, LS 100 and LS 500. In 1966, the design of the LS 25, LS 50, and LS 100 notes were changed. In 1976 and 1977, the designs changed for all the denominations except the LS 500 note.
In 1997 and 1998, a new series of notes was introduced in denominations of LS 50, LS 100, LS 200, LS 500 and LS 1,000, with the lower denominations replaced by coins. In 2009, the LS 50, LS 100, and LS 200 pound notes were changed with an entirely new design.[23] On 2 July 2014, a new LS 500 note was introduced, followed by a LS 1,000 note on 30 July 2015, a LS 2,000 note on 2 July 2017, and a LS 5,000 note on 24 January 2021.[24]
2009–2025 series
On 27 July 2010, the Central Bank of Syria issued a new series of banknotes dated 2009 in the denominations of LS 50, LS 100, and LS 200. The notes were designed by Austrian banknote designer Robert Kalina.[25] The Central Bank of Syria issued new LS 500 and LS 1,000 notes in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The reverse of the new LS 1,000 note features an image of a Roman mosaic painting discovered in Deir al-Adas.[26] Then-President Bashar al-Assad was added to the LS 2,000 note in 2017. A LS 5,000 note was released in 2021
| Value | Dimensions (millimeters) | Main color | Description | Year of first issue | Issue date | Withdrawal date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obverse | Reverse | ||||||
| LS 50 | 135 × 65 | Gray | A rectangular Ugarit tablet of first Abjad, and a circular Ebla tablet | National Library and a statue of former President Hafez al-Assad | 2009 | 27 July 2010 | 30 July 2026 |
| LS 100 | 140 x 65 | Red | Basalt stone gate and Bosra amphitheater | The dome of the Treasury of the Umayyad Mosque, Central Bank of Syria, ancient coin of Philip the Arab | 2009 | 27 July 2010 | |
| LS 200 | 145 x 65 | Orange | Norias of Hama | Ceiling of Temple of Bel (Palmyra) | 2009 | 27 July 2010 | |
| LS 500 | 150 x 65 | Blue | Damascus Opera House | "Mosaic of the Musicians" from a Byzantine villa in Maryamin. The clay tablet depicts the Hurrian songs | 2013 | 20 July 2014 | |
| LS 1000 | 155 x 65 | Green | Roman Theatre at Bosra | Roman mosaic of a grape harvest in Deir al-Adas | 2013 | 30 July 2015 | |
| LS 2000 | 158 x 65 | Purple | Then-president Bashar al-Assad and the Umayyad Mosque | People's Assembly | 2015 | 2 July 2017 | |
| LS 5000 | 158 x 65 | Brown | Syrian soldier statue and the Ba'athist Syrian flag | Eagle and Yarhibol resco from the Temple of Baalshamin (Palmyra) | 2019 | 24 January 2021 | |
2026 series
The new currency was launched on 1 January 2026, and is being issued entirely in paper denominations. In the first phase, six denominations will be launched: LS 500, LS 200, LS 100, LS 50, LS 25, and LS 10. In the second phase, three denominations will be launched: LS 1,000, LS 5, and LS 1.
