Provinces of Iran
استان‌های ایران
Ostânhâye Irân

* Also known as:
* Ostân
استان

Category| Unitary state
Location| Iran
Number| 31
Populations| 591,000 (Ilam province) – 13,323,000 (Tehran province)
Areas| 5,833 km2 (2,252 sq mi) (Alborz province) – 183,285 km2 (70,767 sq mi) (Kerman province)
Government|

* Provincial government (national government)

Subdivisions|

* County

Provinces of Iran by population in 2021 Provinces of Iran by population density in 2013 Map of the Iranian provinces by Human Development Index in 2017
Legend:

0.800 – 1.000 (very high)

0.700 – 0.799 (high)

0.600 – 0.699 (medium)

Provinces of Iran by contribution to national GDP in 2014 Provinces of Iran by GDP per capita in 2012

Iran is subdivided into thirty-one provinces (Persian: استان Ostân), which are the first-level administrative divisions of the country. Each province is governed from a local centre, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital (Persian: مرکز, Markaz) of the province. The provincial authority is headed by a governor-general (Persian: استاندار Ostândâr), who is appointed by the Minister of the Interior subject to approval of the cabinet. The provinces are subdivided into counties, districts (bakhsh) and villages.[1]

## Modern history

[edit]

Map of administrative subdivisions of Iran in 1911 – Tehran, eyalats, and velayats

Iran has held its modern territory since the Treaty of Paris in 1857. Prior to 1937, Iran had maintained its feudal administrative divisional structure, dating back to the time the modern state was centralized by the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century, although the boundaries, roles, and rulers changed often. On the eve of the Persian Constitutional Revolution in 1905, Iran was composed of Tehran, being directly ruled by the monarch; four eyalats (Persian: ایالات elâyât pl., ایالت elayat sin.), ruled by Qajar princes; and various velayats (Persian: ولایات velâyât pl., ولایت velayat sin.). Nomadic tribal confederations, such as the Bakhtiari people and Qashqai people, were largely independent of the domestic administrative divisions and were autonomous.

With the Constitutional Revolution, and the formation of the first National Consultative Assembly, Iran's administrative subdivisions were legally defined in 1907.[2] Any change in the boundaries of eyalats, velayats, or their respective sub-districts was banned by the Iranian constitution, except with the passage of a new law by the assembly. Per the 1907 law, the following were defined:[2]

.ماده ۱ ــ مملکت محروسه ایران برای تسهیل امور سیاسی بایالات و ولایات منقسم می‌شود

ماده ۲ ــ ایالت قسمتی از مملکت است که دارای حکومت مرکزی و ولایات حاکم‌نشین جزء است و فعلاً منحصر به چهار ایالت است: آذربایجان، کرمان و بلوچستان، فارس، خراسان

ماده ۳ ــ ولایات قسمتی از مملکت است که دارای یک شهر حاکم‌نشین و توابع باشد اعم از اینکه حکومت آن تابع پایتخت یا تابع مرکز ایالتی باشد

Article 1 – Guarded Domain of Iran, for the facilitation of political affairs, will be subdivided into Eyalats and Velayats

Article 2 – Eyalat is a part of the kingdom which includes a central government and subordinate governor-ruled Velayats and at the moment there only are four Eyalat: Azerbaijan, Kerman and Baluchistan, Fars, Khurasan.

Article 3 – Velayat is a part of the kingdom which includes a governor-residence city and subordinate areas, whether its governance is subordinate to the capital [Tehran], or to the capital of an Eyalat.

On 22 October 1911, the National Consultative Assembly passed another law, titled "The law of Election of National Consultative Assembly" (Persian: قانون انتخابات مجلس شورای ملی). This law presented a complete list of all eyalats and velayats of the country, as well as their constituent districts and cities. This list presented the grouping of various towns and districts into electoral districts for the purpose of the election. According to this law, in 1911, Iran was made up of 27 administrative subdivisions, the region of Tehran, 4 eyalats, and 22 velayats.[3] Below is a list:

