Manatiq (Districts) 3 ISO 3166 code SY-SU Area 5,550 km² | Capital Al-Suwayda Time zone EET (UTC+2) Main language(s) Arabic Population 770,000 (2011) | |
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Al-Suwayda Governorate (Arabic: السويداء / ALA-LC: Muḥāfaẓat as-Suwaydā’) is the southernmost of Syria's 14 governorates. It has an area of 5,550 km² and forms part of the historic Hawran region. Its capital and major city is al-Suwayda. A large majority of the population are Druze.
Contents
- Map of As Suwayda Syria
- Demographics and population
- Divisions
- Cities towns and villages
- Cities
- Villages
- References
Map of As-Suwayda, Syria
Geographically the governorate comprises almost all of Jabal al-Druze, the eastern part of Lejah, and a part of the arid eastern steppe of Harrat al-Shamah.
Demographics and population
The governorate has a population of about 770,000 inhabitants (est. 2011). It is the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze majority. There is also a sizable Eastern Orthodox minority, and a small Muslim refugee community from mainly Daraa Governorate as well as other parts of Syria.
In the 1980s Druze made up 87.6% of the population, Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox) 11% and Sunni Muslims 2%.
Most of the inhabitants live in the western parts of the governorate, especially on the western slopes of Jabal ad-Duruz. Only nomadic Bedouin tribes live in the barren region of Harrat al-Shamah.
Divisions
The governorate is divided into 3 districts (manatiq):
These are further divided into 12 sub-districts (nawahi).
Cities, towns and villages
The governorate contains 3 cities, 124 villages, and 36 hamlets.