| Sousse | |
| Native Name: | ولاية سوسة |
| Native Name Lang: | ar |
| Type: | Governorate |
| Image Map1: | Tunisie Gouvernorat de Sousse.svg |
| Map Caption1: | Subdivisions of Sousse Governorate |
| Coordinates: | 35.8333°N 48°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Established Title: | Created |
| Established Date: | 21 June 1956 |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Sousse |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Nabil Ferjani (since 2022) |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 2669 |
| Area Rank: | Ranked 19th of 24 |
| Population Total: | 674971 |
| Population As Of: | 2014 |
| Population Rank: | Ranked 4th of 24 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +01 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal prefix |
| Postal Code: | xx |
| Area Code Type: | Calling code |
| Iso Code: | TN-51 |
Sousse Governorate ( pronounced as /ar/; French: Gouvernorat de Sousse) is one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces) of Tunisia. It is beside the eastern coast of Tunisia in the north-east of the country and covers an area of 2,621 km2 and has a population of 674,971 (2014 census).[1] The capital is Sousse.
The area compasses most of the broad eastern coastal plain (which has a hot Mediterranean climate) featuring salt and fresh water lakes, fed by winter rains. A narrow strip of forest, the Foret Nationale de Tunisie, adjoins part of the beach swathe between Sousse and Hammamet to the far north, the beach forming most of the coastline. These cities are on the Gulf of Hammamet which is a gently-curved bay. The largest lake is the Sebkhet de Sidi El Hani which is shared with two other areas but is mostly in the Sousse Governorate.[2]
Elevations are pronounced in the second national park in the area, which is mainly in Nabeul Governorate, is on all of the seaward sides of Hammam Bent Djadidi adjoining the northern border.
Linked by the widest road in the country and railways to Tunis, the area has roads and railways leading further into the country and towards Libya as well as an airport beside the main port city of Sousse, Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport which is beyond its short eastern border in much smaller Monastir Governorate. There is a Metro line that goes from Sousse Beb Djedid through Monastir to Mahdia.
The governorate is divided into sixteen delegations (mutamadiyat), listed below with their populations at the 2004 and 2014 Censuses:[3]
| Delegation | Area in km2 | Pop'n 2004 Census | Pop'n 2014 Census | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.6 | 25,717 | 34,494 | ||
| 261.8 | 23,581 | 26,760 | ||
| 369.8 | 43,426 | 49,335 | ||
| 18.5 | 34,685 | 42,691 | ||
| 84.4 | 7,913 | 9,343 | ||
| 232.9 | 51,196 | 59,132 | ||
| 102.9 | 27,726 | 37,797 | ||
| 173.7 | 11,636 | 13,565 | ||
| 332.5 | 85,380 | 97,225 | ||
| 128.7 | 17,606 | 19,543 | ||
| 318.7 | 11,614 | 13,505 | ||
| Sousse Jawhara | 14.3 | 62,663 | 86,517 | |
| Sousse Médina | 6.3 | 29,680 | 35,288 | |
| Sousse Riadh | 10.1 | .... | 64,532 | |
| Sousse Sidi Abdelhamid | 12.3 | 46,257 | 52,787 | |
| Zaouia-Ksiba-Thrayet | 36.5 | .... | 32,304 |
Sixteen municipalities are in Sousse Governorate: