Ariana Governorate ( Wilāyat Aryānah pronounced ; ) is one of the 24 governorates of Tunisia. Located in northern Tunisia, it has an approximately triangular shape, with one side bordering the Gulf of Tunis. It covers an area of and has a population of 668,552 (2024 census). Its capital is Ariana.
Geography Ariana Governorate is located in northern Tunisia and has an approximately triangular shape, with its eastern side bordering part of the Gulf of Tunis (an inlet of the Mediterranean Sea). It shares borders with Tunis to the south, Bizerte to the north, and Manouba to the west. The average annual temperature is 18.7 °C, and the region receives about 450 mm of rainfall per year.
Administrative divisions
Administratively, the governorate is divided into seven delegations (mutamadiyat), seven municipalities, four rural councils, and approximately 42 sectors (imadas).
The delegations and their populations from the 2014 and 2024 censuses are listed below:
Delegation Population in 2014 Population in 2024 Ariana Medina Ettadhamen Kalaat El Andalous Mnihla Raoued Sidi Thabet La Soukra
Note: The 2024 figures are from the official RGPH 2024 census (conducted 6 November 2024). Some delegations experienced slight declines (e.g., Ariana Medina and Ettadhamen), possibly due to boundary adjustments or migration patterns, while others, such as Raoued and La Soukra, saw significant growth from suburban expansion. The total population sums to 668,552 for the governorate.
Politics Governors The governor of Ariana Governorate is appointed by the President of Tunisia. The following table lists all governors since the creation of the governorate in 1983, in reverse chronological order (most recent first):
Governor Term Start Term End Notes Walid Sandid 8 September 2024 present Khaled Nouri 6 June 2022 25 May 2024 Saloua Khiari 16 September 2016 29 October 2017 First female governor ... ... ... ...
References