The 14 governorates of Syria, or muhafazat (sing. muhafazah), are divided into 65 districts, or manatiq (sing. mintaqah), including the city of Damascus. The districts are further divided into 281 subdistricts, or nawahi (sing. nahiya). Each district bears the same name as its district capital.
Districts and subdistricts are administered by officials appointed by the governor, subject to the approval of the minister of the interior. These officials work with elected district councils to attend to assorted local needs, and serve as intermediaries between central government authority and traditional local leaders, such as village chiefs, clan leaders, and councils of elders.
Districts of Syria
List of historical districts The 65 districts are listed below by governorate (with capital districts in bold text). The city of Damascus functions as a governorate, a district and a subdistrict. Parts of Quneitra Governorate have been under Israeli occupation since 1967 (see Golan Heights).
Central Syria Hama Governorate
Hama District (4 sub-districts) Masyaf District (3 sub-districts) Mahardah District (5 sub-districts, a.k.a. Mhardeh, Muhardeh) Salamiyah District (5 sub-districts) Al-Suqaylabiyah District (5 sub-districts)
Homs Governorate
Homs District (10 sub-districts) Al-Mukharram District (2 sub-districts) Al-Qusayr District (2 sub-districts) Ar-Rastan District (2 sub-districts) Palmyra District (2 sub-districts) Taldou District (3 sub-districts)* Talkalakh District (4 sub-districts)
* - a newly created district since 2010, formerly belonging to Homs District
Latakia Governorate
Latakia District (7 sub-districts) Al-Haffah District (5 sub-districts) Jableh District (6 sub-districts) Qardaha District (4 sub-districts)
Tartus Governorate
Tartus District (7 sub-districts) Baniyas District (7 sub-districts) Duraykish District (4 sub-districts) Safita District (6 sub-districts) Al-Shaykh Badr District (3 sub-districts)
North East Syria Aleppo Governorate
Mount Simeon District (7 sub-districts)* Afrin District (7 sub-districts) Atarib District (3 sub-districts)** Ayn al-Arab District (4 sub-districts) Azaz District (6 sub-districts) Al-Bab District (4 sub-districts) Dayr Hafir District (3 sub-districts)*** Jarabulus District (2 sub-districts) Manbij District (5 sub-districts) Safirah District (5 sub-districts)
* - includes Aleppo City ** - a newly created district since 2008, formerly belonging to Mount Simeon District *** - a newly created district since 2009, formerly belonging to Al-Bab District
Deir ez-Zor Governorate
Deir ez-Zor District (7 sub-districts) Abu Kamal District (4 sub-districts) Mayadin District (3 sub-districts)
Al-Hasakah Governorate
Al-Hasakah District (4 sub-districts) Al-Malikiyah District (3 sub-districts) Qamishli District (4 sub-districts) Ra's al-'Ayn District (2 sub-districts) Al-Shaddadah District (3 sub-districts)
Idlib Governorate
Idlib District (7 sub-districts) Arihah District (3 sub-districts) Harem District (6 sub-districts) Jisr al-Shughur District (4 sub-districts) Ma'arrat al-Numan District (6 sub-districts)
Raqqa Governorate
Raqqa District (4 sub-districts) Tell Abyad District (3 sub-districts) Tabqa District (3 sub-districts)
South West Syria Damascus Governorate
Damascus (16 municipalities)
Daraa Governorate
Daraa District (8 sub-districts) Izra District (6 sub-districts) Al-Sanamayn District (3 sub-districts)
Quneitra Governorate
Quneitra District (4 sub-districts) Fiq District (2 sub-districts)
Rif Dimashq Governorate
Markaz Rif Dimashq District (6 sub-districts) Darayya District (3 sub-districts) Douma District (7 sub-districts; a.k.a. Duma) An-Nabek District (3 sub-districts; a.k.a. Al-Nabk) Qatana District (3 sub-districts) Qudsaya District (3 sub-districts)* Al-Qutayfah District (4 sub-districts) Al-Tall District (3 sub-districts) Yabroud District (2 sub-districts; a.k.a. Yabrud) Al-Zabadani District (3 sub-districts)
* - a newly created district since 2009, formerly belonging to Markaz Rif Dimashq District and parts of Al-Zabadani District
Suwayda Governorate
Suwayda District (3 sub-districts) Salkhad District (5 sub-districts) Shahba District (4 sub-districts)
Subdistricts of Syria