View source for Autonomous administrative division

{{Short description|Designation for an administrative territorial entity}}
{{About|subnational administrative divisions which enjoy some degree of autonomy under the national government|external territories which enjoy a greater degree of autonomy from their parent state and function as ''de facto'' independent political entities|Dependent territory}}An '''autonomous administrative division''' (also referred to as an '''autonomous area''', '''zone''', '''entity''', '''unit''', '''region''', '''subdivision''', '''province''', or '''territory''') is a subnational [[administrative division]] or [[territory|internal territory]] of a [[sovereign state]] that has a degree of [[autonomy]] — [[self-governance]] — under the national government. Autonomous areas are distinct from other constituent units of a [[federated state|federation]] (e.g. a state, or province) in that they possess unique powers for their given circumstances. Typically, it is either geographically distinct from the rest of the [[state (polity)|state]] or populated by a national minority, which may exercise [[home rule]]. Decentralization of self-governing powers and functions to such divisions is a way for a national government to try to increase democratic participation or administrative efficiency or to defuse internal conflicts. States that include autonomous areas may be [[federacy|federacies]], [[federation]]s, or [[confederation]]s. Autonomous areas can be divided into [[territory|territorial]] autonomies, subregional territorial autonomies, and local autonomies.

==List of major autonomous areas==
{{See also|List of autonomous areas by country}}
{| width="100%" class="wikitable sortable"
|+List Of Major Autonomous Areas
!width="160px"| Division
!width="200px"|State
!|Notes
|-
|{{Flagicon|Azad Kashmir}} [[Azad Kashmir]]
|Controlled by: {{Flag|Pakistan}}<br>Claimed by: {{Flag|India}}
|Azad Kashmir is part of a self-governing polity which has not been formally annexed by Sumesh koodali. [[Pakistan]] was established after a [[1947 Poonch rebellion|rebellion against the Maharajah of Kashmir]], and the subsequent [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948|First Kashmir War]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= Azad Kashmir &#124; Meaning, History, Population, & Government &#124; Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Azad-Kashmir}}</ref> It Located within the historic [[Kashmir]] region, which is [[Kashmir conflict|disputed]] between [[India]], [[Pakistan]] and [[China]] and is claimed by India as part of the [[Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir]]. 
|-
|{{plainlist|
*{{flagicon image|Flag placeholder.svg}} [[Northern Ireland]]
*{{flag|Scotland}}
*{{flag|Wales}}
}}
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Three of the four constituent [[countries of the United Kingdom]], namely [[Scotland]], [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]], each have an elected, [[Devolution|devolved]] legislature which has the ability to legislate in devolved matters. The [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] which retains sovereignty (the United Kingdom is a [[unitary state]]), can dissolve the devolved legislatures at any time, and legislates in matters that are not devolved, as well as having the capacity to legislate in areas that are devolved (by [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]], without the agreement of the devolved legislature). Formerly, both Scotland and England were fully sovereign states.
|-
|{{plainlist|
*{{flag|Faroe Islands}}
*{{flag|Greenland}}<ref name=territory/>
}}
|{{Flag|Denmark}}
|The two autonomous territories<ref name="territory">* {{Cite web|url=http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html|title=The working autonomies in Europe|last=Benedikter|first=Thomas|date=2006-06-19|publisher=[[Society for Threatened Peoples]]|quote=Denmark has established very specific territorial autonomies with its two island territories|access-date=2019-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309063149/http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html|archive-date=2008-03-09|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.world-autonomies.info/tas/Greenland/Pages/default.aspx|title=Greenland|last=Ackrén|first=Maria|date=November 2017|publisher=Autonomy Arrangements in the World|quote=Faroese and Greenlandic are seen as official regional languages in the self-governing territories belonging to Denmark.|access-date=2019-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830110832/http://www.world-autonomies.info/tas/Greenland/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=2019-08-30|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/countries/greenland_en|title=Greenland|date=2013-06-03|website=International Cooperation and Development|publisher=[[European Commission]]|language=en|access-date=2019-08-27|quote=Greenland [...] is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.norden.org/en/fakta-om-norden-1/the-nordic-countries-the-faroe-islands-greenland-and-aaland/facts-about-the-faroe-islands|title=Facts about the Faroe Islands|publisher=Nordic cooperation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423094907/http://www.norden.org/en/fakta-om-norden-1/the-nordic-countries-the-faroe-islands-greenland-and-aaland/facts-about-the-faroe-islands|archive-date=23 April 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=1 July 2015|quote=The Faroe Islands [...] is one of three autonomous territories in the Nordic Region|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ({{langx|da|rigsdel}}, {{langx|fo|land}}, {{langx|kl|nuna}}) of the [[The unity of the Realm|realm]] of the Kingdom, the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]], each have an elected devolved legislature which has the ability to legislate in devolved matters. The [[Parliament of Denmark|Kingdom Parliament 'Folketinget']] retains sovereignty (The Kingdom of Denmark is a [[unitary state]]) and legislates in matters that are not devolved, as well as having the capacity to legislate in areas that are devolved (this does not normally occur without the agreement of the devolved legislature).
|-
|[[Tobago]]
| {{Flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
| The [[Tobago House of Assembly]] is a devolved legislature that is responsible for the island of [[Tobago]].<ref name="VisitTobago">[http://www.visittobago.gov.tt/load_page.asp?id=41 Tobago Division Of Tourism - About Tobago, Governance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710212503/http://www.visittobago.gov.tt/load_page.asp?id=41 |date=2007-07-10 }}</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Vojvodina|size=x12px}}
| {{flag|Serbia}}
|
|-
| [[Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija]]
| Controlled by: {{flag|Kosovo}}<br>Claimed by: {{flag|Serbia}}
| In 2008, [[Kosovo]] [[list of states with limited recognition|unilaterally declared]] itself as an independent state. Its international [[International recognition of Kosovo|recognition]] is split between those who recognize it as an independent state and those who view it as an autonomous province of [[Serbia]] under [[United Nations]] administration.
|-
| {{nowrap|{{flag|Åland}}}}
| {{flag|Finland}}
|
|-
|{{plainlist|
*{{flag|Azores}}
*{{flag|Madeira}}
}}
| {{flag|Portugal}}
| Although Portugal is a unitary state, its two autonomous regions have elected, [[Devolution|devolved]] legislatures ([[Legislative Assembly of the Azores|Regional Legislative Assemblies of the Azores]] and [[Legislative Assembly of Madeira|Madeira]]) and local government ([[Presidents of the Regional Government of the Azores|Governments of the Azores]] and [[Presidents of the Regional Government of Madeira|Madeira]]) which have the ability to legislate in devolved matters.
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Bangsamoro.svg}} [[Bangsamoro]]
| {{flag|Philippines}}
|
|-
| {{flag|Bougainville}}
| {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
|
|-
|{{plainlist|
*{{flag|Hong Kong|name=Hong Kong SAR}}
*{{flag|Macau|name=Macao SAR}}
