Beqaa Governorate

Summary

Beqaa (Arabic: البقاع Al-Biqā') is a governorate in Lebanon.

Beqaa Governorate
مقاطعة البقاع
Map of Lebanon with Beqaa highlighted
Map of Lebanon with Beqaa highlighted
Coordinates: 33°50′N 35°54′E / 33.833°N 35.900°E / 33.833; 35.900
CountryLebanon
CapitalZahlé
Government
 • GovernorKamal Abou Jaoudeh
Area
 • Total1,433 km2 (553 sq mi)
Population
 • Estimate 
(31 December 2017)[1]
534,342
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Districts edit

Since 2014, Beqaa Governorate contains three districts:

A law was passed in 2003 to separate Baalbek District and Hermel District from Beqaa Governorate to form a new governorate, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate.[2] Implementation of Baalbek-Hermel began in 2014 with the appointment of its first governor.[3]

Demographics edit

Religion in the Beqaa Governorate

  Christianity (41%)
  Sunni Islam (37%)
  Shia Islam (15%)
  Druze (7%)
 
Joub Jeneen, Beqaa Governorate. Syrian refugee camp in foreground. (2015)

According to voter registration data, the governorate is approximately 41% Christian to 52% Muslim to 7% Druze (313505 voters).

In the district (qadaa) of Zahlé (meaning an area much greater than that of the city proper), Christians form a majority of 55% of voters (172555 in total). In the district of West Beqaa-Rashaya (the two are combined as an electoral district), Christians account for 22.22% of voters (140950 in total).

References edit

  1. ^ Brinkhoff, Thomas (2 March 2019). "Lebanon: Administrative Division". City Population. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Territorial administration of Lebanon". Localiban. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Cabinet Appoints 5 New Governors, Accepts Qaloush's Resignation". Naharnet. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2017.