As-Suwayda or Al-Suwayda Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة السويداء / ALA-LC: Muḥāfaẓat as-Suwaydā’) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is the southernmost governorate and has an area of 5,550 km² and forms part of the historic Hawran region. Its capital and major city 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 of As-Suwayda inhabitants work in agriculture, planting grapes, apple, olive, and wheat in general. In addition, there are four clearly demarcated seasons (winter, spring, summer, and fall) which gives As-Suwayda nice weather and beautiful natural sites. As-Suwayda contains many archaeological sites.
Religious composition of Suweida Governorate (2010)
Druze
90%
Christians
7%
Sunni Muslims
3%
The governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants (est. 2011).[3] It is the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze majority.[4] 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.[5]
In the 1980s Druze made up 87.6% of the population, Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox) 11% and Sunni Muslims 2%.[6] In 2010, the As-Suwayda governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants, Druze made up 90%, Christians 7% and Sunni Muslims 3%.[1] Due to low birth and high emigration rates, Christians proportion in As-Suwayda had declined.[1]
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.
^"President al-Assad issues decrees on appointing new governors for eight Syrian provinces". Syrian Arab News Agency. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
^ abStatistics from . Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
^Shahba provides refuge for displaced Syrians 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine. 28 September 2012.
^Pipes, Daniel (1990). Greater Syria: The History of an Ambition. Oxford University Press. p. 151. ISBN978-0-19-506021-8.
March 11, 2024
suwayda, governorate, suwayda, suwayda, governorate, arabic, حافظة, السويداء, muḥāfaẓat, suwaydā, fourteen, governorates, provinces, syria, southernmost, governorate, area, forms, part, historic, hawran, region, capital, major, city, suwayda, suwayda, governor. As Suwayda or Al Suwayda Governorate Arabic م حافظة السويداء ALA LC Muḥafaẓat as Suwayda is one of the fourteen governorates provinces of Syria It is the southernmost governorate and has an area of 5 550 km and forms part of the historic Hawran region Its capital and major city is al Suwayda Al Suwayda Governorate م حافظة السويداءGovernorateMap of Syria with al Suwayda Governorate highlightedCoordinates Al Suwayda 32 48 N 36 48 E 32 8 N 36 8 E 32 8 36 8Country SyriaCapitalAl SuwaydaManatiq Districts 3Government GovernorBassam Mamdouh Parsik 2 Area Total5 550 km2 2 140 sq mi Population 2011 Total375 000 1 Time zoneUTC 2 EET Summer DST UTC 3 EEST ISO 3166 codeSY SUMain language s ArabicGeographically 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 of As Suwayda inhabitants work in agriculture planting grapes apple olive and wheat in general In addition there are four clearly demarcated seasons winter spring summer and fall which gives As Suwayda nice weather and beautiful natural sites As Suwayda contains many archaeological sites Contents 1 Demographics and population 2 Districts 3 Cities towns and villages 3 1 Cities 3 2 Villages 4 History 5 See also 6 ReferencesDemographics and population editReligious composition of Suweida Governorate 2010 Druze 90 Christians 7 Sunni Muslims 3 The governorate has a population of about 375 000 inhabitants est 2011 3 It is the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze majority 4 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 5 In the 1980s Druze made up 87 6 of the population Christians mostly Greek Orthodox 11 and Sunni Muslims 2 6 In 2010 the As Suwayda governorate has a population of about 375 000 inhabitants Druze made up 90 Christians 7 and Sunni Muslims 3 1 Due to low birth and high emigration rates Christians proportion in As Suwayda had declined 1 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 edit nbsp Shahba Salkhad nbsp Al Suwayda The governorate is divided into three districts manatiq The districts are further divided into 12 sub districts nawahi As Suwayda District 3 sub districts As Suwayda Subdistrict Al Mazraa Subdistrict Al Mushannaf Subdistrict Salkhad District 5 sub districts Salkhad Subdistrict Al Qrayya Subdistrict Al Ghariyah Subdistrict Thaybin Subdistrict Malah Subdistrict Shahba District 4 sub districts Shahba Subdistrict Shaqqa Subdistrict Al Ariqah Subdistrict Al Surah al Saghirah SubdistrictCities towns and villages edit nbsp Suwayda s City aerial view October 2011Main article List of populated places in al Suwayda Governorate The governorate contains 3 cities 124 towns villages and 36 hamlets 3 Cities edit Shahba Al Suwayda SalkhadVillages edit 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 WalghaHistory editThis section is empty You can help by adding to it August 2023 See also editDruze in SyriaReferences edit a b c The Druze and Assad Strategic Bedfellows President al Assad issues decrees on appointing new governors for eight Syrian provinces Syrian Arab News Agency 20 July 2022 Retrieved 15 August 2022 a b Statistics from المكتب المركزي للاحصاء Archived from the original on 2007 03 29 Retrieved 2007 04 05 Country Data Page on Syria Shahba provides refuge for displaced Syrians Archived 2014 04 13 at the Wayback Machine 28 September 2012 Pipes Daniel 1990 Greater Syria The History of an Ambition Oxford University Press p 151 ISBN 978 0 19 506021 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title As Suwayda Governorate amp oldid 1176366402, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
