thumb|270x270px|Countries with at least one autonomous area
This list of autonomous areas arranged by country gives an overview of autonomous areas of the world. 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
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!width="160px"| Country
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|Native term<br />Translation or equivalent
!class="unsortable"|Instances (areas became autonomous in the treaty and year(s) indicated, if available)
!class="unsortable" width="100px"|References
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| <small>(Chinese, an official language of both Hong Kong and Macau)</small><br /><br />
| (1997) <br /> (1999)
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|UK constituent country with devolution
| Northern Ireland (1999)
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|autonome Provinz <small>(German)</small><br />provincia autonoma <small>(Italian)</small><br >autonomous province
| (1946, 1972)
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|"سلطة الحكم الذاتي الفلسطينية المؤقتة" (Arabic)<br />"Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority"<br />הסמכות המינהלית הפלסטינית (Hebrew)<br />interim administrative authority
| (1994) Gaza Strip and West Bank
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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
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
!width="160px"| Country
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|Native term<br />Translation or equivalent
!class="unsortable"|Instances (areas became autonomous in the year(s) indicated, if available)
!class="unsortable" width="100px"|References
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| autonomous island
| Barbuda (1976)
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| <br />autonomous republic
| <!-- Do not add the non-verifiable flag from the early 90s -->Nakhchivan (1924)
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| region with special status
| Northwest (2019) Southwest (2019)
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|Provincias de Chile y Comuna de Chile <br /> province and communes
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| ()<br />autonomous region
| <!-- These regions are NOT permitted to adopt their own flags, do not add pro-independence or other flags -->Guangxi (1958) Inner Mongolia (1947) Ningxia (1958) Xinjiang (1955) Tibet (1965)
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| autonomous territory<br />(Danish Realm)
| (1948) (1979)
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| autonomous region
| Rotuma (1927)
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| <br /> collectivity
| (1999)
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| <br />overseas collectivity
| (2007) Saint Martin (2007) (2003) (2003)
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| <br />overseas country
| (2004)
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| Administrative divisions of Georgia (country)|<br />autonomous republic
| 20px Abkhazia (1991-2008) (1991)
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| <br />autonomous monastic state
| Mount Athos (1913)
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| daerah|<br />special region
| Yogyakarta (1950) (1959) (2005)
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| <br />special autonomous region
| (2000) (2008) Central Papua (2022) Highland Papua (2022) South Papua (2022) Southwest Papua (2022)
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| autonomous region
| Kurdistan Region (1992)
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| <br />autonomous region
| (1948) (1963) (1948) (1946) (1948)
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| <br />autonomous territorial unit
| (1995) Left Bank of the Dniester (2005)
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|self-governing entity
| Azad Kashmir (1974) Gilgit-Baltistan (2009)
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| <br />indigenous territory
| Emberá-Wounaan (1983) Guna de Madungandí (1996) Kuna de Wargandí (2000) Guna Yala (1938) Ngöbe-Buglé (1997) Naso Tjër Di Comarca (2020)
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| autonomous region
| (2000)
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| <br />autonomous region
| (2019)
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| <br />autonomous region
| (1976) (1976)
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| <br />autonomous region
| Autonomous Region of Príncipe (1995)
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| <br />autonomous province
| Vojvodina (1945) Kosovo and Metohija (1945–1999)
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| <br />autonomous province
| Gorno-Badakhshan (1925)
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| <br /> revolutionary government
| (1964)
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| autonomous island
|Tobago (1980)
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| <br />autonomous republic
| (1992)
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| (1999) (1999)
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| Territories of the United States
| (1950) (1954) (1967)
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All first level divisions are autonomous
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Country
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|Native term<br />Translation or equivalent
!class="unsortable"|Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available)
!class="unsortable" width="100px"|References
|-
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| departamento<br />(autonomous) department
| Beni (2006) Pando (2006) Santa Cruz (2006) Tarija (2006) La Paz (2009) Cochabamba (2009) Chuquisaca (2009) Oruro (2009) Potosi (2009)
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| île autonome <br />autonomous island
| (2002) Grande Comore (2002) (2002) Mayotte (2002)
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| <small>(in Spanish)</small><br /> <small>(in Basque)</small><br /><br /><br /> <small>(in Galician)</small><br /> <small>(in Asturian)</small><br /> <small>(in Aragonese)</small><br />autonomous community<br />(nationalities and regions of Spain)
| (1981) (1982) (1981) (1983) (1979) (1982) (1981) (1982) (1983) (1979) (1983) (1981) (1982) (1983) (1982) (1982) (1982)
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| municipio autónomo<br />autonomous municipality
| Huacaya Tarabuco Mojocoya Charazani Jesús de Machaca Pampas Aullagas San Pedro de Totora Chipaya Salinas de Garci Mendoza Chayanta Charagua
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| territorio indígena<br />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.
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|Autonomous area
| (2005)
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|Comuna de Chile <br /> communes
| Juan Fernández Islands
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| ()<br />autonomous prefecture
| Bayingolin Bortala Changji Chuxiong Dali Dehong Dêqên Enshi Gannan Garzê Golog Yushu Haibei Hainan Haixi Honghe Huangnan Ili Kizilsu Liangshan Linxia Ngawa Nujiang Qiandongnan Qiannan Qianxinan Wenshan Xiangxi Xishuangbanna (Sibsongbanna) Yanbian
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| <br />autonomous province
| (1972) (1972)
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| self-administered zones
| Danu Self-Administered Zone Naga Self-Administered Zone Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone Pa-O Self-Administered Zone Wa Self-Administered Division (2011-2024)
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| <br />Autonomous territorial entity
| (1990)
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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"
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Country
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|Native term<br />Translation or equivalent
!class="unsortable"|Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available)
!class="unsortable" width="100px"|References
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| ciudad autónoma<br />autonomous city
| Buenos Aires (1994)
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| autonomous city
| Yerevan
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| autonomous city
| Minsk
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| krong<br />autonomous municipality
| Phnom Penh
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| commune autonome<br />autonomous commune
| Bangui
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| sector autónomo<br />autonomous sector
| Bissau region
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| autonomous city
| Budapest
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| autonomous city
| Mexico City (2016)
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| autonomous city
| Belgrade
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| shahar<br />autonomous city
| Tashkent (1918)
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Independent cities called "autonomous"
{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Country
!class="unsortable" width="200px"|Native term<br />Translation or equivalent
!class="unsortable"|Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available)
!class="unsortable" width="100px"|References
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| <br />village community
| Atarashiki (1948)
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| <br />special autonomous city
| Sejong
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| <br/>holy city
| Touba
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| krong<br />autonomous municipality
| Phnom Penh Sihanoukville Pailin Kep
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