Under the plan, every 100 Syrian pounds is now exchanged for one unit of the new Syrian Arab Republic pound. Both the old and new currencies remained in circulation simultaneously for a period of 90 days, then they were later extended until 30 July 2026, by which time the exchange of the old banknotes was completed.[27][28][29]
| Current series (2026)[30] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions (mm) |
Main colour |
Description | Year of first issue |
Issued from | ||
| Obverse | Reverse | |||||||
| LS 1 | 158 × 65 | |||||||
| LS 5 | ||||||||
| LS 10 | Red | Roses; Butterfly | Central bank building; Umayyad Mosque treasury |
2025 | 1 January 2026 | |||
| LS 25 | Blue | Mulberries; House sparrow | ||||||
| LS 50 | Orange | Citrus; Seashell | ||||||
| LS 100 | Purple | Cottons; Gazelle | ||||||
| LS 200 | Green | Olives; Arabian horse | ||||||
| LS 500 | Brown | Wheats; House sparrow | ||||||
| LS 1000 | ||||||||
| For table standards, see the banknote specification table. | ||||||||
Exchange rate
On 5 December 2005, the selling rate quoted by the Commercial Bank of Syria was LS 48.4 = US$1.[citation needed] A rate of about LS 50 to US$1 was usual in the early 2000s,[citation needed] but the rate is subject to fluctuations. Since the start of the civil war in 2011, the pound's unofficial exchange rate has deteriorated significantly. It was LS 47 = US$1 in March 2011 and LS 515 in July 2017.[citation needed] Since July 2007, the Syrian pound has been pegged to the IMF SDR (Special Drawing Rights).[9]
On 29 November 2019, following the Lebanese protests, the black market rate was LS 765 = US$1, a decrease of 30% since the turmoil started in Lebanon a month earlier, as the protests led Lebanese banks to impose tight controls on hard currency withdrawals and transfers abroad, making it hard for Syrians to access funds held by them in those banks.[7][10]
The black-market rate fell to LS 950 on 2 December 2019, another 25% decrease,[31] while the official rate set by the central bank was LS 434 = US$1.
On 13 January 2020, the currency deteriorated further, as more than LS 1,000 was traded for US$1 in the black market, despite being valued at LS 434 = US$1 by the Syrian Central Bank.[32] During the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria, the Syrian pound continued to fall against the U.S. dollar in the black market, where US$1 equaled more than LS 1,600 in May 2020.[33] A month later, the Syrian pound passed LS 2,000 against the dollar,[34][35] and a few days later, it passed LS 3,000 against the dollar.[36]
Upon the implementation of the U.S. sanctions related to the Caesar Act, anti-government local authorities in Idlib Governorate adopted the Turkish lira in place of the plummeting Syrian pound.[37] The lira has also replaced the Syrian pound in other Turkish occupied areas of northern Syria, such as Afrin and Jarabulus.[38]
On 31 December 2022, the Syrian pound hit a new record low again on the black market, where each US$1 cost LS 7,150, twice as much as a year before.[39] In 2023, the exchange rate continued deterioration, reaching LS 15,000 per US$1.[40]
During the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, the exchange rate fell to a record low of LS 25,000 per US$1.[41] After the fall of the Assad regime, the currency was traded between LS 12,500 and 10,000 per US$1.[42]
Links for current rates
| Current SYP exchange rates | |
|---|---|
| From Google Finance: | AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY JOD |
| From Yahoo! Finance: | AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY JOD |
| From XE.com: | AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY JOD |
| From OANDA: | AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD TRY JOD |
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ "Banknotes of Syria". Central Bank of Syria.
- ↑ "World Bank Editorial Style Guide 2020 - page 138" (PDF). openknowledge.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
- ↑ "5000 Syrian Pounds, Syria". en.numista.com. Retrieved 2026-09-05.
- ↑ "Syria". CIA World Factbook 1990 - page 303. 1 April 1990. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
- ↑ The Statesman's Yearbook 1990-1991 - page 1177. Springer. 1991. ISBN 9780230271197. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ↑ "App Syria Unveils New Banknotes, Replacing Assad Portraits With Nature Symbols". January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- 1 2 "Syria (barely) survived a civil war. Can it weather the latest financial crisis?". Los Angeles Times. 29 November 2019.
- ↑ Syria: The businessman can't play his hand Euromoney May 1986.
- 1 2 "Syria ends pound's peg to U.S. dollar". The Globe and Mail. 5 June 2007.
- 1 2 "Lebanon crisis wreaks havoc on Syria's war-torn economy". Reuters. 29 November 2019.