Capital city

* Tehran

Eyalats

1. Azerbaijan
2. Pars
3. Kerman and Baluchistan
4. Khorasan and Sistan

Provinces

1. Khuzestan
2. Astarabad (Gorgan)
3. Damavand
4. Gerrus (Bijar)
5. Gilan
6. Golpayegan
7. Hamadan
8. Iraq (Arak)
9. Isfahan
10. Kashan
11. Khamseh (Zanjan)
12. Kermanshahan (Kermanshah)
13. Kurdistan
14. Luristan
15. Malayer
16. Mazandaran
17. Qazvin
18. Qom
19. Saveh
20. Semnan and Damghan
21. Shahrud and Bastam
22. Yazd

|

In 1937, Iran was reorganized to form ten numbered provinces with subordinate governorates: Gilan, Mazandaran, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Pars, Kerman, Khorasan, and Isfahan.[4]

Iran has had a historical claim to Bahrain as its 14th province: Bahrain province, which was under British colonial occupation until 1971. Prior to 1957, Bahrain was placed under Pars province.[5] During Safavid Iran, Bahrain was subordinate to Bushehr governorship and Zubarah (located in modern-day country of Qatar) was its capital city. In 1737, under Afsharid dynasty Bahrain was made subject to Pars governorship.[6] This claim was reasserted by the new theocratic Iranian leadership after 1979 with the famous 1981 coup attempt that occurred.[7]

From 1960 to 1981, the governorates were gradually raised to provincial status one by one. Since then several new provinces have been created, most recently in 2010 when the new Alborz province was split from Tehran province, and before that in 2004 when the province of Khorasan was divided into three provinces.[8]

23 provinces of Iran in 1974 Map of the 31 provinces of Iran

## Provinces by population and GDP

[edit]

According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, between 2017 and 2019, some 11 of the 20 poorest Iranian cities were in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan. Three other markedly poor cities were located in Kerman province.[9]

Iran population broken down by province

## Current provinces

[edit]

Iranian provinces along with additional information and statistics  Province  | Abbreviation  | Capital  | Population (2023)[10] | Area (km2)  | Population density (/km2)  | Counties | Notes  | Map

