Homs Governorate

Temple of Bel

Homs Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة حمص / ALA-LC: Muḥāfaẓat Ḥimṣ) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in central Syria. Its area differs in various sources, from to . It is thus geographically the largest governorate of Syria. Homs Governorate has a population of 1,763,000 (2010 estimate). The Homs governorate is divided into 6 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 (manatiq). The districts are further divided into 25 sub-districts (nawahi):

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.