*{{flagicon image|Flag placeholder.svg}} [[Guangxi|Guangxi Zhuang AR]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag placeholder.svg}} [[Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia AR]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag placeholder.svg}} [[Ningxia|Ningxia Hui AR]]
* {{flagicon image|Flag placeholder.svg}} [[Tibet AR]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag placeholder.svg}} [[Xinjiang|Xinjiang Uygur AR]]
}}
| {{flag|People's Republic of China}}
| The [[special administrative regions of China|special administrative regions]] have the highest degree of autonomy from the central government in Beijing. [[Autonomous regions of China|Autonomous regions]] contain a large minority ethnic group.
|-
|{{plainlist|
{{flag|Puntland}}<br />{{flag|Jubaland}}<br />{{flagicon image|Hirshabeelle.png}} [[Hirshabelle State|Hirshabelle]]<br />{{flag|Galmudug}}<br />{{flag|Somaliland}}<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Southwestern Somalia.svg}} [[South West State of Somalia|Koofur Orsi]]
| }}
| {{flag|Somalia}}
| [[Somaliland]] is a [[list of states with limited recognition|self-declared independent state]], although it is internationally considered an autonomous region in northwestern [[Somalia]].
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Region Autonoma del Atlantico Norte.svg}} [[North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region|North Caribbean Coast]]
| rowspan="2"|{{flag|Nicaragua}} 
|
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Region Autonoma Atlantico Sur.svg}} [[South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region|South Caribbean Coast]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Rodrigues}}
| {{flag|Mauritius}}
|
|-
| {{flagicon image|De facto SA-NES Flag.svg}} [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]]
| {{flag|Syria|1932}}
|
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Zanzibar.svg}} [[Zanzibar]]
| {{flag|Tanzania}}
|
|-
| [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhchivan]]
| {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
|
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Adjara.svg}} [[Adjara]]
| {{flag|Georgia}}
|
|-
| [[Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia|Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia]]
| Claimed by: {{flag|Georgia}}<br>Controlled by: {{flag|Abkhazia}}
| In 1999, the [[Abkhazia|Republic of Abkhazia]] declared its independence from Georgia after the [[War in Abkhazia (1992–93)|1992–1993 war]]. Georgia and most of the U.N. member states have not recognized Abkhazia's independence and still has an administrative apparatus for the claimed Autonomous Republic; its independence is [[International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia|recognized by Russia and three other]] U.N. member states.
|-
| [[Gorno-Badakhshan]]
| {{flag|Tajikistan}}
|
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Crimea (Latest version).svg}} [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Republic of Crimea]] /{{flagicon image|Flag of Crimea.svg}} [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]]
| De jure: {{flag|Ukraine}}<br>Controlled by: {{flag|Russia}}
| The [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia]] is [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262|not recognized]] by most countries, including Ukraine.
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Karakalpakstan.svg}} [[Karakalpakstan]]
| {{flag|Uzbekistan}}
|
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Gagauzia.svg}} [[Gagauzia]]
| {{flag|Moldova}}
| 
|-
| [[Administrative-Territorial Units of the Left Bank of the Dniester]]
| Claimed by: {{flag|Moldova}}<br>Controlled by: {{flag|Transnistria}}
| In 1990, the [[Transnistria|Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic]] (PMR, commonly known as Transnistria) declared its independence from the [[Soviet Union]]. While Moldova has not formally recognized Transnistria's independence and still has an administrative apparatus for the claimed Autonomous Territorial Unit, its independence is [[International recognition of Transnistria|recognized by 3 other]] non-UN member states.
|-
|{{plainlist|
*{{flag|Easter Island}}
*{{flagicon image|Bandera Juan Fernández.svg}} [[Juan Fernández Islands]]
}}
| {{flag|Chile}}
| In 2007, the [[Chamber of Deputies of Chile]] passed a law designating both as "special territories", granting them more [[autonomy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.mercopress.com/2007/06/07/easter-islands-now-a-special-territory-with-more-autonomy#:~:text=The%20Chamber%20of%20Deputies%20of,archipelago%20as%20%E2%80%9Cspecial%20territories.%E2%80%9D|title = Easter Islands now a "special territory" with more autonomy}}</ref> Additionally, the Juan Fernandez Islands archipelago is a [[Communes of Chile|commune]], while Easter Island is both a commune and a [[provinces of Chile|province]].
|-
| {{flagicon image|Barbuda Council Flag.svg}} [[Barbuda]] (1976)
| {{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
|
|-
| [[Rotuma]]
| {{flag|Fiji}}
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Kurdistan Region}} [[Kurdistan Region]] (2005)
| {{flag|Iraq}}
| Semi-autonomous [[Federal regions of Iraq|federal region of Iraq]]; the constitution of Iraq gives a degree of autonomy to administrative divisions, such as regions and [[Governorates of Iraq|provinces]], in matters that are not within the exclusive remit of the federal government of Iraq. Regional law may take priority (in case of dispute) if the law falls within the remit of "shared authorities" and does not contradict with the provisions of the constitution of Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iraq_2005|title= Constitution of Iraq (Article 115)|publisher=Constitute}}</ref> The [[Federal Supreme Court of Iraq]] has the authority to repeal and amend regional law.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iraq_2005|title= Constitution of Iraq (Article 93)|publisher=Constitute}}</ref>{{efn|In a verdict issued in February 2024, the Supreme Court of Iraq simultaneously revoked as well as amended Kurdistan Region's legislation, setting a legal precedent for the latter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iraqfsc.iq/news.5121/|title=The Federal Court issues a verdict revoking and amending some of the articles of the Kurdistan Parliament Election Law|publisher=Federal Supreme Court of Iraq|language=ar}}</ref>}}
|-
| {{flag|Nevis}} (1967)
| {{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
|
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Príncipe Autonomous Region.svg}} [[Autonomous Region of Príncipe]] (1995)
| {{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
|
|-
| [[Svalbard]]
| {{flag|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 [[Svalbard Treaty|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).
|-
| {{flag|Heligoland}}
| rowspan=2 | {{flag|Germany}}
| 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 [[European Union value added tax|Value Added Tax Area]].
|-
| {{Flagicon image|DEU Büsingen am Hochrhein COA.svg}} [[Büsingen am Hochrhein]]
| rowspan=2| Despite being integral parts of their respective countries, these two enclaves of Switzerland predominantly use the [[Swiss franc]] as currency and are in customs union with Switzerland.
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Campione d'Italia.svg}} [[Campione d'Italia]]
| {{flag|Italy}}
|-
|{{Flagicon image|Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, Flag.svg}} [[Zapatista territories|Zapatista Territories]]
|{{Flag|Mexico}}
|a ''de facto'' [[Autonomous territory|autonomous region]] controlled or partially controlled by [[Neozapatismo|neo-Zapatista]] support bases in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] state of [[Chiapas]] since the [[Zapatista uprising]] in 1994 and during the wider [[Chiapas conflict]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reyes Godelmann |first=Iker |date=30 July 2014 |title=The Zapatista Movement: The Fight for Indigenous Rights in Mexico |url=https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/news-item/the-zapatista-movement-the-fight-for-indigenous-rights-in-mexico/ |access-date=2020-06-16 |website=[[Australian Institute of International Affairs]]}}</ref>
|-

