Hama مُحافظة حماة Ḥamā | |
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.svg) Map of Syria with Hama highlighted | |
| Coordinates (Hama):35°12′N37°12′E / 35.2°N 37.2°E /35.2; 37.2 | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Capital | Hama |
| Manatiq (Districts) | 5 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Abdul Rahman al-Suhian |
| Area | |
• Total | 8,883 km2 (3,430 sq mi) |
| Estimates range between 8,844 km2 and 8,883 km2 | |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 1,628,000 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (470/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | SY-HM |
| Main language(s) | Arabic |
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Hama Governorate (Arabic:مُحافظة حماة /ALA-LC:Muḥāfaẓat Ḥamā) is one of the 14governorates ofSyria. It is situated in western-central Syria, borderingIdlib andAleppo Governorates to the north,Raqqa Governorate to the east,Homs Governorate to the south, andTartus andLatakia Governorate to the west. It is the only Governorate (excludingDamascus) that does not border a foreign country. Measures of its area vary from 8,844 km2[1] to 8,883 km2,[2] with its capital being the city ofHama.
Hama has historically been a centre of opposition to the Assad regime, and it was the centre of anuprising in the late 1970s to the early 1980s that resulted in the1982 Hama massacre.[3][4]
The city was one of several that saw anti-Assad protests in 2011, the violent suppression of which ultimately led to the outbreak of civil war.[5] Despite this, for the most part the governorate has stayed under the Syrian Government's control, with exceptions of parts of the north-west in the early years of the conflict.[6] The eastern desert regions of the governorate fell under the control ofIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant by 2016,[7] but by September 2017 the Syrian Army had managed to oust them.[8] During the2024 Northwestern Syria Offensive, theSyrian Salvation Government captured large portions of the governorate. On 5 December 2024, the governorate's capital Hama was captured.[9]
The western regions of the governorate are part of theSyrian Coastal Mountain Range (Nusayriyah Mountains), running north to south.[10] Roughly parallel with the mountains to the east is theAl-Ghab Plain, with theOrontes river flowing through it, Hama city lies on this river.[11] The central and eastern regions of the governorate consist of flatter desert terrain.
The provincial capital isHama; other major settlements includeAkakir,Al-Hamraa, Al Qastal,Al-Saan, Aqarib as Safi, At Tammazah,Ithriya,Kafr Buhum,Karnaz,Mahardah,Masyaf,Murak,Qalaat al-Madiq,Qasr Ibn Wardan,Sabburah,Salamiyah,Shaykh Hilal, Shaytalun,Suran and Tayyibat at Turki.
The governorate is divided into fivedistricts (manatiq). The districts are further divided into 22 sub-districts (nawahi):
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Agriculture dominates the labor force of Hama Governorate, with 48% of employment occurring within this sector. The remaining employment is spread between industry (22%) and trade and other services (30%). The main agricultural crops are wheat, barley, cotton, beetroot, onion, tobacco, and various vegetables. Fruit trees such as olive, pistachio, apple, pear, plum and peach are also commonly grown here. Animal breeding of sheep, goats, poultry and bees are prevalent in Hama.[12]
Between 1926 and 1949, Hama witnessed developments in its public sector with industry expanding on sugar plants, onion drying, oils manufacturing, cotton grinning factories, and cement production and processing. Other manufacturing industry that was expanded include soda, ice cream, candy, textile, wool, cotton, rugs, carpets, gowns, andhorse saddles. The region is also Syria's center of its chemical and manufacturing industry.[12]
As per the 2004 Syrian census the population was 1,385,000.[1] A 2011UNOCHA estimate put the population at 1,628,000, though this has likely changed since the start of the war.[13]
| Religious composition of Hama Governorate (2011) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunni Muslims | 67% | |||
| Alawites | 17% | |||
| Ismaili Muslims | 10% | |||
| Christians | 6% | |||
| Shia Muslims | 0.1% | |||
At the end of 2011, the population of Hama was estimated at 1,628,000, representing 8% of Syria's population.Sunni Muslims form the majority at 67%, followed byAlawites (17%),Ismaili Muslims (10%),Christians (6%) andTwelver Shia Muslims (0.1%).[14]
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