List of autonomous areas by country

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]

Countries with at least one autonomous area (in 2009, now out of date)

This list includes areas that are internationally recognized, as well as some that are generally unrecognized.^AB 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
People's Republic of China	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]  Macau (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]
Palestine /  Israel	سلطة إدارية مؤقتة (Arabic) סמכות מינהלית ביניים (Hebrew) interim administrative authority	Palestinian National Authority (1994)  · Oslo Accords (1993)	[11]
Palestine	"سلطة الحكم الذاتي الفلسطينية المؤقتة" (Arabic) "Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority"	Gaza Strip and West Bank  · Oslo II Accord (1995)	[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
Azerbaijan	muxtar respublika autonomous republic	Nakhchivan (1924)	[18][19]
China (PRC)	自治区 (zìzhìqū) autonomous region	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]
Kingdom of Denmark	autonomous country (Realm of Denmark)	Faroe Islands (1948)  ·  Greenland (1979)	[8]
Fiji	autonomous region	Rotuma	[20]
France	Sui generis collectivité Collectivity special sui generis	New Caledonia (1999)	[21]
	Collectivité d'outre-mer Overseas collectivity	Saint Martin (2007)  ·  Saint Barthélemy (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 (2021)
Georgia	avtonomiuri respublika autonomous republic	Abkhazia (1991)  ·  Adjara (1991)	[22]
	provisional administrative entity	South Ossetia (2007)	[23]
Greece	aftonomi monastiki politia autonomous monastic state	Mount Athos (1913)	[24]
India	autonomous district and territorial council भारत के स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक क्षेत्र	Bodoland (2003)  · Chakma (1972)  · Churachandpur (1971)  · Deori (2005)  · Dima Hasao (1970)  · Garo Hills (1952)  · Gorkhaland (2011)  · Jaintia Hills (1972)  · Karbi Anglong (1970)  · Kargil Hills (1995)  · Khasi Hills (1952)  · Lai (1972)  · Leh Hills (1995)  · Mara (1972)  · Mising  · Rabha Hasong (1995)  · Sadar Hills (1995)  · Tripura Tribal Areas (1982) and de facto autonomous area – North Sentinel Island (1947)	[25]
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 (1992)	[26]
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)	[27]
Mexico	autonomous city	Mexico City (2016)	[28]
Moldova	unitate teritorială autonomă autonomous territorial unit	Găgăuzia (1995)  · Transnistria (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	Atlántico Norte (1986)  · Atlántico Sur (1986)	[29]
Panama	comarca indígena indigenous territory	Emberá-Wounaan (1983)  · Kuna de Madugandí (1996)  · Kuna de Wargandí (2000)  · Kuna Yala (1938)  · Ngöbe-Buglé (1997)	[30]
Papua New Guinea	autonomous region	Bougainville (2000)	[31]
Philippines	rehiyong awtonomus autonomous region	Bangsamoro (2019)	[32]
Portugal	região autónoma autonomous region	Azores (1976)  ·  Madeira (1976)	[8]
Russia	respublika (autonomous) republic	Adygea ·  Altai Republic ·  Bashkortostan ·  Buryatia ·  Chechnya ·  Chuvashia ·  Republic of Crimea[33] ·  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)	[34]
São Tomé and Príncipe	região autónoma autonomous region	Autonomous Region of Príncipe (1995)	[35]
Serbia	autonomna pokrajina autonomous province	Vojvodina (1945)  · Kosovo (1946–1999)	[36]
Somalia	autonomous region	Puntland (1998)	[37]
South Korea	teukbyeol jachido special autonomous province	Jejudo (2006)	[38]
Tajikistan	viloyat mukhtor autonomous province	Gorno-Badakhshan (1925)	[39]
Tanzania	Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar revolutionary government	Zanzibar (1964)	[40]
Trinidad and Tobago	autonomous island	Tobago (1980)
Ukraine	avtonomna respublika autonomous republic	Crimea (1992)[41]	[8]
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	Huacaya · Tarabuco · Mojocoya · Charazani · Jesús de Machaca · Pampas Aullagas · San Pedro de Totora · Chipaya · Salinas de Garci Mendoza · 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)	[21]
United Kingdom	Crown dependency	Guernsey  ·  Isle of Man ·  Jersey	[8]
	British Overseas Territory	Falkland Islands  ·  Gibraltar  ·  Bermuda  ·  Cayman Islands  ·  British Virgin Islands  ·  Montserrat  ·  Anguilla	[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 (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]

Former self-declared entities called "autonomous"

Country	Native term Translation or equivalent	Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available)	References
United States	Autonomous zone	Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (2020)	[59]

See also

• Autonomous administrative division
• Federated state
• List of administrative divisions by country
• List of dependent territories
• List of leaders of dependent territories
• List of national capitals serving as administrative divisions
• List of sovereign states

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

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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
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5. "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. 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.
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10. "Accordo Degasperi-Gruber".
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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. "Regions and territories: Nagorno-Karabakh". BBC News. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
19. Treaty of Moscow (1921) and Treaty of Kars (1921)
20. "Rotuma Act". Laws of Fiji (1978 ed.). Suva, Fiji: Government of Fiji. 1927. Archived from the original on 19 April 2005..
21. Included on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
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33. Recognized as a part of Ukraine by most of the international community
34. 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.
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41. Was annexed by the Russian Federation in March 2014
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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.
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