|{{plainlist|
*{{flag|Adygea}}
*{{flag|Altai Republic|Altai}}
*{{flag|Bashkortostan}}
*{{flag|Buryatia}}
*{{flag|Chechnya}}
*{{flag|Chuvashia}}
*{{flag|Dagestan}}
*{{flag|Ingushetia}}
*{{flag|Kabardino-Balkaria}}
*{{flag|Kalmykia}}
*{{flag|Karachay-Cherkessia}}
*{{flag|Karelia}}
*{{flag|Khakassia}}
*{{flag|Komi}}
*{{flag|Mari El}}
*{{flag|Mordovia}}
*{{flag|North Ossetia-Alania}}
*{{flag|Sakha Republic}}
*{{flag|Tatarstan}}
*{{flag|Tuva}}
*{{flag|Udmurtia}}
}}
|{{flag|Russia}}
|
|-
| {{flag|Donetsk People's Republic}}
|Controlled by: {{Flag|Russia}}<br>Claimed by: {{Flag|Ukraine}}
|Sovereignty disputed by Ukraine as [[Donetsk Oblast]]
|-
| {{flag|Luhansk People's Republic}}
|Controlled by: {{Flag|Russia}}<br>Claimed by: {{Flag|Ukraine}}
|Sovereignty disputed by Ukraine as [[Luhansk Oblast]]
|}

