As-Suwayda Governorate


As-Suwayda or Al-Suwayda Governorate is one of the fourteen governorates 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. A large majority of the population are Druze.
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 which gives As-Suwayda nice weather and beautiful natural sites.
As-Suwayda contains many archaeological sites that related to the civilizations of the Babylonians, Sumerians, Phoenicians and Romans.

Demographics and population

The governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants.
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 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. The districts are further divided into 12 sub-districts :
The governorate contains 3 cities, 124 villages, and 36 hamlets.

Cities