List of autonomous areas by country

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Countries with at least one autonomous area

This list of autonomous areas arranged by country gives an overview of autonomous areas of the world. An autonomous area is defined as an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or has freedom from an external authority. It is typical for it to be geographically distant from the country, or to be populated by a national minority. Countries that include autonomous areas are often federacies.[1] The autonomous areas differ from federal units and independent states in the sense that they, in relation to the majority of other sub-national territories in the same country, enjoy a special status including some legislative powers, within the state (for a detailed list of federated units, see federated state).[2]

This list includes areas that are internationally recognized, as well as some that are generally unrecognized.A, B The definition of an autonomous area varies from country to country, so the native term as defined by the respective country's government is listed, and the English translation of the term is included.

Autonomous areas[]

Created by international agreements[]

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the treaty and year(s) indicated, if available) References
 China (PRC) 特別行政區 (Chinese, an official language of both Hong Kong and Macau)
região administrativa especial (Portuguese, another official language of Macau)
special administrative region (English, another official language of Hong Kong) 		 Hong Kong (1997)  · Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984[3]
 Macao (1999)  · Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987[4] 		[5]
 Finland itsehallinnollinen maakunta (Finnish)
självstyrande landskap (Swedish)
autonomous province 		 Åland (1922)  · Åland convention[6][7] [8]
 United Kingdom UK constituent country with devolution Northern Ireland (1999)  · Good Friday Agreement (1998) [9]
 Italy autonome Provinz (German)
provincia autonoma (Italian)
autonomous province 		 South Tyrol (1946, 1972)  · Gruber–De Gasperi Agreement (1946) [10]
 Israel /  Palestine "سلطة الحكم الذاتي الفلسطينية المؤقتة" (Arabic)
"Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority"
סמכות מינהלית ביניים (Hebrew)
interim administrative authority 		 Palestinian National Authority (1994)  · Oslo Accords  · (1993) Gaza Strip and West Bank  · Oslo II Accord (1995) [11][12]

Notes:

  •  Svalbard, Norway: Although it does not fit the definition of autonomous area (not possessing partial internal sovereignty), Svalbard has the sovereignty of Norway limited by the Spitsbergen Treaty of 1920[13] and therefore is considered as having special status (as it is considered fully integrated with Norway, and not a dependency, it is a sui generis case).
  • Heligoland, Germany: Although it is part of a German state, Schleswig-Holstein, it has been excluded of some European Union normatives, such as customs union and the Value Added Tax Area.[14]
  • Büsingen am Hochrhein, Germany and Campione d'Italia, Italy despite being integral parts of their respective countries, these two enclaves of Switzerland predominantly use Swiss franc as currency[15][16] and are in customs union with it.[17]

Created by internal statutes[]