==Other territories considered autonomous==
=== British Crown Dependencies ===
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Division
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|''State''
!class="unsortable"|''Notes''
|-
| {{flag|Guernsey}}
| rowspan="3" | {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| rowspan="3"|[[Bailiwick of Guernsey|Guernsey]], the [[Isle of Man]], and [[Jersey]] are self-governing [[Crown Dependencies]] which are not part of the United Kingdom; however, the UK is responsible for their defence and international affairs.
|-
| {{flag|Isle of Man}}
|-
| {{flag|Jersey}}
|}
{{Main|2=British Overseas Territories|3=Crown Dependencies|4=British Islands}}

=== British Overseas Territories ===
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Division
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|''State''
!class="unsortable"|''Notes''
|-
| {{flag|Anguilla}}
| rowspan="12" | {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Bermuda}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|British Virgin Islands}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Cayman Islands}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Falkland Islands}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Gibraltar}}
| [[Gibraltar]] is a self-governing [[British Overseas Territories|overseas territory of the UK]]
|-
| {{flag|Montserrat}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Pitcairn}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Turks and Caicos Islands}}
| 
|}

=== Dutch constituent countries ===
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Division
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|''State''
!class="unsortable"|''Notes''
|-
| {{flag|Aruba}}
| rowspan="4" | {{flag|Kingdom of the Netherlands}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Curaçao}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Sint Maarten}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Netherlands}}
|
|}
[[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]], and [[Sint Maarten]] are autonomous countries within the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], each with their own parliament. In addition they enjoy autonomy in taxation matters as well as having their own currencies.

