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.
Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the treaty and year(s) indicated, if available) | References |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 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) | ![]() ![]() | [5] |
![]() | itsehallinnollinen maakunta (Finnish) självstyrande landskap (Swedish) autonomous province | ![]() | [8] |
![]() | UK constituent country with devolution | ![]() | [9] |
![]() | autonome Provinz(German) provincia autonoma(Italian) autonomous province | ![]() | [10] |
![]() ![]() | "سلطة الحكم الذاتي الفلسطينية المؤقتة" (Arabic) "Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority" הסמכות המינהלית הפלסטינית (Hebrew) interim administrative authority | ![]() | [11] [12] |
Notes:
Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the year(s) indicated, if available) | References |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | autonomous island | ![]() | [18] |
![]() | muxtar respublika autonomous republic | Nakhchivan (1924) | [19] [20] |
![]() | region with special status | Northwest (2019) · Southwest (2019) | [21] |
![]() | Provincias de Chile y Comuna de Chile province and communes | ![]() | [22] |
![]() | 自治区 (zìzhìqū) autonomous region | Guangxi (1958) · Inner Mongolia (1947) · Ningxia (1958) · Xinjiang (1955) · Tibet (1965) | [5] |
![]() | autonomous territory (Danish Realm) | ![]() ![]() | [8] |
![]() | região administrativa especial special administrative region | ![]() | [23] |
![]() | autonomous region | ![]() | [24] |
![]() | sui generis collectivité sui generis collectivity | ![]() | [25] |
collectivité d'outre-mer overseas collectivity | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
pays d'outre-mer overseas country | ![]() | ||
![]() | avtonomiuri respublika autonomous republic | ![]() ![]() | [26] |
provisional administrative entity | ![]() | [27] | |
![]() | aftonomi monastiki politia autonomous monastic state | ![]() | [28] |
![]() | daerah istimewa/khusus special region | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
daerah otonomi khusus special autonomous region | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
![]() | autonomous region | ![]() | [29] |
![]() | regione autonoma autonomous region | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | [8] ` |
![]() | autonomous island | ![]() | [30] |
![]() | unitate teritorială autonomă autonomous territorial unit | ![]() | [8] |
![]() | región autónoma autonomous region | ![]() ![]() | [31] |
![]() | self-governing entity | ![]() ![]() | |
![]() | comarca indígena indigenous territory | Emberá-Wounaan (1983) · Guna de Madungandí (1996) · Kuna de Wargandí (2000) ·![]() ![]() ![]() | [32] |
![]() | autonomous region | ![]() | [33] |
![]() | rehiyong awtonomus autonomous region | ![]() | [34] |
![]() | região autónoma autonomous region | ![]() ![]() | [8] |
![]() | avtonomnaya respublika autonomous republic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | [8] |
avtonomnaya oblast autonomous province | ![]() | [8] | |
avtonomny okrug autonomous district | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | [8] | |
![]() | autonomous island | ![]() | [35] |
![]() | região autónoma autonomous region | ![]() | [36] |
![]() | autonomna pokrajina autonomous province | ![]() ![]() | |
![]() | viloyat mukhtor autonomous province | Gorno-Badakhshan (1925) | [37] |
![]() | Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar revolutionary government | ![]() | [38] |
![]() | autonomous island | Tobago (1980) | |
![]() | avtonomna respublika autonomous republic | ![]() | |
![]() | UK constituent country with devolution | ![]() ![]() ![]() | [8] |
![]() | respublika (autonomous) republic | ![]() | |
Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the year(s) indicated, if available) | References |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | autonoom land autonomous country | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
![]() | state in free-association | ![]() ![]() | |
self-administering territory | ![]() | [25] | |
![]() | Crown Dependency | ![]() ![]() ![]() | [8] |
British Overseas Territory | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | [8] | |
![]() | Commonwealth | ![]() ![]() | [39] |
Territory | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) | References |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | departamento (autonomous) department | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | [40] |
![]() | île autonome autonomous island | ![]() ![]() ![]() | [41] |
![]() | Jurisdiction | ![]() ![]() | [42] |
![]() | comunidad autónoma (in Spanish) [43] autonomia erkidegoa(in Basque) [44] comunautat autonòma(in Occitan) [45] comunitat autònoma(in Catalan/Valencian) [46] comunidade autónoma(in Galician) [47] comunidá autónoma(in Asturian) [48] comunidat autonoma(in Aragonese) [49] autonomous community (nationalities and regions of Spain) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | [8] |
ciudad autónoma autonomous city | ![]() ![]() | [8] |
Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the year(s) indicated, if available) | References |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Regional authority | Torres Strait Islands (1994) | |
![]() | provincia autónoma autonomous province | Gran Chaco (2009) | [50] |
municipio autónomo autonomous municipality | Huacaya · Tarabuco · Mojocoya · Charazani · Jesús de Machaca · Pampas Aullagas · San Pedro de Totora · Chipaya · Salinas de Garci Mendoza · Chayanta · Charagua | [51] | |
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. | ||
![]() | Autonomous area | ![]() | |
![]() | Comuna de Chile communes | ![]() | [52] |
![]() | 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] | |
![]() | autonomous districts and territorial councils | Bodoland (2003) · Bodo Kachari (2020) · Chakma (1972) · Chandel (1971) · 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) · Senapati (1971) · Mara (1972) · Matak (2020) · Mising (1995) · Moran (2020) · Rabha Hasong (1995) · Sadar Hills (1971) · Sonowal Kachari (2005) · Tamenglong (1971) · Thengal Kachari (2005) · Tiwa (1995) · Tripura Tribal Areas (1982) · Ukhrul (1971) and de facto autonomous area – North Sentinel Island (1956) | [53] |
![]() | provincia autonoma autonomous province | ![]() ![]() | |
![]() | self-administered zones | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
![]() | Entitat territorial autònoma Autonomous territorial entity | ![]() | [8] |
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.
Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) | References |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | autonomous city | ![]() | [54] |
![]() | ciudad autónoma autonomous city | ![]() | [55] |
![]() | autonomous city | ![]() | |
![]() | autonomous city | ![]() | |
![]() | krong autonomous municipality | Phnom Penh [N] | [56] |
![]() | commune autonome autonomous commune | Bangui | [57] |
![]() | sector autónomo autonomous sector | [58] | |
![]() | autonomous city | ![]() | |
![]() | autonomous municipality | ![]() | |
![]() | autonomous city | ![]() | |
![]() | shahar autonomous city | ![]() | [59] |
Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) | References |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 村落共同体 village community | ![]() | |
![]() | 특별자치시 special autonomous city | ![]() | |
![]() | krong autonomous municipality | Phnom Penh · Sihanoukville · Pailin · Kep | [56] |
Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) | References |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Municipios Autónomos Autonomous Municipalities | Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (2020–2023) | |
![]() | Rêveberiya Xweser Autonomous Administration | ![]() | |
![]() | Federación de Juntas Vecinales Federation of Neighborhood Councils | Fejuve (1979) |