List of Syria Provinces and Capitals - Largest and Smallest by Area & Population

Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 27, 2026

I apologize for the confusion in my previous response. The correct term for the administrative divisions in Syria is "Governorates" or "Muhafazat" in Arabic. Here are the 14 governorates of Syria:

Syria is a country in Western Asia located on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel. The country is divided into 14 governorates for regional administration and governance. Damascus is the capital of Syria and also one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, while Aleppo has historically been the country’s largest city and major commercial center.

Syria includes Mediterranean coastal plains, mountain ranges, fertile river valleys, steppe lands, and large desert regions in the interior and east. Different governorates are known for agriculture, trade, oil production, manufacturing, historic cities, and archaeological sites, and the country’s long history has shaped a mix of Arab, Kurdish, Armenian, Assyrian, and other cultural communities across the region.

Key Facts

List of Governorates and Capitals of Syria

Total administrative divisions shown: 14 | Combined population: 23,227,000 | Combined area: 185,180 km²

#	Governorate Name	Governorate Capital	Geographic Region	Area (km²)	Population (Official Estimate 2025)
1	Aleppo Governorate	Aleppo	Northern Syria	18,482	5,200,000
2	Al-Hasakah Governorate	Al-Hasakah	Northeastern Syria	23,334	1,800,000
3	Ar-Raqqah Governorate	Ar-Raqqah	Central Euphrates Region	19,616	1,100,000
4	As-Suwayda Governorate	As-Suwayda	Southern Highlands	5,550	450,000
5	Daraa Governorate	Daraa	Southern Border Region	3,730	1,100,000
6	Damascus Governorate	Damascus	Capital Region	105	2,600,000
7	Deir ez-Zor Governorate	Deir ez-Zor	Eastern Desert Region	33,060	1,500,000
8	Hama Governorate	Hama	Central Agricultural Belt	8,883	1,900,000
9	Homs Governorate	Homs	Central Syria	42,223	2,100,000
10	Idlib Governorate	Idlib	Northwestern Syria	6,097	2,200,000
11	Latakia Governorate	Latakia	Mediterranean Coast	2,297	1,300,000
12	Quneitra Governorate	Quneitra	Southwestern Plateau	1,861	120,000
13	Rif Dimashq Governorate	Douma	Damascus Countryside	18,032	3,000,000
14	Tartus Governorate	Tartus	Mediterranean Coast	1,892	857,000

Largest Governorates by Area

Homs Governorate - 16,302 sq mi (42,223 km²)
Deir ez-Zor Governorate - 12,765 sq mi (33,060 km²)
Al-Hasakah Governorate - 9,009 sq mi (23,334 km²)
Ar-Raqqah Governorate - 7,574 sq mi (19,616 km²)
Aleppo Governorate - 7,136 sq mi (18,482 km²)
Rif Dimashq Governorate - 6,962 sq mi (18,032 km²)
Hama Governorate - 3,430 sq mi (8,883 km²)
Idlib Governorate - 2,354 sq mi (6,097 km²)

Most Populous Governorates

Aleppo Governorate - Population: 5,200,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Rif Dimashq Governorate - Population: 3,000,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Damascus Governorate - Population: 2,600,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Idlib Governorate - Population: 2,200,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Homs Governorate - Population: 2,100,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Hama Governorate - Population: 1,900,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Al-Hasakah Governorate - Population: 1,800,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Deir ez-Zor Governorate - Population: 1,500,000 (Official Estimate 2025)

Smallest Governorates by Area

Damascus Governorate - 41 sq mi (105 km²)
Quneitra Governorate - 719 sq mi (1,861 km²)
Tartus Governorate - 730 sq mi (1,892 km²)
Latakia Governorate - 887 sq mi (2,297 km²)
Daraa Governorate - 1,440 sq mi (3,730 km²)
As-Suwayda Governorate - 2,143 sq mi (5,550 km²)

Governorates by Geographic Grouping

Capital Region: Damascus Governorate
Central Agricultural Belt: Hama Governorate
Central Euphrates Region: Ar-Raqqah Governorate
Central Syria: Homs Governorate
Damascus Countryside: Rif Dimashq Governorate
Eastern Desert Region: Deir ez-Zor Governorate
Mediterranean Coast: Latakia Governorate, Tartus Governorate
Northeastern Syria: Al-Hasakah Governorate
Northern Syria: Aleppo Governorate
Northwestern Syria: Idlib Governorate
Southern Border Region: Daraa Governorate
Southern Highlands: As-Suwayda Governorate
Southwestern Plateau: Quneitra Governorate

Governorates with Coastline

Latakia Governorate
Tartus Governorate

Landlocked Governorates

Aleppo Governorate
Al-Hasakah Governorate
Ar-Raqqah Governorate
As-Suwayda Governorate
Daraa Governorate
Damascus Governorate
Deir ez-Zor Governorate
Hama Governorate
Homs Governorate
Idlib Governorate
Quneitra Governorate
Rif Dimashq Governorate

Governorates Sharing an International Border

Aleppo Governorate - borders Turkey
Al-Hasakah Governorate - borders Turkey and Iraq
As-Suwayda Governorate - borders Jordan
Daraa Governorate - borders Jordan
Deir ez-Zor Governorate - borders Iraq
Idlib Governorate - borders Turkey
Latakia Governorate - borders Turkey
Quneitra Governorate - borders Israel
Tartus Governorate - borders Lebanon

Major Economic Activities by Governorate

Governorate	Main Economic Activity	Known For
Damascus Governorate	Government and commerce	Capital city and historic markets
Aleppo Governorate	Manufacturing and trade	Historic trade routes and industry
Homs Governorate	Energy and agriculture	Oil refining and central transport links
Deir ez-Zor Governorate	Oil production	Petroleum fields and Euphrates River
Latakia Governorate	Shipping and tourism	Main Mediterranean port and beaches
Al-Hasakah Governorate	Agriculture and oil	Wheat farming and energy resources

Important Natural and Cultural Areas

Ancient City of Damascus: Damascus Governorate
Ancient City of Aleppo: Aleppo Governorate
Krak des Chevaliers: Homs Governorate
Palmyra Archaeological Site: Homs Governorate
Latakia Coastline: Latakia Governorate
Euphrates River Valley: Deir ez-Zor and Ar-Raqqah Governorates

Sources

World Countries and Capitals

Location Map of Asian Countries

Syria Provinces and Capitals List