Beersheba Subdistrict

Beersheba Subdistrict נפת באר שבע قضاء بئر السبع
Subdistrict
Country	Israel
District	Southern
Area
• Total	12,918 km2 (4,988 sq mi)
Population  (2016)[1]
• Total	703,700
Ethnicity
• Jews and others	65.1%
• Arabs	34.8%

31°15′32″N 34°47′52″E / 31.2589°N 34.7978°E / 31.2589; 34.7978 Beersheba Subdistrict is the southernmost sub-district of Israel and one of two sub-districts of the Southern District in the Negev. The largest city and capital of the sub-district is the metropolis of Beersheba. Spanning approximately 12,918 km² (4,988 sq mi), it is the largest sub-district by land area, and had around 703,700 residents in 2016. The population is composed of a mixture of Jews and Arabs.

The sub-district largely corresponds to the area of the former Beersheba district during the British Mandate of Palestine and underwent administrative reorganization after the formation of the State of Israel.^[2] Historically, the region was home to Bedouin tribal confederations with documented social structure and land use prior to sedentary settlement.^[3]

Beersheba is the southernmost sub-district of Israel and one of two sub-districts of the Southern District. Spanning approximately 12,918 km² (4,988 sq mi), it is the largest sub-district by land area, and stretches from Beersheba n central Israel to Eilat in the southern tip. The largest city and capital of the sub-district is the metropolis of Beersheba.^[2] Characterized by the broader Negev desert, it encompasses arid plains, portions of the Judean Desert, parts of the Arava Valley, and stretching to the Red Sea coast.^[3] The terrain includes desert plateaus and escarpments separating the Negev Highlands from lowland arid regions descending towards Eilat.^[3] Climatic conditions range from Mediterranean climate around Beersheba to hyper-arid conditions nearer to Eilat, with annual rainfall often below 100 mm (3.9 in).^[2]

As of 2016, the subdistrict had 703,700 residents, composed of approximately 65.1% Jewish and 34.8% Arabs (including Bedouin communities).^[1][2] Beersheba metropolis accounted for 211,251 inhabitants in 2021.^[4] The sub-district hosts approximately half of Negev’s Bedouin population, who have transitioned from traditional pastoral lifestyles to semi-urbanized towns. The blend of Jewish urban residents and Bedouin rural communities, resulted in coexisting traditions, languages, and festivals. Annual regional events and tribal celebrations remain prominent in the Arab and Bedouin villages, alongside civic festivals hosted in Beersheba.^[3]

Beersheba serves as a regional hub for commerce, services, education, and technology, attracting both residents and investors. The region is a cultural and tourism hub, driven by heritage tourism, theaters, galleries, and university-linked innovation centers.^[5] The economy also relies on desert-adapted agriculture, particularly in Arad and the Arava region, mineral extraction, and tourism along the Dead Sea and Red Sea corridors.^[2] Wages in the Southern District tend to be lower than national averages and the unemployment is higher, reflecting the economic disparities.^[6]

The sub-district is part of the Israel Railways transit network, and is served by a major railway line from Tel Aviv to Beersheba, which further extends to Dimona and other freight routes in the south.^[7][8] Major highways run through the region, connecting it to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Sderot, and Eilat. Bus operators such as Metropoline and Dan Be’er Sheva provide extensive intercity and intra-metropolitan routes.^[9][10] Teyman airfield offers general aviation services in the north while Ramon Airport serves the southern region.^[11]