Sweida Governorate
Sweida Governorate
مُحافظة السويداء | |
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Seal | |
Map of Syria with Sweida Governorate highlighted | |
Interactive map of Sweida Governorate | |
| Coordinates (Suwayda): 32°48′N 36°48′E / 32.8°N 36.8°E | |
| Country | Syria |
| Control | Supreme Legal Committee in Suwayda (mostly)
Syrian transitional government (west and furthest east areas only) |
| Capital | Suwayda |
| Manatiq (Districts) | 3 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Mustafa al-Bakour |
| • Head of the Suwayda Governorate Council | Muhsina al-Mahithawi |
| • Commander of the Internal Security Forces for Suwayda Province | Hussam al-Tahhan |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,550 km2 (2,140 sq mi) |
| Population (2010) | |
• Total | 375,000 |
| • Density | 67.6/km2 (175/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
| ISO 3166 code | SY-SU |
| Main language(s) | Arabic |
Sweida Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة السويداء, romanized: Muḥāfaẓat as-Suwaydā’) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is the country's southernmost governorate, covering an area of 5,550 km2, and is bordered by Daraa governorate in the west Rif Dimashq governorate in the north and northeast, and the country of Jordan in the south and southeast. The capital and largest city of the governorate is Suwayda.
Geographically the governorate comprises almost all of Jabal al-Druze, the eastern part of Lajat, and a part of the arid eastern steppe of Harrat al-Sham. Both Suwayda and Daraa governorates are part of the historic Hauran region.
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.
The governorate had a population of 313,231 in the 2004 census.
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 and a Sunni Muslim Bedouin minority.