Districts of Syria
Encyclopedia
The 14 governorate
s of Syria, or muhafazat (sing. muhafazah
), of Syria
are divided into sixty-one district
s, or manatiq (sing. mintaqah
), including the city of Damascus
. The districts are further divided into 206 subdistricts, or nawahi (sing. nahiya). The district bears the same name as the district capital.
Districts and subdistricts are administered by officials appointed by the governor, subject to the approval of the minister of the interior. These officials work with elected district councils to attend to assorted local needs and serve as intermediaries between central government authority and traditional local leaders, such as village chiefs, clan leaders, and councils of elders.
The districts (other than Damascus) are listed below, by governorate (with capital districts in bold text). The City of Damascus
is a separate governorate but is included below with the surrounding Rif Dimashq
governorate. Note that parts that used to be under the Quneitra governorate are under Israeli control since 1967 (see Golan Heights).
Aleppo Governorate
Deir ez-Zor Governorate
Hama Governorate
Homs Governorate
Idlib Governorate
Latakia Governorate
Rif Dimashq
Tartus Governorate
Governorate
A governorate is an administrative division of a country. It is headed by a governor. As English-speaking nations tend to call regions administered by governors either states, provinces, or colonies, the term governorate is often used in translation from non-English-speaking administrations.The...
s of Syria, or muhafazat (sing. muhafazah
Muhafazah
A ' is a first-level administrative division of many Arab countries, and a second-level administrative division in Saudi Arabia. The term is usually translated to governorate in English, and occasionally to province. It comes from the Arabic root 'h-f-ẓ' which means to 'keep and guard'...
), of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
are divided into sixty-one district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
s, or manatiq (sing. mintaqah
Mintaqah
Minţaqah is a term for a first-level administrative division in Saudi Arabia and Chad, and for a second-level administrative division in several other Arab countries. It is often translated as region, district, or, in Saudi Arabia, as province...
), including the city of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
. The districts are further divided into 206 subdistricts, or nawahi (sing. nahiya). The district bears the same name as the district capital.
Districts and subdistricts are administered by officials appointed by the governor, subject to the approval of the minister of the interior. These officials work with elected district councils to attend to assorted local needs and serve as intermediaries between central government authority and traditional local leaders, such as village chiefs, clan leaders, and councils of elders.
The districts (other than Damascus) are listed below, by governorate (with capital districts in bold text). The City of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
is a separate governorate but is included below with the surrounding Rif Dimashq
Rif Dimashq
Rif Dimashq is one of the 14 governorates of Syria. It is situated in the southwestern part of the country. It borders the governorates of Quneitra, Daraa and al-Suwayda in the southwest, Homs in the north, Lebanon in the west and Jordan in the south.The Governorate completely surrounds the...
governorate. Note that parts that used to be under the Quneitra governorate are under Israeli control since 1967 (see Golan Heights).
List of districts
Al-Hasakah Governorate
- Al-Hasakah DistrictAl-Hasakah DistrictAl-Hasakah District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Al-Hasakah Governorate. It had a population of 484,966 at the 2004 Census. Its administrative centre is the city of Al-Hasakah....
- Al Qamishli DistrictAl Qamishli DistrictAl Qamishli District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Al-Hasakah Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 423,368. Its capital city is the city of Al Qamishli....
- Al-Malikiyah DistrictAl-Malikiyah DistrictAl-Malikiyah District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Al-Hasakah Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 189,634. Its capital city is the city of Al-Malikiyah. It is mainly dominated by Assyrians/Syriacs. It is both the northernmost & easternmost district in...
- Ra's al-'Ayn DistrictRa's al-'Ayn DistrictRa's al-'Ayn District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Al-Hasakah Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 177,150. Its capital city is the city of Ra's al-'Ayn. It is populated by Arabs, Kurds and Assyrian/Syriacs....
Aleppo GovernorateAleppo GovernorateAleppo Governorate is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is the most populous governorate in Syria with a population of more than 4,744,000 , almost 23% of the total population of Syria. The governorate is the fifth in area with an area of 18,482 km², about 10% of the total area of...
- 'Ayn al-'Arab District'Ayn al-'Arab DistrictAyn al-'Arab is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Aleppo Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 192,513. Its administrative centre is the city of 'Ayn al-'Arab....
- Afrin DistrictAfrin DistrictAfrin is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Aleppo Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 172,095. Its administrative centre is the city of 'Afrin....
- Al Bab DistrictAl Bab DistrictAl Bab is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Aleppo Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 292,713. Its administrative centre is the city of Al Bab....
