Damascus, April 7 (SANA) Syria recorded its first budget surplus in more than three decades in 2025, Finance Minister Mohamed Yisr Barnieh said, citing strong revenue growth and tighter fiscal management.
Barnieh said total public revenues reached about 379.2 billion new Syrian pounds (around $3.447 billion), a 120.2 percent increase compared with 2024, while public expenditure rose to 379.2 billion pounds (around $3.45 billion), up 45.7 percent.
The surplus stood at nearly 5 billion pounds (about $46 million), equivalent to around 0.15 percent of gross domestic product, compared with a deficit of 2.7 percent in 2024.
Customs duties accounted for about 39 percent of total revenues, supported by improved economic activity and anti-corruption measures, the minister said. Spending on wages and salaries represented the largest share of expenditure at 41 percent.
The Finance Ministry said the surplus reflects disciplined public finance management and efforts to reduce waste. It added that the surplus had reached nearly $500 million by the end of the third quarter before narrowing in the final quarter due to increased spending and the settlement of outstanding obligations.
Looking ahead, public expenditure in the 2026 budget is projected to rise to about $10.5 billion, more than triple the 2025 level, with a focus on social and investment spending.
Revenues for 2026 are estimated at around $8.7 billion, with oil and gas expected to contribute about 28 percent and to be fully incorporated into the state budget.
The ministry said further details on the 2026 budget will be released in the coming days, while preparations for the 2027 budget are set to begin next month ahead of parliamentary discussions later in 2026.
Barnieh said the government remains committed to improving transparency by publishing regular reports on public revenues and spending.
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