Zgharta District

{{more citations needed|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |name =Zgharta Alzawieh District |settlement_type =District  |official_name = {{lang|ar|زغرتا الزاوية}} |nickname = |motto =  |image_skyline = Vue de Ehden et du Mont-Liban.JPG |imagesize = |image_caption = Zgharta Alzawieh District |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = Lebanon districts Zgharta.png |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location in Lebanon |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map =  |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_mapsize =300 |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Lebanon  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{Flag|Lebanon}} |subdivision_type1 = [[Governorates of Lebanon|Governorate]] |subdivision_name1 = [[North Governorate]] |subdivision_type2 =Capital |subdivision_name2 = [[Zgharta]] |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 =  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title =  |established_date = |established_title2 =  |established_date2 = |established_title3 =  |established_date3 =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Imperial  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 182 |area_land_km2 =  |area_water_km2 =  | population_est = 81,490 | pop_est_as_of = 31 December 2017 |population_as_of = |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = |population_density_km2 = auto  |timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]] |utc_offset = +2 |timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]] |utc_offset_DST = +3 |coordinates = |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m =  |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Zgharta Alzawieh District''' ({{langx|ar| زغرتا الزاوية|Zgharta az-Zāwiyeh}}) is a [[district]] (''[[qadaa]]'') of the [[North Governorate, Lebanon|North Governorate]], northern [[Lebanon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Zgharta,+Lebanon/@34.3612557,35.7788964,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x1521f5d6ba9d58a5:0x8e1dde9da3d4d0f6!8m2!3d34.3963158!4d35.8958444!16zL20vMDl6cnh6?entry=ttu|title=Zgharta · Lebanon|website=Zgharta · Lebanon}}</ref> Its capital is the city of [[Zgharta]].

==Geography== The administrative center is the city of [[Zgharta]]. The district has 101 populated areas with 30 municipalities covering 37 villages. Some areas share the same municipality such as [[Ehden]]/[[Zgharta]], [[Kfarsghab]]/Morh Kfarsghab, and [[Miziara]]/Harf Miziara. And there is one Municipalities Union.

The district has a population of around 81,490.

The district elevation is about 40 meters along the coast line and clmbs up to a height of 2,550 meters at the highest point of the [[Mount Lebanon]] mountain range. [[File:Aintourine 07 07 2006.jpg|thumb|Aintourine, Zgharta District]] The highest populated part of the district overlooks the [[Qozhaya]] Valley, which is the northern branch of the Holy Valley of [[Qadisha]], a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]. The [[Horsh Ehden|Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve]] is in the mountains within the district. This higher part of the district is a visitor destination, including the Monastery of [[Mar Sarkis, Ehden|Mar Sarkis]] and the Monastery of [[Qozhaya]] areas.

==Economy== Agriculture stays the main activity of the district with an important olive oil production in the coastal area and fruits (apple and pears) in the mountain area. The recent years saw the development of a modest [[service sector]] around the economic pole of [[Zgharta]].

Tourism also plays a big role in the district's economy. The main tourism hotspot in the Zgharta District is undoubtedly [[Ehden]], which sees an influx of tourists every summer, as many people from around the country visit the mountain town. There are many religious tourism sites, such as the [[Monastery of Qozhaya]], Mar Mema Church (the oldest standing Maronite church in the world), Saydet Al Marahem in Miziara and the famous Saydet El Hosn (Lady of the Fortress) in Ehden.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Portail | url=https://www.visit-lebanon.org/leisure/north-lebanon-religious-sites | access-date=2025-08-17 | website=www.visit-lebanon.org}}</ref>

==Demographics== The officially registered population of the district was estimated to 90,000 in 1998. Around 50% of residents live in the economic pole of Zgharta: [[Zgharta]], [[Rachiine]], [[Kfardlakos]], [[Kfarhata Zgharta|Kfarhata]], [[Mejdlaya|Mijdlayiah]], [[Ardeh, Lebanon|Ardeh]], [[Harf Ardeh]]. The main other significantly populated areas are [[Miryata]] and [[Miziara]].