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year(s) indicated, if available) References
 Antigua and Barbuda autonomous island Barbuda (1976) [18]
 Azerbaijan muxtar respublika
autonomous republic 		Nakhchivan (1924) [19][20]
 China (PRC) 自治区 (zìzhìqū)
 Guangxi (1958)  · Inner Mongolia (1947)  · Ningxia (1958)  · Xinjiang (1955)  · Tibet (1965) [5]
自治州 (zìzhìzhōu)
autonomous prefecture 		Bayingolin  · Bortala  · Changji  · Chuxiong  · Dali  · Dehong  · Dêqên  · Enshi  · Gannan  · Garzê  · Golog  · Yushu  · Haibei  · Hainan  · Haixi  · Honghe  · Huangnan  · Ili  · Kizilsu  · Liangshan  · Linxia  · Ngawa  · Nujiang  · Qiandongnan  · Qiannan  · Qianxinan  · Wenshan  · Xiangxi  · Xishuangbanna (Sibsongbanna)  · Yanbian [5]
自治县 (zìzhìxiàn)
autonomous county 		117 (full list) [5]
自治旗 (zìzhìqí)
autonomous banner 		Evenki  · Morin Dawa  · Oroqen [5]
 Denmark autonomous country
(Danish Realm) 		 Faroe Islands (1948)  ·  Greenland (1979) [8]
 Fiji autonomous region  Rotuma [21]
 France sui generis collectivité
sui generis collectivity 		 New Caledonia (1999) [22]
collectivité d'outre-mer
overseas collectivity 		 Saint Barthélemy (2007)  · Saint Martin (2007)  ·  Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2003)  ·  Wallis and Futuna (2003)
pays d'outre-mer
overseas country 		 French Polynesia (2004)
collectivité territoriale unique
single territorial collectivity 		 Mayotte (2011)  ·  French Guiana (2015)  ·  Martinique (2015)  ·  Corsica (2018)  · Alsace Alsace (2021)
 Georgia avtonomiuri respublika
autonomous republic 		Abkhazia (1991-2008)  ·  Adjara (1991) [23]
provisional administrative entity South Ossetia South Ossetia (2007-2008) [24]
 Greece aftonomi monastiki politia
autonomous monastic state 		Mount Athos (1913) [25]
 India autonomous district and territorial council
भारत के स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक क्षेत्र 		Bodoland (2003)  · Bodo Kachari (2020)  · Chakma (1972)  · Churachandpur (1971)  · Deori (2005)  · Dima Hasao (1970)  · Garo Hills (1952)  · Gorkhaland (2011)  · Jaintia Hills (1972)  · Kamatapur (2020)  · Karbi Anglong (1970)  · Kargil Hills (1995)  · Khasi Hills (1952)  · Lai (1972)  · Leh Hills (1995)  · Mara (1972)  · Mising (1995)  · Moran (2020)  · Rabha Hasong (1995)  · Sadar Hills (1995)  · Sonowal Kachari (2005)  · Tiwa (1995)  · Tripura Tribal Areas (1982)  · Thengal Kachari (2005)  · Matak (2020)  · Chandel  · Senapati  · Tamenglong  · Ukhrul and de facto autonomous area – North Sentinel Island (1947) [26]
 Indonesia daerah istimewa
special region 		Yogyakarta (1950)  ·  Aceh (2005)
daerah otonomi khusus
special autonomous region 		 Papua (2000)  ·  West Papua (2008)  ·  Jakarta (1961)
 Iraq kurdistan region
autonomous region 		Kurdistan Region Kurdistan Region (1992) [27]
 Italy regione autonoma
autonomous region 		 Aosta Valley (1948)  ·  Friuli-Venezia Giulia (1963)  ·  Sardinia (1948)  ·  Sicily (1946)  ·  Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (1948) [8]`
provincia autonoma
autonomous province 		 South Tyrol (1972)  ·  Trentino (1972)
 Mauritius autonomous island  Rodrigues (2002) [28]
 Mexico autonomous city Mexico City (2016) [29]
 Moldova unitate teritorială autonomă
autonomous territorial unit 		 Găgăuzia (1995)  · Left Bank of the Dniester (2005) [8]
 Myanmar self-administered zones Danu Self-Administered Zone  · Kokang Self-Administered Zone  · Naga Self-Administered Zone  · Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone  · Pa-O Self-Administered Zone  · Wa Self-Administered Division (2011)
 Nicaragua región autónoma
autonomous region 		 North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region(1986)  · South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (1986) [30]
 Panama comarca indígena
indigenous territory 		Emberá-Wounaan (1983)  · Kuna de Madugandí (1996)  · Kuna de Wargandí (2000)  · Kuna Yala (1938)  · Ngöbe-Buglé (1997)  · Naso Tjër Di Comarca (2020) [31]
 Papua New Guinea autonomous region  Bougainville (2000) [32]
 Philippines rehiyong awtonomus
autonomous region 		 Bangsamoro (2019) [33]
 Portugal região autónoma
autonomous region 		 Azores (1976)  ·  Madeira (1976) [8]
 Russia respublika
(autonomous) republic 		 Adygea ·  Altai Republic ·  Bashkortostan ·  Buryatia ·  Chechnya ·  Chuvashia ·  Republic of Crimea[34] ·  Dagestan ·  Ingushetia ·  Kabardino-Balkaria ·  Kalmykia ·  Karachay-Cherkessia ·  Karelia ·  Khakassia ·  Komi ·  Mari El ·  Mordovia ·  North Ossetia-Alania ·  Sakha Republic ·  Tatarstan ·  Tuva ·  Udmurtia [8]
avtonomnaya oblast
autonomous province 		 Jewish Autonomous Oblast (1934) [8]
avtonomny okrug
autonomous district 		 Chukotka ·  Khanty-Mansi ·  Nenets ·  Yamalo-Nenets [8]
 Saint Kitts and Nevis autonomous island  Nevis (1967) [35]
 São Tomé and Príncipe região autónoma
autonomous region 		Autonomous Region of Príncipe (1995) [36]
 Serbia autonomna pokrajina
autonomous province 		Vojvodina (1945), Serbia also claims Kosovo as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija [37]
 Somalia autonomous region  Puntland (1998) [38]
 South Korea teukbyeol jachido
special autonomous province 		 Jejudo (2006) [39]
 Tajikistan viloyat mukhtor
autonomous province 		Gorno-Badakhshan (1925) [40]
 Tanzania Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar
revolutionary government 		 Zanzibar (1964) [41]
 Trinidad and Tobago autonomous island Tobago (1980)
 Ukraine avtonomna respublika
autonomous republic 		 Crimea (1992-2014), Was unilaterally annexed by the Russian Federation in March 2014, recognised as part of Ukraine by most of the international community
 United Kingdom UK constituent country with devolution  Scotland (1999)  ·  Wales (1999) [8]
 Uzbekistan respublika
(autonomous) republic 		 Karakalpakstan

