Homs Governorate

Homs Governorate (مُحافظة حمص / ALA-LC: Muḥāfaẓat Ḥimṣ) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in central Syria. Its geography differs in various locations in the governorate, from 40,940 km2 to 42,223 km2. It is geographically the largest governorate in Syria. Homs Governorate has a population of 1,763,000 as of 2010. The Homs governorate is divided into six administrative districts (mantiqah), with the city of Homs as a separate district. Homs is the capital city of the district of Homs. Its governor is Namir Habib Makhlouf.

A Homs Governorate also formed part of Ottoman Syria, when it was also known as the Sanjak of Homs.

Districts


The governorate is divided into seven districts, known as manatiqs. The districts are further divided into 25 sub-districts, known as nawahis:


 * Homs District (10 sub-districts)
 * Homs Subdistrict
 * Khirbet Tin Nur Subdistrict
 * Ayn al-Niser Subdistrict
 * Furqlus Subdistrict
 * Al-Riqama Subdistrict
 * Al-Qaryatayn Subdistrict
 * Mahin Subdistrict
 * Hisyah Subdistrict
 * Sadad Subdistrict
 * Shin Subdistrict
 * Al-Mukharram District (2 sub-districts)
 * al-Mukharram Subdistrict
 * Jubb al-Jarrah Subdistrict
 * Al-Rastan District (2 sub-districts)
 * ar-Rastan Subdistrict
 * Talbiseh Subdistrict


 * Al-Qusayr District (2 sub-districts)
 * Al-Qusayr Subdistrict
 * Al-Hoz Subdistrict
 * Tadmur District (2 sub-districts)
 * Tadmur Subdistrict
 * Al-Sukhnah Subdistrct
 * Taldou District (3 sub-districts)*
 * Taldou Subdistrict
 * Kafr Laha Subdistrict
 * Al-Qabu Subdistrict
 * Talkalakh District (4 sub-districts)
 * Talkalakh Subdistrict
 * Hadidah Subdistrict
 * Al-Nasirah Subdistrict
 * Al-Hawash Subdistrict


 * - a newly-created district since 2010, formerly belonging to Homs District

Demographics
The Al-Mukharram District is predominantly inhabited by Alawites. The Taldou, Talkalakh, Homs and Al-Qusayr districts have a mixed Alawite, Sunni Muslim and Christian population. The Al-Qusayr District is also home to a large number of Shia Muslims.

Notable people

 * Joseph Atiyeh, silver medalist in Olympic wrestling, 1984 Summer Olympics