According to registered voters in 2014:

{| class="wikitable" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !colspan="5"| [[Christianity in Lebanon|Christians]] !colspan="4"| [[Islam in Lebanon|Muslims]] !colspan="1"| [[Druze in Lebanon|Druze]] |- ! Total ! [[Maronite Church|Maronites]] ! [[Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch|Greek Orthodox]] ! [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Greek Catholics]] ! [[Christianity|Other Christians]] ! Total ! [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] ! [[Shia Islam|Shias]] ! [[Alawites]] ! [[Druze]] |- |2014<ref>{{Cite web | title=التوزيع حسب المذاهب للناخبين/ناخبات في قضاء زغرتا، محافظة الشمال في لبنان | url=https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/الشمال/زغرتا/المذاهب/ | access-date=2025-08-17 | website=lub-anan.com}}</ref> | {{percentage bar|width=70|87.10}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|79.42}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|5.67}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|1.11}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.90}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|12.69}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|12.41}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.19}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.09}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.01}} |- |2018<ref>{{Cite web |title= Critical study in proportional election law |url= https://archive.lebanonfiles.com/news/1301866/?mobile=no |year=2018 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-06-15 |website=Lebanonfiles.com (in Arabic) |language=english}}</ref> | {{percentage bar|width=70|86.81}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|78.92}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|5.65}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|1.12}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|1.12}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|13.17}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|12.88}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.19}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.1}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.01}} |- |2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mapping Lebanon: Data and statistics |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1297803/data-and-statistics.html |year=2022 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-10-05 |website=today.lorientlejour.com (in English) |language=english}}</ref> | {{percentage bar|width=70|86.25}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|78.79}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|5.72}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|1.15}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.59}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|13.75}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|13.69}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.04}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.02}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.00}} |- |2026<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statify Lebanon|url= https://www.instagram.com/p/DUksfDEjIQX/?igsh=cDdtc2pudmo0YWN0 |year=2022 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-10-05 |website=statisticslebanon.lb (in English) |language=english}}</ref> | {{percentage bar|width=70|85.65}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|80.47}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|4.11}} | {{N/a}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|1.07}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|14.35}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|14.35}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.00}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.00}} | {{percentage bar|width=70|0.00}} |}

In 2022, there were 81,959 registered voters in the Zgharta district. <ref>https://www.dgcs.gov.lb/arabic/statistics-map?l=en&y=2022</ref>

Number of registered voters (21+ years old) over the years. {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Years !Men !Women !Total !Growth (%) |- |2009 |35,567 |35,770 |71,337 |{{N/a}} |- |2010 |35,690 {{increase}} |35,879 {{increase}} |71,569 {{increase}} | +0.32% {{increase}} |- |2011 |35,765 {{increase}} |35,909 {{increase}} |71,674 {{increase}} | +0.15% {{decrease}} |- |2012 |36,244 {{increase}} |36,375 {{increase}} |72,619 {{increase}} | +1.30% {{increase}} |- |2013 |36,911 {{increase}} |36,906 {{increase}} |73,817 {{increase}} | +1.62% {{increase}} |- |2014 |37,340 {{increase}} |37,420 {{increase}} |74,760 {{increase}} | +1.26% {{decrease}} |- |2015 |37,762 {{increase}} |37,765 {{increase}} |75,527 {{increase}} | +1.02% {{decrease}} |- |2016 |38,159 {{increase}} |38,326{{increase}} |76,485 {{increase}} | +1.25% {{increase}} |- |2017 |38,626 {{increase}} |38,726 {{increase}} |77,352 {{increase}} | +1.12% {{decrease}} |- |2018 |39,077 {{increase}} |39,106 {{increase}} |78,183 {{increase}} | +1.06% {{decrease}} |- |2019 |39,821 {{increase}} |39,869 {{increase}} |79,690 {{increase}} | '''+1.89%''' {{increase}} |- |2020 |40,286 {{increase}} |40,279 {{increase}} |80,565 {{increase}} | +1.09% {{decrease}} |- |2021 |40,595 {{increase}} |40,533 {{increase}} |81,128 {{increase}} | +0.69% {{decrease}} |- |2022 |41,053 {{increase}} |40,906 {{increase}} |81,959 {{increase}} | +1.01% {{increase}} |- |2023 |41,222 {{increase}} |41,009 {{increase}} |82,231 {{increase}} | +0.33% {{decrease}} |- |2024 |41,529 {{increase}} |41,260 {{increase}} |82,789 {{increase}} | +0.67% {{increase}} |- |2025 |41,688 {{increase}} |41,471 {{increase}} |83,159 {{increase}} | +0.44% {{decrease}} |- |2026 | {{N/a}} | {{N/a}} |83,682 {{increase}} | +0.62% {{increase}} |- | colspan="5" |Source: DGCS [https://www.dgcs.gov.lb/arabic/statistics-map?l=en&y=2025] |}