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Alborz | AL | Karaj | 2,730,000 | 5,833 | 465.01 | 7 | Until 23 June 2010, it was part of Tehran province.[11] |
Ardabil | AR | Ardabil | 1,284,000 | 17,800 | 71.37 | 12 | Until 1993, it was part of East Azerbaijan province.[12] |
Bushehr | BU | Bushehr | 1,174,000 | 22,743 | 51.15 | 10 | Originally part of Pars province. Until 1977, it was known as Khalij-e Pars (Persian Gulf).[4] |
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari | CB | Shahr-e Kord | 973,000 | 16,332 | 58.03 | 12 | Until 1973, it was part of Isfahan province.[13] |
East Azerbaijan | EA | Tabriz | 3,925,000 | 45,650 | 85.64 | 23 |  |
Pars | FA | Shiraz | 4,904,000 | 122,608 | 39.57 | 37 |  |
Gilan | GN | Rasht | 2,546,000 | 14,042 | 180.22 | 17 |  |
Golestan | GO | Gorgan | 1,893,000 | 20,195 | 92.53 | 14 | On 31 May 1997, the counties of Aliabad, Gonbad-e Kavus, Gorgan, Kordkuy, Minudasht, and Torkaman were separated from Mazandaran province to form Golestan province. Gorgan was known as Esteraba or Astarabad until 1937.[4] |
Hamadan | HA | Hamadan | 1,756,000 | 19,368 | 90.78 | 10 | Originally part of Kermanshah province.[4] |
Hormozgan | HO | Bandar Abbas | 1,806,000 | 70,669 | 25.14 | 13 | Originally part of Kerman province.[4] Until 1977, the province was known as Banader va Jazayer-e Bahr-e Oman (Ports and Islands of the Sea of Oman).[4] |
Ilam | IL | Ilam | 591,000 | 20,133 | 28.82 | 12 | Originally part of Kermanshah province.[4] |
Isfahan | IS | Isfahan | 5,136,000 | 107,029 | 47.85 | 28 | In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[4] |
Kerman | KN | Kerman | 3,184,000 | 183,285 | 17.27 | 25 |  |
Kermanshah | KE | Kermanshah | 2,003,000 | 24,998 | 78.10 | 14 | Between 1950 and 1979, both Kermanshah province and city were known as Kermanshahan, and between 1979 and 1995 as Bakhtaran.[4] |
Khuzestan | KH | Ahvaz | 4,725,000 | 64,055 | 73.54 | 30 |  |
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad | KB | Yasuj | 728,000 | 15,504 | 45.99 | 9 | Originally part of Khuzestan province. Until 1990, the province was known as Bovir Ahmadi and Kohkiluyeh.[4] |
Kurdistan | KU | Sanandaj | 1,614,000 | 29,137 | 55.02 | 10 | Originally part of Gilan province.[4] |
Lorestan | LO | Khorramabad | 1,784,000 | 28,294 | 62.23 | 12 | Originally part of Khuzestan province.[4] |
Markazi | MA | Arak | 1,436,000 | 29,130 | 49.07 | 12 | Originally part of Mazandaran province.[4] In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[4] |
Mazandaran | MN | Sari | 3,302,000 | 23,701 | 138.54 | 22 |  |
North Khorasan | NK | Bojnord | 868,000 | 28,434 | 30.35 | 10 | On 29 September 2004, Khorasan province was divided into three provinces: North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and South Khorasan.[8] |
Qazvin | QA | Qazvin | 1,284,000 | 15,549 | 81.92 | 6 | On 31 December 1996, the counties of Qazvin and Takestan were separated from Zanjan province to form Qazvin province.[4] |
Qom | QM | Qom | 1,300,000 | 11,526 | 112.12 | 3 | Until 1995, Qom was a county of Tehran province.[4] |
Razavi Khorasan | RK | Mashhad | 6,444,000 | 118,884 | 54.12 | 34 | On 29 September 2004, Khorasan province was divided into three provinces: North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and South Khorasan.[8] |
Semnan | SE | Semnan | 715,000 | 97,491 | 7.20 | 8 | Originally part of Mazandaran province.[4] In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[4] |
Sistan and Baluchestan | SB | Zahedan | 2,777,000 | 180,726 | 15.35 | 26 | Until 1986, the province was known as Baluchestan and Sistan.[4] |
South Khorasan | SK | Birjand | 786,000 | 151,913 | 5.06 | 12 | On 29 September 2004, Khorasan province was divided into three provinces: North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and South Khorasan.[8] |
Tehran | TE | Tehran | 13,323,000 | 18,814 | 705.20 | 16 | Until 1986, Tehran was part of Markazi province. |
West Azerbaijan | WA | Urmia | 3,278,000 | 37,437 | 87.22 | 20 | During the Pahlavi dynasty, Urmia was known as Rezaiyeh.[14] |
Yazd | YA | Yazd | 1,156,000 | 76,469 | 14.89 | 12 | Originally part of Isfahan province.[13] In 1986, part of Kerman province was transferred to Yazd province. In 2002, Tabas County (area: 55,344 km2) was transferred from Khorasan province to Yazd province.[4] |
Zanjan | ZA | Zanjan | 1,103,000 | 21,773 | 48.57 | 8 | Originally part of Gilan province. In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[4] |
Iran (total) | IR | Tehran | 80,528,000 | 1,628,554 km2 (628,788 sq mi) | 49.078 | 484 |  |

## Provincial abbreviations

[edit]

Table below shows the provinces' abbreviation, which can be used in postal addresses and academic affiliations for the sake of simplicity.

Province  | Abbreviation  | Method

|
|

Alborz | AL  | First two letters
Ardabil | AR  | First two letters
Azerbaijan, East | EA  | First two words
Azerbaijan, West | WA  | First two words
Bushehr | BU  | First two letters
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari | CB  | First two words
Pars | FA  | First two letters
Gilan | GI  | First two letters
Golestan | GO  | First two letters
Hamadan | HA  | First two letters
Hormozgan | HO  | First two letters
Ilam | IL  | First two letters
Isfahan | IS  | First two letters
Kerman | KE  | First two letters
Kermanshah | KS  | First two words
Khorasan, North | NK  | First two words
Khorasan, Razavi | RK  | First two words
Khorasan, South | SK  | First two words
Khuzestan | KH  | First two letters
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad | KB  | First two words
Kurdistan | KU  | First two letters
Lorestan | LO  | First two letters
Markazi | MA  | First two letters
Mazandaran | MN  | First and last letter
Qazvin | QA  | First two letters
Qom | QO  | First two letters
Semnan | SE  | First two letters
Sistan and Baluchestan | SB  | First two words
Tehran | TE  | First two letters
Yazd | YA  | First two letters
Zanjan | ZA  | First two letters