- ↑ أرشيف أسعار العملات الأجنبية عام 2011 (XLS) (in Arabic). Central Bank of Syria. 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ↑ "President al-Assad's interview given to al-Sourya and al-Ikhbarya TVs". Syrian Arab News Agency. 31 October 2019.
- ↑ "أحمد الشرع يحدد أبرز أولوياته الداخلية في سوريا.. ومن بينها قرارات اقتصادية". CNBC Arabia (in Arabic). Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ↑ Dalatey, Feras (2025-08-23). "Exclusive: Syria to revalue currency, dropping two zeros in bid for stability". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Syria to roll out new currency in 2026 to replace collapsed lira". The New Arab. 17 October 2025.
- ↑ "Central bank illuminates building to mark new currency". Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). Archived from the original on 2025-12-29. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ↑ "Syria begins circulating new post-Assad currency bills". AP News. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
- ↑ "Syrian central bank says 56 percent of old currency replaced". 2026-05-04. Retrieved 2026-05-04.
- ↑ "Central Bank governor: Syria completes over 63% of currency replacement process". 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Syria Completes Old Currency Replacement After Seven-Month Exchange Process". Syria Report. Retrieved 2026-08-28.
- ↑ "Successes and Failures of Syria's New Currency Replacement". Enab Baladi. 2026-09-04. Retrieved 2026-09-19.
- ↑ Due to fast depreciation, LS 5, and LS 10 coins and 25 pounds coin are practically worthless as of December 2021. Retrieved on 2020-05-20.
- ↑ Linzmayer, Owen (2013). "Syria". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
- ↑ "Syria floats new bank note amid soaring inflation". The Age. 25 January 2021.
- ↑ Frank Stocker (21 November 2014). "Dieses Land hilft Syrien beim Gelddrucken aus". Die Welt. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
- ↑ "Updated-CBS puts into circulation new SYP 1,000 banknotes to replace worn-out currency". Syrian Arab News Agency. June 30, 2015.
- ↑ "Syria announces new currency framework, 2-zero redenomination". ARAB NEWS. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
- ↑ "President reveals new currency in Damascus ceremony". SANA. 29 December 2025.
- ↑ "Syria Closes the Chapter on the 'Assad Pound.' Can the New Currency Regain Syrians' Trust?".
- ↑ "Syrian Banknotes". cb.gov.sy. Central Bank of Syria. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Syrian pound hits record low in panic selling, dealers say". Reuters. 2 December 2019.
- ↑ "Syrian Pound Hits Record Low of 1,000 against the Dollar". Asharq Al-Awsat. 13 January 2020.
- ↑ "Syrian pound continues to devaluate against USD". Xinhuanet. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020.
- ↑ "Syrian pound passes 2000 against dollar as new policies fail to stop freefall". Syria direct. 3 June 2020.
- ↑ "Syrian pound hits record low against dollar in panic trading, dealers say". Reuters. 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ↑ "Syrian pound hits record low ahead of new U.S. sanctions: dealers". Reuters. 9 June 2020.
- ↑ "Syria's Idlib adopts Turkish lira in place of plummeting pound". France 24. 15 June 2020.
- ↑ Ashawi, Khalil (2018-08-28). "Falling lira hits Syrian enclave backed by Turkey". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ↑ al-Issa, Jana (2023-01-06). "Syrian pound declined 100% in 2022". Enab Baladi. Archived from the original on 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
- ↑ "Dollar Approaching 15,000 Syrian Pounds". The Syrian Observer. 16 August 2023.
- ↑ "Syrian pound rebounds against dollar". Enab Baladi. 13 December 2024.
- ↑ "Syrian currency firms against US dollar after Assad's fall". Reuters. 14 December 2024.
Further reading
- Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
- Pick, Albert (1994). Bruce, Colin R. II; Shafer, Neil (eds.). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.
External links
- Historical banknotes of Syria (in English, German, and French)
- Syrian Pound Today Exchange Rates
Syria topics | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