All territories called "autonomous"[]

In a number of countries, all territories or regions of a particular type are called "autonomous". Depending on the case, this may or may not reflect a special devolution of powers or freedom from external authority.

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) References
 Bolivia departamento
(autonomous) department 		Beni (2006)  · Pando (2006)  · Santa Cruz (2006)  · Tarija (2006)  · La Paz (2009)  · Cochabamba (2009)  · Chuquisaca (2009) · Oruro (2009) · Potosi (2009) [42]
provincia autónoma
autonomous province 		Gran Chaco [43]
municipio autónomo
autonomous municipality 		 · Tarabuco ·  ·  · Jesús de Machaca ·  ·  ·  ·  · Chayanta · Charagua [44]
territorio indígena
indigenous territory 		All native community lands (tierras comunitarias de origen): Asamblea del Pueblo Guaraní, Central de Pueblos Nativos Guarayos, Central de Pueblos Indigenas del Beni, Central Indigena de la Region Amazonica de Bolivia, Central Indigena de Pueblos Amazonicos de Pando, Central de Pueblos Indigenas del Tropico de Cochabamba, Central de Pueblos Indigenas de La Paz, Organizacion de la Capitania Wehenayek Tapiete.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina entitet
entity 		Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995)  ·  Republika Srpska (1995) [45]
 Comoros île autonome
autonomous island 		 Anjouan (2002)  · Grande Comore (2002)  ·  Mohéli (2002) [46]
 Spain comunidad autónoma (in Spanish)[47]
autonomia erkidegoa (in Basque)[48]
comunautat autonòma (in Occitan)[49]
comunitat autònoma (in Catalan/Valencian)[50]
comunidade autónoma (in Galician)[51]
autonomous community
(nationalities and regions of Spain) 		 Andalusia (1981)  ·  Aragon (1982)  ·  Asturias (1981)  ·  Balearic Islands (1983)  ·  Basque Country (1979)  ·  Canary Islands (1982)  ·  Cantabria (1981)  ·  Castile–La Mancha (1982)  ·  Castile and León (1983)  ·  Catalonia (1979)  ·  Extremadura (1983)  ·  Galicia (1981)  ·  La Rioja (1982)  ·  Madrid (1983)  ·  Murcia (1982)  ·  Navarre (1982)  ·  Valencian Community (1982) [8]
ciudad autónoma
autonomous city 		 Ceuta (1995)  ·  Melilla (1995) [8]

Dependent and associated territories with autonomy[]

