Governorates of Syria

Governorates of Syria محافظات سوريا (Arabic)
Damascus Rif Dimashq Quneitra Daraa As-Suwayda Homs Tartus Latakia Hama Idlib Aleppo Ar-Raqqah Deir ez-Zor Al-Hasakah
Category	Unitary State
Location	Syrian Arab Republic
Number	14 Governorates
Populations	90,000 (Quneitra) – 4,868,000 (Aleppo)
Areas	110 km2 (41 sq mi) (Damascus) – 42,220 km2 (16,302 sq mi) (Homs)
Government	Governorate government
Subdivisions	District

Syria is divided into fourteen governorates, or muhafazat (singular: muhafazah). The governorates are divided into sixty districts, or manatiq (sing. mintaqah), which are further divided into subdistricts, or nawahi (sing. nahia). The nawahi contain villages, which are the smallest administrative units.

Each governorate is headed by a governor, appointed by the interior minister, subject to cabinet approval. The governor is responsible for administration, health, social services, education, tourism, public works, transportation, domestic trade, agriculture, industry, civil defense, and maintenance of law and order in the governorate. The minister of local administration works closely with each governor to coordinate and supervise local development projects. The governor is assisted by a provincial council, three-quarters of whose members are popularly elected for four-year terms, the remainder being appointed by the interior minister and the governor. In addition, each council has an executive arm of six to ten centrally-appointed officers, selected from among the council's elected members. Each executive officer is charged with specific functions.

Districts and subdistricts are administered by officials appointed by the governor, subject to the approval of the interior minister. These officials work on local matters with elected district councils and serve as intermediaries between the central government and traditional local leaders, such as village chiefs, clan leaders, and councils of elders.

List

The name of the province	Space (km²)	Population (2010)	Population density (km²)	Administrative divisions	Photo	Site
Daraa Governorate	3,730	998,000	267.65	3
Deir al-Zour Governorate	33,060	1,200,500	36.31	3
Aleppo Governorate	18,500	4,600,166	248.65	8
Hamaa Governorate	8,883	1,593,000	179.33	5	120x120px
Hasaka Governorate	23,334	1,272,702	55.54	4	120x120px
Homs Governorate	42,223	1,762,500	41.74	6
Idlib Governorate	6,097	1,464,000	240.11	5
Quneitra Governorate	1,861	87,000	46.74	2
Lattakia Governorate	2,297	1,278,486	556.58	4
Ar Raqqah Governorate	19,616	919,000	46.84	3
Rif-Dimashq Governorate	18,032	2,831,738	157.03	9
Sweida Governorate	5,550	364,000	65.58	3
Damascus Governorate	1,599	2,211,042	18,273.07	1
Tartus Governorate	1,892	785,000	414.90	5

Country

Country	Capital	Space (km²)	Population (2010)	Population density (inhabitants/km²)	Divisions	Science	Location	Administrative divisions
Syria	Damascus	185.180	22,515,750	118,91	14 Governorates, 60 Regions

See also

• Districts of Syria
• ISO 3166-2:SY
• List of cities in Syria
• List of towns and villages in Syria