Districts of Israel

Districts of Israel
מְחוֹזוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל‎ (Hebrew)
مناطق اسرائيل (Arabic)
CategoryUnitary state
LocationState of Israel
Number6
Populations1,032,800 (Haifa) – 2,196,900 (Central District)
Areas190 km2 (72 sq mi) (Tel Aviv) – 14,190 km2 (5,477 sq mi) (Southern District)
Government
  • District government
Subdivisions
Districts, Subdistricts and Natural Regions of the State of Israel, 2018
Population density by natural region, subdistrict, and district in 2018 (thicker border indicates higher tier)

There are six main administrative districts of Israel, known in Hebrew as mekhozot (מְחוֹזוֹת; sing. מָחוֹז, makhoz) and in Arabic as mintaqah. There are also 15 subdistricts of Israel, known in Hebrew nafot (נָפוֹת; sing. נָפָה, nafa) and in Arabic as qadaa. Each subdistrict is further divided into natural regions,[1][2] which in turn are further divided into council-level divisions: whether they might be cities, municipalities, or regional councils.

The present division into districts was established in 1953, to replace the divisions inherited from the British Mandate. It has remained substantially the same ever since; a second proclamation of district boundaries issued in 1957—which remains in force as of 2023—only affirmed the existing boundaries in place.

The figures in this article are based on numbers from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics and so include all places under Israeli civilian rule including those Israeli-occupied territories where this is the case. Therefore, Golan Subdistrict and its four natural regions are included in the number of subdistricts and natural regions even though it is not recognized by the United Nations or the international community as Israeli territory. Similarly, the population figure below for the Jerusalem District was calculated including East Jerusalem whose annexation by Israel is similarly not recognized by the United Nations and the international community. The Judea and Samaria Area, however, is not included in the number of districts and subdistricts as Israel has not applied its civilian jurisdiction in that part of the West Bank.

  1. ^ Key to the Codes in the Maps - Districts, Sub-Districts and Natural Regions 2018, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 2021
  2. ^ Districts, Sub-Districts and Natural Regions 2018, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 2021