Syria Administrative Divisions
What is the hierarchy of administrative divisions in Syria?
Here’s a breakdown of the hierarchy:
1. Governorates: Syria is divided into 14 governorates.
2. Districts: Governorates are subdivided into districts.
3. Sub-districts: These are the smallest administrative units, often found within districts.
List of Syria's administrative divisions with their counts and names
These are the summarized administrative divisions. The full dataset is available in the Download Center.
| iso | country | admin level 1 | admin level 2 | admin level 3 | admin level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SY | Syria | Aleppo (Governorate) | 8 Districts | 40 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Al-Hasakah (Governorate) | 4 Districts | 16 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Al-Raqqah (Governorate) | 3 Districts | 10 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Al-Suwayda (Governorate) | 3 Districts | 12 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Damascus (Capital) | This level doesn’t exist for this country. | This level doesn’t exist for this country. | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Daraa (Governorate) | 3 Districts | 17 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Deir ez-Zor (Governorate) | 3 Districts | 14 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Hama (Governorate) | 5 Districts | 22 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Homs (Governorate) | 6 Districts | 23 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Idlib (Governorate) | 5 Districts | 26 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Latakia (Governorate) | 4 Districts | 22 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Quneitra (Governorate) | 2 Districts | 6 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Rif Dimashq (Governorate) | 9 Districts | 36 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
| SY | Syria | Tartus (Governorate) | 5 Districts | 27 Sub-districts | This level doesn’t exist for this country. |
Why is building an Administrative Divisions Database complex?
The complexity arises from inconsistent global standards, frequent boundary changes, non-uniform naming conventions (e.g., “suburb” in Australia vs. “county” in the US), and variations in administrative levels across countries. Integrating and harmonizing data from multiple sources requires advanced normalization, versioning, and geospatial validation techniques.
How does GeoPostcodes solve the problem for you?
Our standardized database overcomes the complexity of different administrative division
systems worldwide. Our database follows a unified structure that you can integrate
seamlessly into your system or platform of choice without needing to become an expert in
each country’s unique administrative hierarchy.
Download the complete Dataset
Explore the comprehensive list of administrative divisions, standardized and scalable across 247 countries.
Why choose GeoPostcodes
Global coverage
Complete coverage across 247 countries, including hard-to-source geographies like China, Japan, Brazil, and Russia.
Highest quality
Built on extensive, authoritative sourcing with robust data engineering and quality control. Standardized and up-to-date.
Expert Consulting
With 15 years of experience, we guide your implementation and deliver data in the format that fits your system.
Trusted by industry leaders
Join more than 100 enterprise clients who trust GeoPostcodes for their location data
Anjo Grebe
Consultant
Dr. Peter Wild
Managing Partner
Kousha Mazloumi
Director of Data Science
Kousha Mazloumi
Director of Data Science
William Chao
Product Owner of Geographic Information Services
Kate Kilby
Senior Product Manager
Dave Hamm
Project Manager
Kavian Ranjbar
Data Governance Specialist
Nick Beaugié
Senior Software Engineer
Our location dataset for Syria
Syria ZIP Codes
Syria ZIP & Administrative boundaries
Syria Address Format
Address validation - Syria address validation
Global Location Databases
Comprehensive location data products serving businesses, and
organizations worldwide with accurate, up-to-date geographic information.
Postal Code Database
Global dataset containing all administrative divisions, cities and ZIP codes.
Explore postal code databaseKey features
- 247 Countries
- 9,9M Coordinates
- 9,3M ZIP codes
- 400 Time zones
- 4M Cities and Towns
- 116K UNLOCODES
Specifications
- Coverage: Global
- Format: CSV, ASC, DAT, GML, GeoJSON, KML, Shapefile (SHP)
Address Database
International dataset with all administrative areas, cities, ZIP codes, streets, and house numbers.
Explore address databaseKey features
- 81 Countries
- 299 languages
- 26,5M streets
- 400 time zones
- 9.3M ZIP codes
- 4M cities
Specifications
- Coverage: International
- Format: CSV, ASC, DAT, GML, KML, Shapefile (SHP), GeoJSON
Boundary Data
A global dataset of polygons representing ZIP codes and administrative areas.
Explore boundaries databaseKey features
- 247 Countries
- Up to 6 levels
- 1,7M boundaries
- High-precision
- 245K Admin areas
- Visualization
Specifications
- Coverage: Global
- Format: GeoJSON, Geopackage, KML, Shapefile (SHP)
Population Database
Global population estimates at postal code and administrative level covering a span of 55 years: past, present, and future.
Explore population databaseKey features
- 247 Countries
- 243K Admin areas
- 55 year span
- Yearly updates
- 645K ZIP codes
Specifications
- Coverage: International
- Format: CSV, ASC
Global Postal Code Coverage
247 countries and territories with standardized formatting and reliable geographic information.
Related Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Syria is divided into 1 capital (دمشق) and 13 governorates (محافظات), which form the top-level administrative units. These are subdivided into 60 districts (النواحي). The smallest administrative level consists of 271 sub-districts (المناطق). Major capital include Aleppo, Al-Hasakah, and Al-Raqqah.
Syria has 3 administrative levels. Level 1: 1 capital (دمشق) and 13 governorates (محافظات). Level 2: 60 districts (النواحي). Level 3: 271 sub-districts (المناطق).
Syria operates on a 3‑level system starting with 14 governorates, then districts, and sub-districts as the smallest administrative units. Note that Damascus do not have sub-divisions at the next level.
In Syria, capital and governorates both sit at administrative level 1 but serve different functions. Capital (دمشق) — there is 1 — is typically a larger city or urban area that governs itself independently. Governorates (محافظات) — there are 13 — group multiple smaller municipalities under a shared administration.
Syrian administrative divisions have specific local names at each level. In Arabic, capital are called دمشق; governorates are called محافظات; districts are called النواحي; sub-districts are called المناطق. These local-language terms appear in official documents, legal records, and government databases, so matching them correctly is important for data integration and compliance.
Administrative boundaries in Syria change as governments reorganize regions, merge municipalities, or create new administrative units to reflect population shifts and political decisions. Changes most commonly affect the sub-districts level, where Syria currently has 271 units. Businesses that rely on Syrian administrative data should use a regularly updated reference dataset to avoid mismatches in geocoding, tax jurisdiction mapping, and compliance reporting.