In a meeting with the Syrian press, Syrian Prime Minister Naji Al-Otri said that the present rate of growth of Syria's populations – 2.4% annually – poses the greatest challenge to economic growth.

According to the prime minister, at this rate of growth, the Syrian population will reach 45 million in 2033 and 90 million in 2055.

He called for a "population policy" [a euphemism for population planning] that would be acceptable to all segments of the society.

Al-Otri said that population growth of this magnitude would require enormous investments in infrastructure, employment-generating activities, and energy and water resources, that would have a negative impact on investments for real economic growth.

Dr. Shafiq ‘Arbash, director of the central statistical agency, said that population growth of this magnitude would require a real economic growth at the rate of 7%-8% annually [which Syria has so far failed to reach. In fact, the high rate of unemployment in Syria, in the 10%-12% range, along with the rising poverty levels and the interruptions of power supply to many quarters of the capital Damascus, would suggest that unless Syria curbs its high fertility rate, poverty and social dislocation levels are likely to increase.]

Source: Al-Ba'th, Syria, August 25 and 26, 2009