- Al-Safirah District
- A'zaz DistrictA'zaz DistrictA'zaz is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Aleppo Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 251,769. Its administrative centre is the city of A'zaz....
- Jabal Sam'an DistrictJabal Sam'anMount Simeon or Mount Simon , also called Mount Laylūn , is a highland region in Aleppo Governorate in northern Syria. The mountain is located in the Mount Simeon and Aʻzāz districts of Aleppo Governorate.-Name:...
- Jarabulus DistrictJarabulus DistrictJarablus is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Aleppo Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 58,889. Its administrative centre is the city of Jarabulus. Turkmen Elbeyli and Barak people forms the majority....
- Manbij DistrictManbij DistrictManbij is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Aleppo Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 408,143. Its administrative centre is the city of Manbij....
Ar-Raqqah Governorate
- Ar-Raqqah DistrictAr-Raqqah DistrictAr-Raqqah District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Ar-Raqqah Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Ar-Raqqah....
- Al-Thawrah District
- Tal Abyad DistrictTal Abyad DistrictTal Abyad is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Ar-Raqqah Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Tal Abyad....
- Banda Falaq District(New Capital)
As-Suwayda Governorate
- As-Suwayda DistrictAs-Suwayda DistrictAs-Suwayda is a Syrian district administratively belonging to As-Suwayda Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 180,907. Its administrative centre is the city of As-Suwayda....
- Salkhad DistrictSalkhad DistrictSalkhad is a Syrian district administratively belonging to As-Suwayda Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 60,375. Its administrative centre is the city of Salkhad....
- Shahba DistrictShahba DistrictShahba' District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to As-Suwayda Governorate. It is located in the south-west of the country and in the north of the As-Suwayda Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 71,949. Its administrative centre is the city of Shahba....
Daraa Governorate
- Al-Sanamayn District
- Daraa DistrictDaraa DistrictDar'a District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Daraa Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 428,681. Its capital city is the city of Daraa. Anti-government protests were staged there on 22 March 2011 and subsequent dates....
- Izra' DistrictIzra' DistrictIzra' District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Daraa Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 246,804. Its administrative centre is the city of Izra'....
Deir ez-Zor GovernorateDeir ez-Zor GovernorateDeir ez-Zor Governorate or Muhafazah Dayr az Zawr is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is situated in eastern Syria, bordering Iraq. It has an area of 33,060 km² and a population of 1,202,000...
- Abu Kamal DistrictAbu Kamal DistrictAbu Kamal District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Deir ez-Zor Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Abu Kamal....
- Mayadin DistrictMayadin DistrictMayadin District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Deir ez-Zor Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Mayadin.Syria -Daerezzor - ALMAYADIN - Buqrus TAHTANI...
- Deir ez-Zor DistrictDeir ez-Zor DistrictDeir ez-Zor District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Deir ez-Zor Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Deir ez-Zor....
Hama GovernorateHama GovernorateHama is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is situated in western-central Syria. Its area depends of sources. It varies from 8,844 km² to 8,883 km². Governorate has a population of 1,593,000...
- Al-Suqaylabiyah District
- Hama DistrictHama DistrictHama is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Hama Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Hama, which is also the capital of the governorate....
- Masyaf DistrictMasyaf DistrictMasyaf is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Hama Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Masyaf....
- Muhardeh DistrictMuhardeh DistrictMuhardeh is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Hama Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Muhardeh....
- Salamiyah DistrictSalamiyah DistrictSalamiyah is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Hama Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Salamiyah....
Homs GovernorateHoms GovernorateHoms Governorate is one of the fourteen muhafazat of Syria. It is situated in central Syria. Its area differs in various sources, from 40,940 km². to 42,223 km² . It is thus geographically the largest governorate of Syria. Homs Governorate has a population of 1,763,000 . The capital is...
- Al-Mukharram DistrictAl-Mukharram DistrictAl-Mukarram District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Homs Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Al-Mukharram....
- Al-Qusayr DistrictAl-Qusayr DistrictAl-Qusayr District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Homs Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Al-Qusayr....
- Ar-Rastan DistrictAr-Rastan DistrictAl-Rastan District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Homs Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Al-Rastan....
- Homs DistrictHoms DistrictHoms District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Homs Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Homs....
- Palmyra DistrictPalmyra DistrictPalmyra District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Homs Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Palmyra....
- Talkalakh DistrictTalkalakh DistrictTalkalakh District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Homs Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Talkalakh....