=== French overseas collectivities, New Caledonia, and Corsica ===
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Division
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|''State''
!class="unsortable"|''Notes''
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Alsace.svg}} [[European Collectivity of Alsace|Alsace]] (2021){{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
| rowspan="15" | {{flag|France}}
| single territorial collectivity
|-
| {{flag|Corsica}} (2018){{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
| single territorial collectivity
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of French Guiana (Local).svg}} [[French Guiana]]<!--territorial collectively flag-->
| overseas region and department and single territorial collectivity
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of Guadeloupe (Local).svg}} [[Guadeloupe]]<!--regional flag-->
| overseas region and department
|-
| {{Flagicon image|Flag-of-Martinique.svg}} [[Martinique]]<!--territorial collectively flag-->
| overseas region and department and single territorial collectivity
|-
| {{flag|Mayotte|local}}
| overseas region and department
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag placeholder.svg}} [[Réunion]]<!--regional flag-->
| overseas region and department
|-
| {{flag|French Polynesia}}
| overseas collectivity
|-
| {{flag|Saint-Barthélemy|local}}
| overseas collectivity
|-
| {{flagicon image|Local flag of the Collectivity of Saint Martin.svg}} [[Collectivity of Saint Martin|Saint-Martin]]
| overseas collectivity
|-
| {{flag|Saint-Pierre and Miquelon|local}}
| overseas collectivity
|-
| {{flag|Wallis and Futuna|local}}<!--unofficial flag used locally-->
| overseas collectivity
|-
| {{flag|New Caledonia}}
| sui generis collectivity
|}
{{Main|Overseas collectivity}}

The [[French Constitution of 1958|French Constitution]] recognises three autonomous jurisdictions. [[Corsica]], a [[regions of France|region of France]], enjoys a greater degree of autonomy on matters such as tax and education compared to mainland regions.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} [[New Caledonia]], a ''sui generis'' collectivity, and [[French Polynesia]], an [[overseas collectivity]], are highly autonomous territories with their own government, legislature, currency, and constitution. They do not, however, have legislative powers for policy areas relating to law and order, defense, border control or university education. Other smaller overseas collectivities have a lesser degree of autonomy through local legislatures. The five overseas regions, [[French Guiana]], [[Guadeloupe]], [[Martinique]], [[Mayotte]], and [[Réunion]], are generally governed the same as mainland regions; however, they enjoy some additional powers, including certain legislative powers for devolved areas.

=== New Zealand overseas territories ===
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Division
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|''State''
!class="unsortable"|''Notes''
|-
| {{flag|Cook Islands}}
| rowspan="3" | {{flag|New Zealand}}
| The Cook Islands is a self-governing country in [[associated state|free association]] with New Zealand that maintains some international relationships in its own name.
|-
| {{flag|Niue}}
| Niue is a self-governing country in [[associated state|free association]] with New Zealand that maintains some international relationships in its own name.
|-
| {{flag|Tokelau}}
| Tokelau is an autonomous dependency of New Zealand.
|}
[[New Zealand]] maintains nominal sovereignty over [[List of islands in the Pacific Ocean|three Pacific Island]] nations, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. The [[Chatham Islands]]—despite having the designation of ''Territory''—is an integral part of the country, situated within the New Zealand archipelago; its council is not autonomous and has broadly the same powers as other local councils, although notably it can also charge levies on goods entering or leaving the islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1995/0041/latest/DLM367666.html|title=Chatham Islands Council Act 1995 No 41 (as at 01 July 2013), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation|website=www.legislation.govt.nz}}</ref>