## Historical provinces

[edit]

* Khorasan province
* Bahrain province

* v
* t
* e

* Provinces of the Achaemenid Empire
* (Behistun / Persepolis / Naqsh-e Rustam / Susa / Daeva inscriptions)

* Akaufaka (Quhistan?)
* Amyrgoi
* Arabia
* Arachosia
* Aria
* Armenia
* Assyria
* Babylonia
* Bactria
* Cappadocia
* Caria
* Carmania
* Chorasmia
* Cilicia
* Colchis
* Dahae
* Drangiana
* 1st Egypt / 2nd Egypt
* Eber-Nari (Levant)
* Elam
* Kush (Nubia)
* Gandāra (Gandhara)
* Gedrosia
* Hyrcania
* Ionia
* Hindush
* Libya
* Lydia
* Maka
* Margiana
* Media
* Massagetae
* Parthia
* Persis
* Phoenicia
* Phrygia
* Hellespontine Phrygia
* Greater Phrygia
* Saka
* Samaritan Province
* Sattagydia
* Skudra (Thrace)
* Sogdia
* Yehud

See also Taxation districts of the Achaemenid Empire (according to Herodotus)

* v
* t
* e

Provinces of the Sasanian Empire

* Abarshahr
* Adurbadagan
* Albania
* Arbayistan
* Armenia
* Asoristan
* Balasagan
* Beth Garmai
* Dihistan
* Egypt*
* Eran-Khwarrah-Yazdegerd*
* Garamig ud Nodardashiragan
* Garmekan
* Gurgan
* Harev
* Hind
* Iberia
* Kadagistan*
* Khuzistan
* Kirman
* Kushanshahr
* Khwarazm
* Lazica*
* Machelonia
* Makuran
* Marw
* Mazun
* Media
* Meshan
* Nodardashiragan
* Paradan
* Padishkhwargar
* Pars
* Parthia
* Sakastan
* Sogdia
* Spahan
* Suristan
* Turan
* Yemen

* indicates short living provinces

### Safavid Dynasty

[edit]

The Tadhkirat Al-Muluk, a work made circa 1725 (1137) which details the Safavid administration mentions that Iran had four territories governed by Valis: (Arabistan, Luristan, Georgia and Kurdistan).

And thirteen provinces governed by Beglarbegis: (Azarbayjan (also called Tabriz Province), Chukhur-i Sa'd, Qarabagh-Ganja, Shirvan, Astarabad, Mashhad, Marv, Herat, Qandahar, Kirman, Kuh-Giluya, Qazvin and Hamadan).[15]

## See also

[edit]

* List of current Iran governors-general
* List of Iranian provinces by Human Development Index
* Administrative divisions of Iran
* Regions of Iran
* Counties of Iran
* Geography of Iran
* ISO 3166-2:IR

