Subnational entity

Subnational entity is a generic term for an administrative region within a country — on an arbitrary level below that of the sovereign state — typically with a local government encompassing multiple municipalities, counties, or provinces with a certain degree of autonomy in a varying number of matters. Confusingly, in countries that are no nation states, this may well mean that some or all "subnational" entities in reality are also national entities.

Subnational entities are conceptually separate from dependent areas so that the former are included in the core or mainland of the respective state.

Designations

Some of the designations for subnational entities are:

Autonomous community - Autonomous communities of Spain
Autonomous region - Political divisions of China
Bailiwick - Channel Islands
Bundesland - States of Austria, States of Germany
Canton - Cantons of Bosnia, Cantons of Switzerland, Cantons of France
Commune - Commune in France, Comune of Italy
Community (subdivision) - Belgium
County - Counties of Ireland
Department - Departments of France, Departments of Bolivia
District
Krai - Krais of Russia
L�n - Counties of Sweden, Provinces of Finland
Municipality - Municipality of China
Oblast
Parish
Periphery - Peripheries of Greece
Prefecture - Prefectures of Japan
Province - Provinces of Thailand, Provinces of the Philippines, Political divisions of China, Provinces of Spain, Provinces of Canada
Region - Regions of France, Regions of Finland
Republic - Republics of Russia
Subprefecture
State - U.S. state, Australian states and territories, States and territories of India
Territory - Provinces and territories of Canada
Voivodship - Voivodships of Poland

Compare:

Country (a national or supra-national entity)
Empire (a supra-national entity)
State (a national or supra-national entity)

Subnational entity

Designations

Compare:

See also