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Al-Suwayda Governorate مُحافظة السويداء
Governorate
Map of Syria with al-Suwayda Governorate highlighted
Coordinates (Al-Suwayda): 32°48′N 36°48′E / 32.8°N 36.8°E / 32.8; 36.8
Country	Syria
Control	Syrian transitional government
Capital	Al-Suwayda
Manatiq (Districts)	3
Government
• Governor	Muhsina al-Mahithawi
Area
• Total	5,550 km (2,140 sq mi)
Population
• Total	375,000
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 code	SY-SU
Main language(s)	Arabic

As-Suwayda or Al-Suwayda Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة السويداء, romanized: Muḥāfaẓat as-Suwaydā’) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is the southernmost governorate, covering an area of 5,550 km², and is part of the historic Hawran region. The capital and largest city of the governorate is al-Suwayda.

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.

Most inhabitants of As-Suwayda are employed in agriculture, cultivating crops such as grapes, apples, olives, and wheat. Additionally, As-Suwayda is home to numerous archaeological sites.

This governorate is unique in Syria as it has a Druze majority. Additionally, it has integrated Christian communities that have long coexisted harmoniously with the Druze in these mountains.

Demographics and population

The governorate has a population of about 375,000 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%. In 2010, the As-Suwayda governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants, Druze made up 90%, Christians 7% and Sunni Muslims 3%. Due to low birth and high emigration rates, Christians proportion in As-Suwayda had declined.

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.

Districts

The governorate is divided into three districts (manatiq). The districts are further divided into 12 sub-districts (nawahi):

Cities, towns and villages

The governorate contains 3 cities, 124 towns/villages, and 36 hamlets.

Cities

• Shahba
• Al-Suwayda
• Salkhad

Villages

• Shaqqa
• Al-Ajailat
• Al-Ghariyah
• Al-Kefr
• Al-Qurayya
• Ariqah
• Ar-Raha
• Braiki
• Dair Allaban
• Dama
• Hobran
• Kafr Alluhuf
• Lahetha
• Msad
• Murduk
• Qanawat
• Rimet Alluhuf
• Rimet Hazem
• Samma Al-baradan
• Samma Al-hanidat
• Shaniri
• Shbeki
• Walgha

See also

• Druze in Syria

References

1. ^ The Druze and Assad: Strategic Bedfellows
2. "New Syrian government appoints woman governor of southern province". yahoo news. 31 December 2024. Archived from the original on 31 December 2024.
3. Balanche, Fabrice (2017). Atlas of the Near East: State Formation and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1918–2010. Brill. p. 27. ISBN 9789004345188. ...comprised 50,328 inhabitants, of whom 85 per cent were Druze, and it integrated Christian communities (7,000 people) who had long lived in these mountains in harmony with the Druze.
4. ^ Statistics from "المكتب المركزي للاحصاء". Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
5. Country Data Page on Syria
6. Shahba provides refuge for displaced Syrians Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine. 28 September 2012.
7. Pipes, Daniel (1990). Greater Syria: The History of an Ambition. Oxford University Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-19-506021-8.

v t e Places adjacent to Suwayda Governorate
Rif Dimashq Governorate Daraa Governorate Al-Suwayda Governorate Mafraq Governorate

v t e Suwayda Governorate
Shahba District Shahba Subdistrict Shahba Amrah Braykah Majadel Mardak al-Matunah Nimreh Salakhid Suwaymrah Taymah Umm Dubayb Umm al-Zaytun Ariqah Subdistrict Al-Ariqah Dama Deir Dama Harran Jirrin al-Kharsa Lubayn Sumayd Waqm Shaqqa Subdistrict Shaqqa Arajah Barik al-Buthainah Duma al-Hayyat Hit al-Junayneh al-Qasr al-Rudaymah Ta'lah Surah Saghirah Subdistrict Al-Surah al-Saghirah Dhakir Hazm al-Huquf al-Khalidiyah Khalkhalah Lahithah Rudaymat al-Liwa al-Salmiyah al-Surah al-Kabirah Umm Haratayn al-Ushayib
Suwayda District Suwayda Subdistrict Suwayda Aslihah Attil Dara Hibran Ira Jubayb al-Kafr Kafr al-Luhf Kanakir Kharaba Maf'aleh Masad Miyamas al-Mujaymer Qanawat al-Ruha Rasas Rimat Hazm Sahwat Balatah Sahwat al-Khudr Sakakah Slaim al-Tha'lah Walghah Mazra'ah Subdistrict Al-Mazra'ah al-Dur al-Duwayri Jidiyah al-Majdal Najran Qarrasa Rimat al-Luhf Sami' Ta'ara Tirah Mushannaf Subdistrict Al-Mushannaf Busan al-Ghaydah al-Kassib al-Ajaylat Rami al-Rushaydah Sa'nah Salah Shbeiki al-Shurayhi Tarba al-Tayyibah Umm Riwaq
Salkhad District Salkhad Subdistrict Salkhad al-Annat Awas al-Karbis Imtan al-Mashquq al-Munaydhrah Urman al-Uyun al-Rafqah Sama al-Bardan Shanirah Tahulah Qurayyah Subdistrict Al-Qurayya al-Afinah Burd Hout Ghariyah Subdistrict Al-Ghariyah Anz Khirbet Awad al-Mughayyir Dhibin Subdistrict Dhibin Bakka Umm al-Rumman Malah Subdistrict Malah Abu Zurayq Baham al-Harisi al-Huwayya Khazmah Qaysamah Sha'af al-Shi'ab Tell al-Lawz Tulaylin

• As-Suwayda Governorate
• Governorates of Syria