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 region of China, Autonomous communities of Spain
• Bailiwick
• Bundesland -- States of Austria, States of Germany
• Canton -- Cantons of Switzerland, Cantons of France
• City-state -- Municipality of China
• Commune -- Lists of communes of France, Comune of Italy
• County
• Department -- Departments of France, Departments of Bolivia
• District
• Krai -- Krais of Russia
• Län -- Counties of Sweden, Provinces of Finland
• Local government
• Municipality
• Oblast
• Parish
• Prefecture -- Prefectures of Japan
• Province -- Provinces of Thailand, Provinces of the Philippines, Provinces of China, Provinces of Spain, Provinces of Canada
• Region -- Regions of France, Regions of Finland
• Republic -- Republics of Russia
• Subprefecture
• State -- U.S. state, India State Bundesland above
• Territory -- Territories of Canada
• Periphery -- Peripheries of Greece
• Voivodship -- Voivodships of Poland

Compare:

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

See also

• List of subnational entities by country
• List of capitals of subnational entities
• List of subnational name etymologies
• List of the most populous subnational entities