## References and notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Iran Country Fact Sheet" (PDF). Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 2007. p. 4. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
2. ^ a b "The law on the formation of Eyalats and Velayats and the instructions of the governors, Passed on December 18, 1907". Laws and Regulations Portal of Islamic Republic of Iran. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
3. ^ "The law of Election of National Consultative Assembly, Passed on October 22, 1911". Laws and Regulations Portal of Islamic Republic of Iran. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Gwillim Law, Statoids website. "Provinces of Iran". Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
5. ^ Ebrahimi, Mansoureh; Rad Goudarzi, Masoumeh; Yusoff, Kamaruzaman (2018), The Dynamics of Iranian Borders: Issues of Contention, Springer, p. 106, ISBN 9783319898360
6. ^ Mojtahed-Zadeh, Pirouz (2013). Security and Territoriality in the Persian Gulf: A Maritime Political Geography. Routledge. p. 139\. ISBN 978-0700710980.
7. ^ "Former IRGC General Close To Supreme Leader Khamenei: 'Bahrain Is A Province of Iran That Should Be Annexed To [It]'". MEMRI. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
8. ^ a b c d Online edition, Al-Jazeera Satellite Network. "Iran breaks up largest province". Archived from the original on 20 May 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
9. ^ "Iran Enters A New Economic Era Marked By Poverty". Iran International. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
10. ^ "Census 2023: Population and Households of the Country by Province and Sub-province (Shahrestan)" (Excel). Iran Data Portal. The Statistical Center of Iran. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
11. ^ Larijani, Ali (16 April 1389). "Alborz province establishment law". Lamtakam (in Persian). Guardian Council. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
12. ^ Chamber Society, Iranian. "Ardabil Province". Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
13. ^ a b Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Ostandarie. "Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province". Retrieved 23 July 2008.[permanent dead link]
14. ^ "Urmia". Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
15. ^ Minorsky, Vladimir (1943). Tadhkirat al-Mulūk, A Manual of Safavid Administration. Cambridge, England: E. J. W. Gibb Memorial Trust. p. 163\. ISBN 0906094127. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Provinces of Iran.

* Wikimedia Atlas of Iran
* Statistical Centre, Government of Iran
* Iranian Provinces Investment – trade promotion organization of Iran, affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce (Iran)
* "Provinces of Iran". Statoids.

Official provincial websites

* Ardabil
* East Azarbaijan
* West Azarbaijan
* Bushehr
* Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari
* Fars
* Gilan
* Golestan
* Hamadan
* Hormozgan
* Ilam
* Isfahan
* Kerman
* Kermanshah
* North Khorasan
* Razavi Khorasan
* South Khorasan
* Khuzestan
* Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad
* Kurdistan
* Lorestan
* Markazi
* Mazandaran
* Qazvin
* Qom[permanent dead link]
* Semnan
* Sistan and Baluchestan
* Tehran
* Yazd
* Zanjan

* v
* t
* e

Provinces of Iran

* Alborz
* Ardabil
* Bushehr
* Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari
* East Azerbaijan
* Fars
* Gilan
* Golestan
* Hamadan
* Hormozgan
* Ilam
* Isfahan
* Kerman
* Kermanshah
* Khuzestan
* Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad
* Kurdistan
* Lorestan
* Markazi
* Mazandaran
* North Khorasan
* Qazvin
* Qom
* Razavi Khorasan
* Semnan
* Sistan and Baluchestan
* South Khorasan
* Tehran
* West Azerbaijan
* Yazd
* Zanjan

* v
* t
* e

Articles on first-level administrative divisions of Asian countries

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia2
* Azerbaijan1
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus2
* Egypt1
* Georgia1
* India
* Indonesia1
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan1
* North Korea
* province
* special city
* South Korea
* province
* provincial-level city
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia1
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
* Turkey1
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* province
* municipality
* Yemen1

States with limited
recognition

* Abkhazia2
* Northern Cyprus2
* Palestine
* South Ossetia2
* Taiwan

Table of administrative divisions by country

* 1 Spans the conventional boundary between Asia and another continent.
* 2 Considered European for cultural, political and historical reasons but is geographically in Western Asia.

* v
* t
* e

Designations for types of administrative division

English terms

Common English terms

| Area|

* Insular area
* Local government area
* Special area
* Unincorporated area
* Unorganized area

|

Borough|

* County borough
* Metropolitan borough

Canton|

Half-canton

Capital|

* Federal capital
* Imperial capital

City|

* Autonomous city
* Charter city
* Independent city
* Incorporated city
* Imperial city
* Free imperial city
* Royal free city

Community|

* Autonomous community
* Residential community

County|

* Administrative county
* Autonomous county
* Consolidated city-county
* County seat
* County town
* Metropolitan county
* Non-metropolitan county
* Regional county municipality
* Viscounty

