List Of Autonomous Areas By Country
This list of autonomous areas arranged by country gives an overview of autonomous areas of the world.
It has been suggested that Autonomous administrative division#List of major autonomous areas be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2024. |
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. 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).
This list includes areas that are internationally recognized, as well as some that are generally unrecognized. 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)  Macao (1999) | |
 Finland | itsehallinnollinen maakunta (Finnish) självstyrande landskap (Swedish) autonomous province |  Åland (1922) | |
 United Kingdom | UK constituent country with devolution | Northern Ireland (1999) | |
 Italy | autonome Provinz (German) provincia autonoma (Italian) autonomous province |  South Tyrol (1946, 1972) | |
 Israel /  Palestine | "سلطة الحكم الذاتي الفلسطينية المؤقتة" (Arabic) "Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority" הסמכות המינהלית הפלסטינית (Hebrew) interim administrative authority | Palestinian National Authority (1994) · Gaza Strip and West Bank |
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 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 from some European Union normatives, such as customs union and the Value Added Tax Area.
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 and are in customs union with it.
Created by internal statutes
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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) | ||
| United Kingdom | Crown Dependency |  Guernsey ·  Isle of Man ·  Jersey | |
| British Overseas Territory |  Anguilla ·  Bermuda ·  British Virgin Islands ·  Cayman Islands ·  Falkland Islands ·  Gibraltar ·  Montserrat | ||
 United States | Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico (1952) ·  Northern Mariana Islands (1978) | |
| Territory |  Guam (1950) ·  US Virgin Islands (1954) ·  American Samoa (1967) |
All sub-national regions are autonomous
| 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) | |
| provincia autónoma autonomous province | Gran Chaco (2009) | ||
| municipio autónomo autonomous municipality | Huacaya · Tarabuco · Mojocoya · Charazani · Jesús de Machaca · Pampas Aullagas · San Pedro de Totora · Chipaya · Salinas de Garci Mendoza · Chayanta · Charagua | ||
| 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) | |
 Comoros | île autonome autonomous island |  Anjouan (2002) ·  Grande Comore (2002) ·  Mohéli (2002) | |
| Guernsey | Jurisdiction |  Alderney ·  Sark (1565) | |
 Spain | comunidad autónoma (in Spanish) autonomia erkidegoa (in Basque) comunautat autonòma (in Occitan) comunitat autònoma (in Catalan/Valencian) comunidade autónoma (in Galician) 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) | |
| ciudad autónoma autonomous city |  Ceuta (1995) ·  Melilla (1995) | ||
| Entitat territorial autònoma Autonomous territorial entity |  Val d'Aran (1990) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mexico | autonomous city |  Mexico City (2016) | |
 Argentina | ciudad autónoma autonomous city |  Buenos Aires (1994) | |
 Armenia | autonomous city |  Yerevan | |
 Belarus | autonomous city |  Minsk | |
 Cambodia | krong autonomous municipality |  Phnom Penh | |
 Central African Republic | commune autonome autonomous commune | Bangui | |
 Guinea-Bissau | sector autónomo autonomous sector |  Bissau Region | |
 Hungary | autonomous city |  Budapest | |
 Indonesia | daerah khusus ibukota special capital region |  Jakarta | |
 Romania | autonomous municipality |  Bucharest | |
 Serbia | autonomous city |  Belgrade | |
 Uzbekistan | shahar autonomous city |  Tashkent (1918) | |
| United Kingdom | Sui generis City |  City of London |
Independent cities called "autonomous"
| Country | Native term Translation or equivalent | Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) | References |
|---|---|---|---|
 Japan | 村落共同体 village community |  Atarashiki (1948) | |
 South Korea | 특별자치시 special autonomous city |  Sejong | |
| Cambodia | krong autonomous municipality | Phnom Penh · Sihanoukville · Pailin · Kep |
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 (2020-2023) | |
 Syria | Rêveberiya Xweser Autonomous Administration |  Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (2012) | |
| Bolivia | Federación de Juntas Vecinales Federation of Neighborhood Councils | Fejuve (1979) |
See also
Notes
References
External links
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