A governorate is a subnational entity. The term is mostly used to translate the Arabic muhafazah (plural muhafazat), also spelled mohafazah (mohafazat). It may also refer to the Governorates General of Imperial Russia (Russian: guberniya).

Arab countries

A few of the following countries have strong usage of the French language, because they were French colonies. In French, the term muhafazah is translated as gouvernorate.

• Governorates of Bahrain
• Governorates of Egypt
• Governorates of Iraq
• Governorates of Jordan
• Governorates of Kuwait
• Governorates of Lebanon
• Governorates of Syria
• Governorates of Tunisia
• Governorates of Yemen

Imperial Russia

• Governorates of Russia

See also

• wilaya (= province), usually below governorate level
• mintaqah (= region)
• imarah (= emirate)