Idlib GovernorateIdlib GovernorateIdlib Governorate is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is situated in northwestern Syria, bordering Turkey. Its area depends on sources - estimated vary from 5,933 km² to 6,097 km². The Governorate has a population of 1,464,000...
- Arihah DistrictArihah DistrictArihah District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Idlib Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Arihah....
- Harem DistrictHarem DistrictHarem District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Idlib Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Harem.* Other CitiesArmanaz, Salqeen, kafar Takhareem...
- Idlib DistrictIdlib DistrictIdlib District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Idlib Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Idlib....
- Jisr ash-Shugur DistrictJisr ash-Shugur DistrictJisr ash-Shugur District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Idlib Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Jisr ash-Shugur....
- Ma'arrat al-Numan DistrictMa'arrat al-Numan DistrictMa`arrat al-Numan District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Idlib Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Ma`arrat al-Numan....
Latakia GovernorateLatakia GovernorateLatakia Governorate or muhafazah al Ladhiqiyah is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is situated in western Syria, bordering Turkey. Its reported area varies in different sources from 2,297 km² to 2,437 km² . The Governorate has a population of 991,000 and is one of the...
- Al-Haffah DistrictAl-Haffah DistrictAl-Haffah District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Latakia Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Al-Haffah....
- Jableh DistrictJableh DistrictJableh District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Latakia Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Jableh....
- Latakia DistrictLatakia DistrictLatakia District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Latakia Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Latakia.The Province or "mouhafaza" used to be a separate Mandate given to France by the League of Nations and remained autonomous for two years until its incorporation into...
- Qardaha DistrictQardaha DistrictQardaha District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Latakia Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Qardaha....
Quneitra Governorate
- Fiq DistrictFiq DistrictFiq District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Quneitra Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 1,947. Its capital city is the town of Fiq....
- Quneitra DistrictQuneitra DistrictQuneitra District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Quneitra Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 64,680. Its capital city is the city of Quneitra....
Rif DimashqRif DimashqRif Dimashq is one of the 14 governorates of Syria. It is situated in the southwestern part of the country. It borders the governorates of Quneitra, Daraa and al-Suwayda in the southwest, Homs in the north, Lebanon in the west and Jordan in the south.The Governorate completely surrounds the...
- Al-Qutayfah DistrictAl-Qutayfah DistrictAl-Qutayfah District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Rif Dimashq Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 119,283. Its administrative centre is the city of Al-Qutayfah....
- Al-Nabk District
- Al-Tall District
- Darayya DistrictDarayya DistrictDarayya District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Rif Dimashq Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 260,961. Its administrative centre is the city of Darayya....
- Markaz Rif Dimashq DistrictMarkaz Rif DimashqMarkaz Rif Dimashq is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Rif Dimashq governorate. It is the capital of the governorate, although the administrative centre lies in the City of Damascus . At the 2004 Census it had a population of 902,216. It surrounds the City of Damascus....
- Duma DistrictDuma DistrictDuma is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Rif Dimashq Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 433,719. Its administrative centre is the city of Duma....
- Qatana DistrictQatana DistrictQatana District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Rif Dimashq Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 207,245. Its administrative centre is the city of Qatana....
- Yabrud DistrictYabrud DistrictYabrud District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Rif Dimashq Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 48,370. Its administrative centre is the city of Yabrud....
- Zabadani DistrictZabadani DistrictZabadani District or az-Zabadan is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Rif Dimashq Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 105,342...
Tartus GovernorateTartus GovernorateTartus Governorate is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is situated in western Syria, bordering Lebanon, and is one of the only governorates in Syria that has an Allawite majority.. Sources list the area as 1,890 km² or 1,892 km² . Governorate has a population of 785,000...
- Ash-Shaykh Badr DistrictAsh-Shaykh Badr DistrictAsh-Shaykh Badr District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Tartus Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Ash-Shaykh Badr....
- Baniyas DistrictBaniyas DistrictBaniyas District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Tartus Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Baniyas....
- Duraykish DistrictDuraykish DistrictDuraykish District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Tartus Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Duraykish....
- Safita DistrictSafita DistrictSafita District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Tartus Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Safita.-Villages in Safita:*Sebei...
- Tartus DistrictTartus DistrictTartus District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to Tartus Governorate. Its capital city is the city of Tartus....
See also
- Governorates of SyriaGovernorates of SyriaSyria has fourteen governorates, or muhafazat . The governorates are divided into sixty districts, or manatiq , which are further divided into subdistricts, or nawahi...
- List of cities in Syria
- List of towns and villages in Syria