World Bank estimates $216b required to rebuild Syria after civil war

The World Bank has projected that reconstructing Syria after more than a decade of civil war will cost around $216 billion, nearly ten times the nation’s 2024 GDP.

The conflict erupted in 2011 after government crackdowns on mass protests escalated into armed fighting. Former President Bashar Assad was ousted in December 2024 during a rapid rebel offensive. Years of war destroyed large areas of the country and severely damaged key infrastructure, including the electricity grid.

The World Bank’s assessment places total reconstruction costs between $140 billion and $345 billion, with a conservative estimate of $216 billion. Infrastructure repair is expected to require $82 billion, residential building reconstruction $75 billion, and non-residential structures $59 billion. The Aleppo region and Damascus outskirts, which saw the fiercest battles, will need the highest levels of investment.

Jean-Christophe Carret, the World Bank’s Middle East Director, said, “The challenges are enormous, but the World Bank is committed to working with the Syrian people and international partners to support recovery and rebuilding.”

Despite reestablishing ties with Western countries and signing multi-billion-dollar investment deals with Gulf states, Syria remains financially strained. Although many sanctions have been lifted, progress on the ground has been limited.

Reductions in international aid have worsened living conditions, with the United Nations estimating that 90% of Syrians now live in poverty, underscoring the enormous effort and resources needed to restore the war-torn nation.