Ariana Governorate
Governorate in Tunisia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ariana Governorate (ولاية أريانة Wilāyat Aryānah pronounced [ærˈjæːnæ] ; Gouvernorat de l'Ariana) is one of the 24 governorates of Tunisia. Located in northern Tunisia, it has an approximately triangular shape, with one side bordering the Gulf of Tunis. It covers an area of 482 km2 (186 sq mi) and has a population of 668,552 (2024 census). Its capital is Ariana.
Ariana Governorate
ولاية أريانة | |
|---|---|
Map of Tunisia with Ariana highlighted | |
 Subdivisions of Ariana Governorate | |
| Coordinates: 36°51′45″N 10°11′44″E | |
| Country |  Tunisia |
| Created | March 1983 |
| Capital | Ariana |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Walid Sandid (since 2024) |
| Area | |
• Total | 482 km2 (186 sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 23rd of 24 |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 668,552 |
| • Rank | Ranked 6th of 24 |
| • Density | 1,390/km2 (3,590/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01 (CET) |
| Postal prefix | 20xx |
| ISO 3166 code | TN-12 |
Geography
Ariana Governorate is located in northern Tunisia and has an approximately triangular shape, with its eastern side bordering part of the Gulf of Tunis (an inlet of the Mediterranean Sea). It shares borders with Tunis to the south, Bizerte to the north, and Manouba to the west. The average annual temperature is 18.7 °C, and the region receives about 450 mm of rainfall per year.
Administrative divisions
Administratively, the governorate is divided into seven delegations (mutamadiyat), seven municipalities, four rural councils, and approximately 42 sectors (imadas).
The delegations and their populations from the 2014 and 2024 censuses are listed below:[1][2]
| Delegation | Population in 2014 | Population in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Ariana Medina | 114,486 | 109,693 |
| Ettadhamen | 84,312 | 79,133 |
| Kalaat El Andalous | 26,796 | 32,520 |
| Mnihla | 89,884 | 116,327 |
| Raoued | 106,414 | 141,471 |
| Sidi Thabet | 24,503 | 29,546 |
| La Soukra | 129,693 | 159,862 |
Note: The 2024 figures are from the official RGPH 2024 census (conducted 6 November 2024). Some delegations experienced slight declines (e.g., Ariana Medina and Ettadhamen), possibly due to boundary adjustments or migration patterns, while others, such as Raoued and La Soukra, saw significant growth from suburban expansion. The total population sums to 668,552 for the governorate.
Politics
Governors
The governor of Ariana Governorate is appointed by the President of Tunisia. The following table lists all governors since the creation of the governorate in 1983, in reverse chronological order (most recent first):