==Ethnic autonomous territories==
===Areas designated for indigenous peoples===
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Division
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|''State''
!class="unsortable"|''Notes''
|-
| [[Nisga'a]]
| rowspan="11" | {{flag|Canada}}
| Created by the [[Nisga'a Final Agreement]] in 2000. The Nisga'a Territory runs semi-autonomously from the rest of Canada. Located in Northwestern [[British Columbia]], within kilometres of the [[Alaska Panhandle]].
|-
| {{flag|Nunatsiavut}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Tłı̨chǫ}}
| 
|-
|[[Council of the Haida Nation|Haida Nation]]
| 
|-
|[[Toquaht First Nation|Toquaht]]
|
|-
|[[Ucluelet First Nation|Ucluelet]]
|
|-
|[[Tsawwassen First Nation|Tsawwassen]]
|
|-
|[[Tla'amin Nation]]
|
|-
|[[Huu-ay-aht First Nations|Huu-ay-aht]]
|
|-
|[[Kyuquot/Cheklesahht First Nation|Kyuquot/Cheklesahht]]
|
|-
|[[Uchucklesaht First Nation|Uchucklesaht]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Hopi Reservation}}
| rowspan="8" | {{flag|United States}}
| 
|-
| {{flag|Cherokee Nation}}
| 
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of the Sac and Fox Nation.svg}} [[Sac and Fox Nation]]
| 
|-
| {{flag|Choctaw Nation}}
| 
|-
| {{flagicon image|Pine Ridge Flag.svg}} [[Pine Ridge Indian Reservation]]
| 
|-
| {{flag|Navajo Nation}}
|
|-
| {{flag|Haudenosaunee}}
| 
|-
| {{flagicon image|Flag of the Colorado River Indian Tribes.svg}} [[Colorado River Indian Tribes]]
| 
|-
| [[Comarca Emberá-Wounaan|Emberá-Wounaan]]
| rowspan="6" | {{flag|Panama}}
| 
|-
| [[Kuna de Madugandí]]
| 
|-
| [[Kuna de Wargandí]]
| 
|-
| {{Flagicon image|Bandera de la Comarca Guna Yala.svg}} [[Guna Yala]]
| 
|-
| {{Flagicon image|Bandera de la Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé.svg}} [[Ngöbe-Buglé]]
| 
|-
| {{flagicon image|Naso Tjër Di.gif}} [[Naso Tjër Di Comarca]]
| 
|}

Other areas that are autonomous in nature but not in name are areas designated for [[indigenous peoples]], such as [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|those of the Americas]]:

* Aboriginal ([[First Nations in Canada|First Nation]] or [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or Indian) [[Indian reserve]] and [[Indian reservation]], in, respectively, [[Canada]] and the [[United States]].{{discuss}}
* the five ''[[provinces of Panama|comarcas indígenas]]'' ("indigenous regions") of [[Panama]].

===Ethiopian special woredas===
In [[Ethiopia]], "special woredas" are a subgroup of ''[[woreda]]s'' (districts) that are organized around the traditional homelands of [[Demographics of Ethiopia|specific ethnic minorities]], and are outside the usual hierarchy of a ''[[Regions of Ethiopia|kilil]]'', or region. These ''woredas'' have many similarities to autonomous areas in other countries.

==Proposed autonomous administrative divisions==
{{Expand list|date=May 2025}}
===Formal proposals===
The following autonomous regions have been proposed but not implemented following unsuccessful referendums:
*[[Cordillera Administrative Region| Cordillera Autonomous Region]] within the [[Philippines]] ([[1990 Cordillera autonomy plebiscite|1990]], [[1998 Cordillera autonomy plebiscite|1998]])
*[[East Timor (province)|Special Autonomous Region of East Timor]] within [[Indonesia]] ([[1999 East Timorese independence referendum|1999]])
*[[Corsica]] within [[France]] ([[2003 Corsican autonomy referendum|2003]])
*[[North East England]] within the [[United Kingdom]] ([[2004 North East England devolution referendum|2004]])
*[[Darfur Region]] within [[Sudan]] ([[2016 Darfurian status referendum|2016]])

The following autonomous regions were initially rejected in a referendum but were subsequently approved in a future referendum:
*[[Scottish Assembly|Scotland]] within the [[United Kingdom]] ([[1979 Scottish devolution referendum|1979]])
*[[Welsh Assembly (Wales Act 1978)|Wales]] within the [[United Kingdom]] ([[1979 Welsh devolution referendum|1979]])

