Syria’s 2026 Budget Under Pressure: Revenues Double But Deficit Exceeds USD 1 Billion in Six Months

In the first half of 2026, Syria’s state budget recorded a deficit of USD 1 billion, with revenues at  over USD 2.69 billion and expenditures at USD 3.7 billion, according to figures published by the Ministry of Finance on Monday. The results from the first six months point to a significant expansion in government expenses and revenues. Fiscal revenues doubled compared to the same period last year, thanks mostly to a surge in oil and gas revenues. However, expenditure expanded at a much faster pace, shifting public finances from a surplus in the first half of 2025 to a deficit during the same period in 2026.