Country|

* Overseas country

Department|

* Overseas department

District|

* Capital district
* City district
* Congressional district
* Electoral district
* Federal district
* Indian government district
* Land district
* Local government district
* Metropolitan district
* Non-metropolitan district
* Military district
* Municipal district
* Police district
* Regional district
* Rural district
* Sanitary district
* Service district
* Educational service district
* Local service district
* School district
* Intermediate school district
* Special district
* in the US
* Urban district

Division|

* Census division
* Police division
* Subdivision of India

Indian reserve/reservation|

* Indian reservation (United States)
* Indian reserve (Canada)

Municipality|

* City municipality
* County municipality
* Direct-controlled municipality
* District municipality
* Neutral municipality
* Regional municipality
* Resort municipality
* Mountain resort municipality
* Rural municipality
* Specialized municipality

Prefecture|

* Autonomous prefecture
* Subprefecture
* Super-prefecture
* Praetorian prefecture

Province|

* Autonomous province
* Overseas province
* Roman province

Region|

* Administrative region
* Special administrative region
* Autonomous region
* Capital region
* National capital region
* Development region
* Mesoregion
* Microregion
* Overseas region
* Subregion

State|

* Proto-state
* City-state
* Federal state
* Free state
* Sovereign state

Territory|

* Capital territory
* Federal capital territory
* National capital territory
* Dependent territory
* Federal territory
* Incorporated territory
* Organized incorporated territory
* Overseas territory
* Union territory

Town|

* Census town
* Market town

Township|

* Charter township
* Civil township
* Paper township
* Survey township
* Urban township

Unit|

* Regional unit

Zone|

* Economic zone
* Exclusive economic zone
* Free economic zone
* Special economic zone
* Exclusion zone
* Military exclusion zone
* Free speech zone
* Neutral zone
* Self-administered zone
* Trade zone
* Free-trade zone

Other English terms

| Current|

* Alpine resort
* Bailiwick
* Banner
* Autonomous
* Block
* Cadastre
* Circle
* Circuit
* Colony
* Commune
* Condominium
* Constituency
* Duchy
* District
* Eldership
* Emirate
* Enclave and exclave
* Federal dependency
* Governorate
* Hamlet
* Manor
* Royal
* Muftiate
* Neighbourhood
* Parish
* Precinct
* Principality
* Protectorate
* Quarter
* Regency
* Autonomous republic
* Riding
* Sector
* Autonomous
* Shire
* Sultanate
* Suzerainty
* Townland
* Village
* Summer
* Ward

|

Historical|

* Agency
* Barony
* Burgh
* Exarchate
* Hide
* Hundred
* Imperial Circle
* March
* Monthon
* Presidency
* Residency
* Roman diocese
* Seat
* Tenth
* Tithing
* Viceroyalty

Non-English terms or loanwords

| Current|

* Amt
* Apskritis
* Bakhsh
* Barangay
* Bashki
* Bezirk
* Regierungsbezirk
* Comarca
* Comune
* Frazione
* Freguesia
* Fu
* Gemeinde
* Austria
* Germany
* South Tyrol
* Switzerland
* Gemeente
* Gmina
* Hromada
* Județ
* Kampong
* Kommun/Kunta
* Finland
* Sweden
* Län (Sweden)
* Landskap
* Finland
* Località
* Maakunta
* Megye
* Muban
* Mukim
* Njësi administrative
* Obec
* Oblast
* Autonomous
* Okrug
* Ostān
* Poblacion
* Purok
* Qark
* Raion
* Savivaldybė
* Selsoviet
* Sitio
* Seniūnija
* Shahrestān
* Sum
* China
* Sýsla
* Tehsil
* Townlet
* Vingtaine

|

Historical|

* Commote
* Gau
* Heerlijkheid
* Komunë
* Köping
* Korale
* Län/Lääni
* Landskap
* Sweden
* Landskommun
* Maalaiskunta
* Nome
* Egypt
* Greece
* Pagus
* Pargana
* Plasă
* Rreth
* Satrapy
* Socken
* Subah
* Syssel
* Zhou

Used by ten or more countries or having derived terms. Historical derivations in italics.

See also
Autonomous administration
Census division
Electoral district
List of administrative divisions by country
Greek administrative divisions
Slavic administrative divisions
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