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year(s) indicated, if available) References
 Netherlands autonoom land
autonomous country 		 Aruba (1986) ·  Curaçao (2010) ·  Sint Maarten (2010)
 New Zealand state in free-association  Cook Islands (1965) ·  Niue (1974)
self-administering territory  Tokelau (1948) [22]
 United Kingdom Crown dependency  Guernsey  ·  Isle of Man ·  Jersey [8]
British Overseas Territory  Anguilla  ·  Bermuda  ·  British Virgin Islands  ·  Cayman Islands  ·  Falkland Islands  ·  Gibraltar  ·  Montserrat [8]
 United States Commonwealth  Puerto Rico (1952)  ·  Northern Mariana Islands (1978) [52]

Other entities called "autonomous"[]

A number of entities are also officially called "autonomous", though they do not have an exceptional freedom from external authority, and would not fall under the definition of autonomous area. They are listed here for clarity.

Capitals called "autonomous"[]

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) References
 Argentina ciudad autónoma
autonomous city 		Buenos Aires Buenos Aires (1994) [53]
 Cambodia krong
autonomous municipality 		Phnom Penh, along with independent cities under the same classification [54]
 Central African Republic commune autonome
autonomous commune 		Bangui [55]
 Guinea-Bissau sector autónomo
autonomous sector 		Bissau Region [56]
 Indonesia daerah khusus ibukota
special capital region 		Jakarta [57]
 Uzbekistan shahar
autonomous city 		Tashkent (1918) [58]

Independent cities called "autonomous"[]

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) References
 South Korea 특별자치시
special autonomous city 		Sejong
 Cambodia krong
autonomous municipality 		Phnom Penh · Sihanoukville · Pailin · Kep [54]

Self-declared entities called "autonomous"[]

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) References
 Mexico Municipios Autónomos
Autonomous Municipalities 		Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (2020)
 Syria Rêveberiya Xweser
Autonomous Administration 		Autonomous Administration of North and East SyriaRojava (2012)
 Bolivia Federación de Juntas Vecinales
Federation of Neighborhood Councils 		Fejuve (1979)

See also[]

Notes[]

  • ^ For example: "China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". United Nations. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  • ^ See International recognition of Kosovo for states that do and do not recognize the Republic of Kosovo.

References[]

