Dhi Qar Governorate
Governorate of Iraq
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Dhi Qar Governorate (Arabic: محافظة ذي قار, romanized: Muḥāfaẓat Ḏī Qār, Arabic: [muħaːfaðˤat ðiː qaːr]) is a governorate in southern Iraq, in the Arabian Peninsula. The provincial capital is Nasiriyah. Prior to 1976 the governorate was known as Muntafiq Governorate. Dhi Qar was the heartland of the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, and includes the ruins of Ur, Eridu, Lagash, Larsa, Girsu, Umma, and Bad-tibira. The southern area of the governorate is covered by Mesopotamian Marshes. The governorate also includes the recently established Ur Tourist City, a modern heritage and tourism hub located beside the archaeological site of ancient Ur.[3]
Dhi Qar
محافظة ذي قار Dhi Qar Province | |
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Seal | |
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| Coordinates: 31°14′N 46°19′E | |
| Country |  Iraq |
| Capital | Nasiriyah |
| Governor | Mortada Aboud al-Ibrahimi |
| Area | |
• Total | 12,900 km2 (5,000 sq mi) |
| Population (2018[1]) | |
• Total | 2,095,172 |
| ISO 3166 code | IQ-DQ |
| HDI (2024) | 0.706[2] high · 11th of 18 |
| Website | thiqar |
History
Ancient history
Battle of Dhi Qar
Government
- Governor: Yahia Nasseri
- Deputy Governor: Ahmed al-Sheik Taha[4]
- Governorate Council Chairman (GCC): Ihsan Al-Taei[5]
Modern Dhi Qar
The governorate includes the towns of al-Rifai, Qalat Sukkar, Al Shatrah, al-Gharraf, Suq el-Shuyukh, Khamisiyah, al-Chibayish and al-Dawaya.
In the mid-1990s the governor was Tahir Jalil Habbush al-Tikriti, who later became police chief of the country, and in 1999, director of the Iraqi Intelligence Service.[6]
Demographics
The population is approximately 2,000,000, predominantly Shia Arab. The southern marshes have traditionally been home to many Marsh Arabs.
As of 2007, the area is very poor, with an unemployment rate of 17% and a poverty rate of 37%.[7]
Districts
- Al-Chibayish
- Al-Rifa'i
- Shatrah
- Nasiriyah
- Suq Al-Shuykh
- Al-Dawaya