==Towns and villages== {| class="wikitable" |- !Village ![[Arabic]] name !GPS Coord !Population 1998 |- |[[Aarjes]] |{{lang|ar|عرجس}} |{{coord|34|19|51|N|35|52|53|E|name=Aarjes}} | |- |[[Aintourine]] |{{lang|ar|عينتورين}} |{{coord|34|17|06|N|35|57|25|E|name=Aintourine}} | |- |[[Aitou]] |{{lang|ar|أيطو}} |{{coord|34|18|31|N|35|55|11|E|name=Aitou}} | |- |[[Alma, Lebanon|Alma]] |{{lang|ar|علما}} | | |- |[[Arbet Kozhaya]] |{{lang|ar|عربة قزحيا}} |{{coord|34|17|42|N|35|55|32|E|name=Arbet Kozhaya}} | |- |[[Ardeh, Lebanon|Ardeh]] |{{lang|ar|ارده}} | | |- |[[Ashash|Achach]] |{{lang|ar|عشاش}} | | |- |[[Aslout]] |{{lang|ar|اسلوت}} | | |- |[[Asnoun]] |{{lang|ar|اصنون}} |{{coord|34|23|15|N|35|53|11|E|name=Asnoun}} | |- |[[Basloukit]] |{{lang|ar|بسلوقيت}} | | |- |[[Bchennine]] |{{lang|ar|بشنين}} | | |- |[[Beit Awkar]] |{{lang|ar|بيت عوكر}} | | |- |[[Beit Obeid]] |{{lang|ar|بيت عبيد}} | | |- |[[Besbeel]] |{{lang|ar|بسبعل}} | | |- |[[Bhairet Toula]] |{{lang|ar|بحيرة تولا}} |{{coord|34|19|23|N|35|58|15|E|name=Bhairet Toula}} | |- |[[Bnachii]] |{{lang|ar|بنشعي}} |{{coord|34|19|58|N|35|53|43|E|name=Bnachii}} | |- |[[Bousit]] |{{lang|ar|بوسيط}} | | |- |[[Daraya, Zgharta|Daraya]] |{{lang|ar|داريا}} |{{coord|34|19|44|N|35|52|07|E|name=Daraya}} | |- |[[Ehden]] |{{lang|ar|أهدن}} | | |- |[[Ejbeh]] |{{lang|ar|اجبع}} |{{coord|34|18|33|N|35|56|37|E|name=Ejbeh}} | |- |[[Fraydiss]] |{{lang|ar|مزرعة الفريديس}} | | |- |[[Haret Al Fawar]] |{{lang|ar|حارة الفوار}} |{{coord|34.432363|35.88705|format=dms}} | |- |[[Harf Ardeh]] |{{lang|ar|حرف أرده}} | | |- |[[Miziara|Harf Miziara]] |{{lang|ar|حرف مزيارة}} |{{coord|34|20|06|N|35|56|23|E|name=Harf Miziara}} | |- |[[Hawqa]] |{{lang|ar|حوقا}} |{{coord|34|16|20|N|35|56|30|E|name=Hawqa}} | |- |[[Hilan]] |{{lang|ar|حيلان}} | | |- |[[Miziara|Houmeiss]] |{{lang|ar|حميص}} |{{coord|34|19|43|N|35|55|59|E|name=Houmeiss}} | |- |[[Iaal, Lebanon|Iaal]] |{{lang|ar|ايعال}} |{{coord|34|22|N|35|55|E|name=Iaal}} | |- |[[Jdaydeh]] |{{lang|ar|جديدة}} | | |- |[[Kadrieh]] |{{lang|ar|القادرية}} | | |- |[[Karahbache]] |{{lang|ar|قره