On October 21, 2025, the World Bank released a sobering assessment: rebuilding Syria after more than 14 years of devastating civil war will require an estimated $216 billion. That figure, nearly ten times Syria’s projected gross domestic product for 2024, underscores the monumental challenge facing the battered nation as it attempts to rise from the ashes of conflict.
The World Bank’s report, which draws from a nationwide assessment of physical damage and reconstruction needs from 2011 to 2024, paints a picture both stark and urgent. The war, which began in 2011 when mass protests against President Bashar al-Assad were met with a brutal crackdown and spiraled into all-out warfare, has left Syria’s infrastructure, economy, and society in tatters. Assad, who ruled for over two decades, was finally ousted in December 2024 following a lightning rebel offensive, but the scars of the conflict remain everywhere.
According to the World Bank, the total cost of reconstruction could range anywhere from $140 billion to $345 billion, but their “conservative best estimate” is $216 billion—a sum that dwarfs the country’s current economic output. As stated in the report, "physical reconstruction costs are roughly 10 times Syria’s projected 2024 GDP, underscoring the scale of the challenge and the need for substantial international support."
The breakdown of the costs is as daunting as the total: $82 billion will be needed just to restore infrastructure—roads, electrical grids, water systems, and more. Residential buildings, many reduced to rubble during years of bombardment, account for $75 billion in damages. Another $59 billion is required to repair non-residential structures, including schools, hospitals, and businesses. The provinces of Aleppo and the Damascus countryside (Rif Dimashq), where some of the fiercest battles raged, will require the largest share of investment. Homs, another city heavily scarred by the fighting, also features prominently in the tally of destruction.
“The challenges ahead are immense, but the World Bank stands ready to work alongside the Syrian people and the international community to support recovery and reconstruction,” said Jean-Christophe Carret, the World Bank’s Middle East Director, in a statement quoted by multiple outlets including the Associated Press and Enab Baladi. He emphasized that only a collective commitment, coordinated action, and a comprehensive, well-structured support program can help Syria move toward recovery and long-term development.
The numbers behind the devastation are staggering. The conflict damaged nearly a third of Syria’s pre-war fixed capital stock, with direct physical damage to infrastructure and buildings estimated at around $108 billion. Infrastructure alone accounted for almost half of that—$52 billion—followed by residential buildings at $33 billion and non-residential buildings at $23 billion, according to the World Bank’s detailed assessment.
The economic impact has been catastrophic. Syria’s real GDP plummeted by approximately 53% between 2010 and 2022. In nominal terms, GDP shrank from $67.5 billion in 2011 to about $21.4 billion in 2024. The World Bank was careful to note the high degree of uncertainty in these figures, given the ongoing instability and the challenges of conducting assessments in a war-torn country. The report does not provide sector-by-sector breakdowns or asset-type details, aiming instead to offer a broad estimate to inform recovery planning.
The human toll is equally harrowing. The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syria’s population now lives in poverty. More than 6 million Syrians are registered as refugees or asylum seekers, mostly in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. The European Union hosts around 1.3 million Syrians, with the majority settled in Germany, Sweden, and Austria. The war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions more, leaving vast areas of the country destroyed and communities fractured.
Despite some positive diplomatic developments—Syria has reestablished relations with Western nations and signed investment deals worth billions with Gulf countries—the country’s financial struggles remain acute. While the United States and Europe have lifted many of the sanctions imposed during the Assad dynasty, the on-the-ground impact has been limited. Cuts to international aid have only worsened living conditions, making the prospect of large-scale reconstruction even more daunting.
Estimates for the total cost of rebuilding Syria vary widely. The United Nations puts the figure between $250 billion and $400 billion, while Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, recently told CBS that the true cost could be as high as $900 billion. In his words, "the reconstruction cost is between $600 and $900 billion," and he called on the international community for urgent support. Other estimates have ranged from $180 billion to $900 billion, reflecting both the scale of destruction and the uncertainty inherent in planning for recovery amid ongoing instability.
Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yosr Bernieh called the World Bank report "a critical baseline" for understanding the scale of destruction and the cost of rebuilding. He stressed the essential role of international support in rehabilitating core infrastructure, reviving communities, and setting the stage for a more resilient future.
The World Bank’s Carret echoed this sentiment, stating, "The Bank stands ready to work alongside the Syrian people and the international community to support recovery and reconstruction efforts." He underscored the need for a coordinated global effort, noting that the task ahead is simply too large for Syria to tackle alone.
As the dust settles after more than a decade of war, the path to recovery for Syria is daunting but not impossible. The World Bank’s report is a clarion call for international solidarity, careful planning, and sustained investment. Without these, the prospect of a stable and prosperous Syria will remain out of reach for the millions who have endured years of conflict and deprivation.
For now, the numbers speak volumes. Rebuilding Syria is a generational task—one that will require patience, resources, and above all, hope.