  1. ^ Lucas I. González (11 February 2008). "Political Power, Fiscal Crises, and Decentralization in Latin America: Federal Countries in Comparative Perspective (and some Contrasts with Unitary Cases)". Publius: The Journal of Federalism. Oxford University Press. 38 (2): 211–247. doi:10.1093/publius/pjn001.
  2. ^ Olausson, Pär M. (2007) Autonomy and Islands: A Global Study of the Factors that Determine Island Autonomy, Turku: Åbo Akademi University Press, pp. 21–25
  3. ^ "The Joint Declaration (and following pages)". Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, The Government of the HKSAR. 1 July 2007.
  4. ^ "Joint declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and The Government of the Republic of Portugal on the question of Macao". io.gov.mo.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Provinces of China". Statoids. 26 June 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  6. ^ (in French) Edouard Gourdon, Histoire du Congrès de Paris, Paris, 1857, full text at google Print
  7. ^ Later confirmated by the Act on the Autonomy of Åland of 1920 (which was later replaced by new legislations by the same name in 1951 and 1991) and the League of Nations in 1922 following the Åland crisis.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Benedikter, Thomas (19 June 2006). "The working autonomies in Europe". Society for Threatened Peoples. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  9. ^ "Agreement reached in the multi-party negotiations" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Accordo Degasperi-Gruber".
  11. ^ "Area C and the future of Palestinian economy" (PDF). World Bank. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  12. ^ 1995 Oslo Interim Agreement. Text of the Accord
  13. ^ "Treaty concerning the Archipelago of Spitsbergen, and Protocol [1925] ATS 10". austlii.edu.au.
  14. ^ Article 6 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 (as amended) on the common system of value added tax (OJ L 347, 11 December 2006, p. 1) Eur-lex.europa.eu.
  15. ^ NM Currency Converter. "Currency converter Swiss Franc, CHF". nm-devises.com.
  16. ^ It is legal tender in Campione d'Italia
  17. ^ "2.1.2 Erhebungsgebiet". admin.ch. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013.
  18. ^ "Barbuda Local Government Act of 1976" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Regions and territories: Nagorno-Karabakh". BBC News. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  20. ^ Treaty of Moscow (1921) and Treaty of Kars (1921)
  21. ^ "Rotuma Act". Laws of Fiji (1978 ed.). Suva, Fiji: Government of Fiji. 1927. Archived from the original on 19 April 2005..
  22. ^ a b Included on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
  23. ^ "Regions of Georgia". Statoids. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  24. ^ "Sanakoev Appointed as Head of S.Ossetia Administration". Civil.ge. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  25. ^ "Departments of Greece". Statoids. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  26. ^ "The World's Working Regional Autonomies, Thomas Benedikter". Anthem Press. 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  27. ^ "Provinces of Iraq". Statoids. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  28. ^ "Districts of Mauritius". Statoids. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  29. ^ "DECRETO por el que se declaran reformadas y derogadas diversas disposiciones de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, en materia de la reforma política de la Ciudad de México" [DECREE declaring reformed and repealed various provisions of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, regarding the political reform of Mexico City]. Diario Oficial de la Federación [Official Journal of the Federation] (in Spanish). 29 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Departments of Nicaragua". Statoids. 12 April 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  31. ^ "Panama Provinces". Statoids. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  32. ^ "Provinces of Papua New Guinea". Statoids. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  33. ^ "Provinces of the Philippines". Statoids. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  34. ^ Recognized as a part of Ukraine by most of the international community
  35. ^ See section 3 and 4 about Nevis Island Legislature and Administration in The Saint Christopher and Nevis Constitution Order 1983. Published online by Georgetown University and also by University of the West Indies. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
  36. ^ "Sao Tome and Principe". Central Intelligence Agency. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  37. ^ "Districts of Serbia". Statoids. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  38. ^ "Constitucional act granting special status of Easter Island and Juan Fernández Islands. As the special charter is being discussed, they remain being governed as provinces of the Valparaíso Region". Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  39. ^ "Jeju City". Galbijim. 8 April 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  40. ^ "Regions of Tajikistan". Statoids. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  41. ^ "Regions and territories: Zanzibar". BBC News. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  42. ^ Doug Hertzler. "Debunking Myths Part II: Bolivia's Autonomy Initiatives". Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  43. ^ "5 departamentos se suman a la autonomía; Gran Chaco la primera región autónoma". eju.tv. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  44. ^ "Las autonomías indígenas avanzan a paso lento per seguro, entre consensos e interrogantes" Diálogos en Democracia, 21 March 2010 (Supplement to Pulso Bolivia).
  45. ^ "Bosnia and Herzegovina Government". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  46. ^ "Autonomous Islands of Comoros". Statoids. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  47. ^ Spanish (aka Castilian) is official in
  48. ^ Basque is official in the Spanish autonomous communities of Basque Country and Navarre.
  49. ^ Occitan is official in the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia.
  50. ^ Catalan/Valencian is official in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, Balearic Islands Valencian Community.
  51. ^ Galician is official in the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia.
  52. ^ "December 2005 report of the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status" (PDF). pfraa.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009.
  53. ^ Pinduli, Irene; Spivacow, R; Del Valle, E; Vidal, S; Negri, AL; Previgliano, H; Farías Edos, R; Andrade, JH; Negri, GM (20 January 2006). "Prevalence of urolithiasis in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, Argentina". Urological Research. 34 (1): 8–11. doi:10.1007/s00240-005-0003-7. PMID 16425020. S2CID 23228563.
  54. ^ a b "Provinces of Cambodia". Statoids. 13 May 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  55. ^ "Prefectures of the Central African Republic". Statoids. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  56. ^ "Regions of Guinea-Bissau". Statoids. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  57. ^ "Jakarta". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  58. ^ "Regions of Uzbekistan". Statoids. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.

External links[]

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