باش}} |{{coord|34|23|37|N|35|53|40|E|name=Karahbache}} | |- |[[Karmsaddeh]] |{{lang|ar|كرمسدة}} |{{coord|34|18|21|N|35|53|23|E|name=Karmsaddeh}} | |- |[[Kfardlakos]] |{{lang|ar|كفردلاقوس}} | | |- |[[Kfarfou]] |{{lang|ar|كفرفو}} |{{coord|34|19|05|N|35|52|48|E|name=Kfarfou}} | |- |[[Kfarhawra]] |{{lang|ar|كفرحورا}} | | |- |[[Kfarsghab]] |{{lang|ar|كفرصغاب}} |{{coord|34|16|42|N|35|57|44|E|name=Kfarsghab}} | |- |[[Kfarshakhna]] |{{lang|ar|كفرشخنا}} | | |- |[[Kfarhata Zgharta|Kfarhata]] |{{lang|ar|كفرحاتا}} |{{coord|34|22|58|N|35|53|51|E|name=Kfarhata}} | |- |[[Kfaryachit]] |{{lang|ar|كفرياشيت}} |{{coord|34|20|46|N|35|53|40|E|name=Kfaryachit}} | |- |[[Kfarzeina]] |{{lang|ar|كفرزينا}} | | |- |[[Khaldieh]] |{{lang|ar|خالدية}} | | |- |[[Kifraya]] |{{lang|ar|كفريا}} | | |- |[[Mazraat En Nahr]] |{{lang|ar|مزرعة النهر}} ||{{coord|34|16|50|N|35|53|54|E|name=Mazraat En Nahr}} | |- |[[Mazraat Al Toufah]] |{{lang|ar|مزرعة التفاح}} | | |- |[[Mazraat Hraikis]] |{{lang|ar|مزرعة حريقص}} | | |- |[[Mejdlaya]] |{{lang|ar|مجدليا}} | | |- |[[Miriata]] |{{lang|ar|مرياطه}} | | |- |[[Miziara]] |{{lang|ar|مزيارة}} |{{coord|34|19|58|N|35|55|49|E|name=Miziara}} | |- |[[Kfarsghab|Morh Kfarsghab]] |{{lang|ar|مرح كفرصغاب}} |{{coord|34|20|11|N|35|54|12|E|name=Morh Kfarsghab}} | |- |[[Rachiine]] |{{lang|ar|رشعين}} | | |- |[[Raskifa]] |{{lang|ar|راسكيفا}} |{{coord|34|18|38|N|35|52|01|E|name=Raskifa}} | |- |[[Miziara|Sakhra]] |{{lang|ar|صخرا}} | | |- |[[Sebhel]] |{{lang|ar|سبعل}} |{{coord|34|18|53|N|35|54|31|E|name=Sebhel}} | |- |[[Sereel]] |{{lang|ar|سرعل}} |{{coord|34|17|24|N|35|54|41|E|name=Sereel}} | |- |[[Toula, Lebanon|Toula]] |{{lang|ar|تولا}} |{{coord|34|19|03|N|35|57|49|E|name=Toula}} | |- |[[Zgharta]] |{{lang|ar|زغرتا}} | | |}

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Zgharta District| ]] [[Category:Districts of Lebanon]] [[Category:North Governorate]]