Mahdia Governorate (Tunisian Arabic: ولاية المهدية; French: Gouvernorat de Mahdia) is in central-eastern Tunisia, named after its largest town and administrative centre. It comprises an area of coastal relative lowland, but extends further inland than its coastal length. It is one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces). It covers an area of 2,966 km², and has a population of 410,812 (as at the 2014 census). Four other governorates are its neighbours - clockwise from south, Sfax, Kairouan, Sousse and Monastir Governorates. The governorate of Mahdia was created by the decree of March 9, 1974 after having been part of the governorate of Sousse.