An autonomous (subnational) entity is a subnational entity that has a certain amount of autonomy. Typically an autonomous entity contains a national minority which is different from the national majority.

To find a specific autonomous entity see the list of autonomous entities ordered by country.

Autonomous city

• Autonomous cities of Spain

Argentina

Since the 1994 Constitution grants Buenos Aires, formerly Capital Federal (Spanish, Federal Capitol), the status of, Autonomous and changes the formal name to Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (Spanish, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires). The city which was part of the Buenos Aires Province is not longer considered to be in the province. The Buenos Aires suburbs are considered part of the Buenos Aires Province, and not from the city.

This also changed the politics of the city as introduced the election for Mayor, which was formerly elected by the President.

Autonomous community

• Autonomous communities of Spain

Autonomous district

• Autonomous districts of Russia

Autonomous province

• Autonomous provinces of Russia

Autonomous region

In Portugal, the two island regions of Azores and Madeira became autonomous regions in 1976 with self-rule by a regional government and a regional legislative assembly. They gain their autonomy because of the great distance from the capital of the country, it is not due to ethnic distinction like in Spain.

Kurdish Autonomous Region in Iraq

Autonomous republic

• Autonomous republics of Russia
• Crimea is an autonomous republic in Ukraine
• Uzbekistan: Karakalpakstan

Autonomous territory

Countries with several types of autonomous entities

Some countries have several levels of autonomous entities.

China

In the People's Republic of China, administrative divisions with various levels of autonomy occur at several levels of the administrative hierarchy. Except for special administrative regions which are considered dependent territories, all of these autonomous divisions are designated for one or more ethnic minorities.

• province level
  • Special administrative regions (2 in total)
    • Hong Kong
    • Macau
  • Autonomous regions (5 in total)
    • Guangxi
    • Inner Mongolia
    • Ningxia
    • Tibet
    • Xinjiang
• prefecture level
  • Autonomous prefectures (30 in total)
  • Leagues
• county level
  • Autonomous counties (117 in total)
  • Autonomous banners (3 in total)

The Republic of China arranged Mongolia and Tibet as "regions", which were in effect autonomous, before retreating to Taiwan following Chinese civil war.

See Political divisions of China for more information.

Russia

Russia among its subdivisions has (autonomous) republics, autonomous provinces (autonomous oblast) and autonomous districts (okrugs).

See: Subdivisions of Russia.

See also

Subnational entity