The districts of Slovakia are administrative units known as okres in the Slovak language. It is a second-tier territorial administrative unit, below a Region in standing, and superior to a municipality. Each district contains at least several municipalities.
The cities of Bratislava and Košice are the only cities in Slovakia divided into internal urban districts, with five in Bratislava, and four in Košice. These urban districts are then further divided into smaller boroughs (which serve a function analogous to municipalities in typical districts).
All other districts are larger in size and also include rural areas, and rural as well as urban municipalities. Each of these more typical districts has an urban centre serving as the seat of the district, usually the largest town (or the only town) of a given district. Rural municipalities are not legally allowed to become district seats.
Several districts form a "Region" (Slovak "kraj"). One district, on the other hand, consists of several "municipalities" (Slovak "obec"), which in turn consist of "cadastral areas" (Slovak "katastrálne územie").
Districts have been units of state administration in Slovakia since its creation with a few interruptions, e. g. except for the period from 2004 to late 2013. Today, each district is administered by a "district office" (okresný úrad). Since late 2013, there have been also some special district offices being responsible (regarding some selected issues) not for the territory of a district, but for the territory of a Region (kraj) - they are called "district office at the seat of a Region" (okresný úrad v sídle kraja).
In the period from 2004 to late 2013, the district offices were abolished and replaced by "circuit offices" (obvodný úrad), which were usually responsible for several districts (except for the Nové Zámky District, which was one district with two circuit offices).
Slovakia has currently 79 districts, the capital of Bratislava being divided into 5 districts and the city of Košice into 4 districts. The districts are named after their administrative seats, colloquially known as "district towns". The district town is commonly the largest town in the district, although exceptions exist, such as Ilava District where the district town Ilava is far overshadowed by the much larger Dubnica nad Váhom, or Košice-okolie District, the seat of which (Košice) is not part of the district at all, instead being subdivided into four of its own districts.
The following table gives an overview of the districts, along with the population, area, and location within Slovakia.
The Prešov Region, also Priashiv Region, is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions and consists of 13 districts (okresy) and 666 municipalities, 23 of which have town status. The region was established in 1996 and is the most populous of all the regions in Slovakia. Its administrative center is the city of Prešov.
Since 1949, Slovakia has been divided into a number of kraje. Their number, borders and functions have been changed several times. There are eight regions of Slovakia and they correspond to the EU's NUTS 3 level of local administrative units. Each kraj consists of okresy. There are 79 districts.
The Trenčín Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of nine districts (okresy). The region was established in 1996: previously it had been a part of the West Slovak Region and partly the Central Slovak Region. Industry is a major sector of the region's economy.
The Banská Bystrica Region is one of the eight regions of Slovakia. It is the largest of the eight regions by area, and has a lower population density than any other region. The Banská Bystrica Region was established in 1923; its borders were last adjusted in 1996. Banská Bystrica consists of 514 municipalities, 24 of which have town status. Its administrative center is the eponymous town of Banská Bystrica, which is also the region's largest town. Other important towns are Zvolen and Lučenec.
Lučenec District is a district in the Banská Bystrica Region of south-central Slovakia. Until 1918, most of the district belonged to the Novohrad county, with a small area around the villages of Šíd, Čamovce and Šurice in the east belonging to the Gemer a Malohont county.
Poltár District is a district in the south of the Banská Bystrica Region of central Slovakia. It was established in 1996. In its present borders exists from 2002, when municipalities Pinciná and Nové Hony were assigned to the Lučenec District. It is the sixth smallest district in Slovakia. Poltár District consists of 22 municipalities, from which one has a town status.
The Malacky District is a district in the Bratislava Region of western Slovakia. It lies north from Bratislava on Záhorská nížina lowland. Its current borders have been established in 1996. The administrative seat is its largest town, Malacky. In the Malacky District the industrial park Eurovalley is located, on area of 1,500 hectares with several thousand employees. Second largest town is Stupava, which is located close to Bratislava.
Pezinok District is a district in the Bratislava Region of western Slovakia The district had been established in 1996, from 1923 was its area part of Modra District. It is situated on the foothills of Little Carpathians hills, and is known for its vineyard production. Industry is located mostly in its seat, town of Pezinok, which is the largest district municipality. Of cultural importance is the town of Modra. Many inhabitants daily travel to Bratislava for work, shopping, or education.
Hlohovec District is a district in the Trnava Region of western Slovakia. District is located on a valley lowlands of Váh river. In its current borders had been established in 1996. Most important economy branches are production of metallurgy products and the pharmaceutical industry. Its administrative seat is the town of Hlohovec. District is important for its transport location, Leopoldov is a railway hub and a D1 motorway connects the district area to Trnava, Bratislava and other Slovak regions. Hlohovec district consists of 24 municipalities, in two of them are towns.
Ilava District is a district in the Trenčín Region of western Slovakia. Until 1918, the district was part of the county of Kingdom of Hungary of Trencsén.
Kysucké Nové Mesto District is a district in the Žilina Region of northern central Slovakia, in the Kysuce region. It is entirely surrounded by the Žilina and Čadca districts. Apart from the city districts in Bratislava and Košice, its area is the smallest of all Slovakia districts, although population density is the second highest in Slovakia. The district had been established in 1923 and in its current borders exists from 1996. Core of the district economy is engineering industry, performed by several companies foremost in Kysucké Nové Mesto industrial park. The administrative seat is the town of Kysucké Nové Mesto, although many residents daily travel to Źilina for work, shopping, or education.
Poprad District is a district in the Prešov Region of eastern Slovakia. The district had been established in 1923 and from 1996 exists in its current borders. It consists of 29 municipalities, from which three have a town status. Its seat, cultural and economic center is Poprad, the largest city. Main economic branches are industry and tourism. In Poprad district is located mountain range High Tatras, top tourist attraction in Slovakia.
Košice I is a district in the Košice Region of eastern Slovakia, in the city of Košice. It is bordered by the Košice II, Košice III, Košice IV and Košice-okolie districts. Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Abaúj-Torna.
Košice II is a district in the Košice Region of eastern Slovakia, in the city of Košice. It is bordered by the Košice I, Košice IV and Košice-okolie districts. Until 1920, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Abaúj-Torna.
Košice III is a district in the Košice Region of eastern Slovakia, in the city of Košice. It is bordered by the Košice I, Košice IV and Košice-okolie districts. Until 1918, the district was mostly part of the Hungarian county of Abaúj-Torna.
Košice IV is a district in the Košice Region of eastern Slovakia, in the city of Košice. It is bordered by the Košice I, Košice II, Košice III and Košice-okolie districts. Until 1918, the district was mostly part of the Hungarian county of Abaúj-Torna.
Budkovce a village and municipality in Michalovce District in the Kosice Region of eastern Slovakia.
Drahňov is a village and municipality in Michalovce District in the Kosice Region of eastern Slovakia.
Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, is divided into five national administrative districts and into 17 boroughs. These boroughs vary in size and population, from the smallest Lamač and least populated Čunovo to the largest Podunajské Biskupice and most populated Petržalka.
Košice, the second largest city of Slovakia and largest city of east Slovakia, is divided into four national administrative districts : I, II, III, IV, and into 22 boroughs. These boroughs vary in size and population, from the smallest Džungľa and least populated Lorinčík to the largest Košice-Sever and most populated Košice-Západ.