The following autonomous regions have been proposed as part of peace agreements:
*[[Rambouillet Agreement|Kosovo]] within the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] (1999)
*[[Western Sahara Authority]] within [[Morocco]] (2003)
*[[Sahara Autonomous Region]] within [[Morocco]] (2007)

===Campaigns===
*[[Cornish Assembly|Cornwall]] within the [[United Kingdom]]
*[[Corsican autonomy|Corsica]] within [[France]]
*[[Devolved English Parliament|England]] within the [[United Kingdom]]
*[[Hungarian Regional Autonomy|Hungarian Autonomous Region]] within [[Serbia]]
*[[Silesian Autonomy Movement|Upper Silesia]] within [[Poland]]
*[[Székely autonomy movement|Székely Land]] within [[Romania]]

==Historical autonomous administrative divisions==
{{Expand list|date=September 2016}}

* [[Autonomous Region of Catalonia (1931-1939)|Autonomous Region of Catalonia]] within the [[Second Spanish Republic|Spanish Republic]] (1932–1939)
* [[Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship]] (1920–1939)
* [[Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]] in the [[Philippines]] (1989–2019)
* [[Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus]] in [[Principality of Albania|Albania]] (1914)
* [[Autonomous republics of the Soviet Union|ASSRs of the Soviet Union]] (1922–1990)
* [[Bantustans]] in [[South West Africa]] (1968–1990) and [[South Africa]] (1956–1994)
* [[Carpathian Ruthenia]] and [[Autonomous Slovakia (1938-1939)|Slovakia]] within [[Second Czechoslovak Republic|Czechoslovakia]] (1938–1939)
* [[Eritrea (1952–1962)|Eritrea]] within the [[Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea]] (1952–1962)
* [[Grand Duchy of Finland]] existed as an autonomous state under the rule of the [[Russian Empire]] (1809–1917)
* [[Magyar Autonomous Region]] of [[Socialist Republic of Romania]] (1952–1968)
* [[Southern Ireland (1921–22)]] within the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]
* [[Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (1972–1983)]] and [[Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011)]]
<!--Only formally designated autonomous areas in modern nation-states to be considered here.-->

==See also==
* [[Devolution]]
* [[Regional autonomy]]
* [[List of autonomous areas by country]]
** [[Autonomous administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China]]
** [[Autonomous administrative divisions of India]]
** [[Autonomous administrative divisions of Russia]]
** [[Autonomous administrative divisions of Spain]]
* [[List of leaders of dependent territories|List of autonomous regions leaders]]
* [[Personal union]]
* [[Region (administrative)]]
* [[Regional state]]
* [[Imperial immediacy]]
* [[Dependent territory]]
* [[Vassal state]]
* [[Protectorate]]
* [[Countries of the United Kingdom]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}

===Works cited===
* M. Weller and S. Wolff (eds), Autonomy, Self-governance and Conflict Resolution: Innovative Approaches to Institutional Design in Divided Societies. Abingdon, Routledge, 2005
* [http://www.minorityrights.org/admin/Download/pdf/NicaraguaMicro2007.pdf From Conflict to Autonomy in Nicaragua: Lessons Learnt]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, report by Minority Rights Group International
* P.M. Olausson, Autonomy and Islands, A Global Study of the Factors that determine Island Autonomy. Åbo: Åbo Akademi University Press, 2007.
* Thomas Benedikter (ed.), [http://www.eurac.edu/en/research/institutes/imr/Documents/Deliverable_No_9_Update_Set_educational_material.pdf Solving Ethnic Conflict through Self-Government - A Short Guide to Autonomy in Europe and South Asia], EURAC Bozen 2009, 
* Thomas Benedikter, 100 Years of Modern Territorial Autonomy - Autonomy around the World, Berlin/Zürich, LIT 2021, {{ISBN|978-3-643-91401-9}} (pb)
* {{cite web |first1=Thomas |last1=Benedikter |title=The World's Modern Autonomy Systems |publisher=EURAC |location=Bozen |date=2010 |url=https://www.academia.edu/44170136 |via=Academia.edu }}

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{{Terms for types of country subdivisions}}
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[[Category:Autonomous administrative divisions| ]]
[[Category:Autonomy]]
[[Category:Decentralization]]