South District
Israel's Negev region: largest district (14,185 km²), 1.09M residents, Beer Sheva capital, 2.4% growth rate (highest), Bedouin population
The Southern District (population 1.09 million) is Israel's largest administrative region at 14,185 km²—covering most of the Negev desert, the Arava valley, and reaching to Eilat on the Red Sea. The district's population is 79.7% Jewish, 12.7% Arab (primarily Bedouin communities), and 7.6% other origins, with the Bedouin population concentrated around Beer Sheva and in 'recognized' and 'unrecognized' villages. Beer Sheva serves as the regional capital and hosts Ben-Gurion University, while development towns like Dimona, Arad, and Yeruham dot the desert landscape. National planning policy under Outline Plan 35 targets the Southern District for accelerated growth, achieving 2.4% annual population increase—the highest in Israel. The district contains the Dead Sea region, the Ramon Crater, and the Red Sea resort of Eilat, combining tourism with industrial development in towns like Kiryat Gat. The Negev's sparse population and available land have attracted Israeli high-tech and defense installations seeking space unavailable in the crowded center.