Public utility district
A district represents a form of administrative division overseen by local government authorities in numerous nations. The scale of districts can differ significantly, encompassing regions, counties, multiple municipalities, subdivisions within municipalities, school districts, or political districts.
Etymology
The word "district" in English is borrowed from French, tracing back to the Medieval Latin term districtus, which means "the administration of justice or the suppression of wrongdoers." Its earliest recorded use in English dates back to 1611.
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, the term for district (, Wuleswali) denotes a division within a province. The country comprises nearly 400 such districts.
Australia
For state elections, electoral districts define voting constituencies. Additionally, districts have historically been used as cadastral units for land registration and as squatting districts. Various types of districts continue to be recognized in New South Wales.
Austria
In Austria, the term Bezirk applies to three different administrative frameworks:
- There are ninety-five district administrative offices (Bezirkshauptmannschaften) responsible for regional governmental functions; their areas of authority are commonly called districts. Fifteen statutory cities perform these duties independently through their municipal administrations.
- The cities of Vienna and Graz are segmented into municipal districts (Stadtbezirke) that assist local governance. Vienna’s districts elect councils (Bezirksvertretung) and chairpersons (Bezirksvorsteher) who possess limited control over budgets but lack legislative authority.
- The judicial system divides Austria into 115 judicial districts (Gerichtsbezirke), each corresponding to a local trial court at the lowest tier.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is organized into:
- 59 districts (; sing.– ),
- 11 cities (; sing.– ),
- 1 autonomous republic () which includes:
- 7 districts
- 1 city
Districts are further subdivided into municipalities ().
Moreover, Azerbaijan is partitioned into nine economic regions (), grouping multiple districts without serving as administrative entities. The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic constitutes an independent tenth economic region.
1. Absheron 2. Ganja-Qazakh 3. Shaki-Zaqatala 4. Lankaran 5. Quba-Khachmaz 6. Aran 7. Upper Karabakh 8. Kalbajar-Lachin 9. Daglig-Shirvan 10. Nakhchivan
Bangladesh
Bangladesh consists of 64 districts, which were initially 21 larger districts that were later subdivided. In 1984, these subdivisions were upgraded to full district status. Each district contains several sub-districts known as Upazila, with a total of 493 Upazilas across the country.
Belgium
In Belgium, municipalities with populations exceeding 100,000 may establish sub-municipal administrative bodies with elected councils. Currently, only Antwerp, home to over 460,000 people, is divided into nine such districts ().
Belgian arrondissements serve as administrative layers between provinces and municipalities or act as judicial divisions and are occasionally referred to as districts in English.
Bhutan
Bhutanese districts (), function as local administrative areas composed of village clusters called . Some also include subdistricts referred to as .
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, districts operate as autonomous administrative entities.
Brčko District
Located in the northeastern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brčko District belongs simultaneously to both the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its legislative body consists of 29 members.
Botswana
Districts serve as Botswana’s main administrative divisions alongside town and city councils. Each of the ten districts is governed by its own district council.
Brazil
Municipalities in Brazil are further divided into districts. Smaller municipalities usually contain a single urban district that includes the city, where the local government offices—namely the prefeitura (City Hall) and câmara de vereadores (City Council)—are situated, representing the Executive and Legislative branches respectively. In larger urban centers, rural districts exist along with clusters of urban districts that have subordinate Executive units called subprefeituras.
Brunei
The primary administrative divisions in Brunei are districts (daerah), totaling four: Brunei-Muara, Tutong, Belait, and Temburong. Each district is overseen by a Jabatan Daerah (District Office) under the leadership of a Pegawai Daerah (District Officer). These offices all report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kementerian Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri).
Alberta
Within Alberta, municipal districts and improvement districts are categorized as rural municipalities. They are recognized by Statistics Canada as census subdivisions and form parts of larger census divisions.
British Columbia
In British Columbia, the term "district" is applied across multiple administrative levels. The most prevalent usage is for district municipalities, which are a municipal classification equivalent to cities or towns. These often carry titles such as "District of [Name]" or alternatives like "Corporation of Delta" or "Township of Langley."
Regional districts resemble counties by encompassing several municipalities along with unincorporated territories. Their distinct naming helps differentiate them from district municipalities.
Additional district-related categories include:
- Electoral districts (previously known as ridings)
- Forest districts administered by the Ministry of Forests
- Land districts used as cadastral survey units and vital geographic references within government databases
- School districts, typically referred to simply as "districts"
- Various regional subdivisions named "region" or "area," including Ministry of Environment regions, health regions, and regional management planning zones like the Muskwa-Kechika Management Planning Area
Mi'kma'ki
The traditional lands of the Mi'kmaw Nation span across the Atlantic provinces and Maritime provinces, historically divided into seven or eight districts: Epekwitk, Piktuk, Eske'kewa'ki, Kespe'kewa'ki, Kespukwitk, Sikniktewa'ki, their central district Unama'ki, and Ktaqamkuk. Although Canadian authorities rarely grant official recognition to Mi'kma'ki, the Mi'kmaw Nation remains an active member within the Wabanaki country.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is composed of numerous local service districts, alongside 7 school districts, 10 federal electoral ridings, and 55 provincial electoral constituencies.
Northwest Territories
Between 1870 and 1905, the federal government created districts within the Northwest Territories as administrative divisions inspired by those used in the Province of Canada. The initial district formed was the District of Keewatin in 1876, followed by an additional four in 1882. Over time, these districts either transformed into independent territories (such as Yukon), became provinces (like Alberta and Saskatchewan), or were integrated into existing provinces.
Ontario
In Ontario, a district represents a legal subdivision that, unlike counties, lacks incorporation and primarily encompasses unincorporated areas, largely consisting of Crown land. The original division of what is now Southern Ontario into districts occurred in 1788 under the Province of Quebec and subsequently Upper Canada. These districts remained functional until 1849 when counties replaced them under the Province of Canada.
Present-day Ontario districts such as Algoma and Nipissing, established in 1858 prior to Confederation, serve to provide judicial and provincial services to sparsely inhabited regions from district centers like Sault Ste. Marie. Several have District Social Service Administration Boards that offer social services. The boundaries of federal census divisions may coincide with those of districts.
Quebec
Within Quebec, districts are electoral subdivisions within boroughs, which themselves are subdivisions of cities. These function similarly to what is typically referred to as an electoral ward.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is segmented into eighteen districts, each administered by a respective district council.
Mainland China
In Mainland China, a district () serves as a subdivision within various city-level administrative units, including direct-administered municipalities, sub-provincial municipalities, and prefecture-level cities. These districts possess county-level administrative status.
The concept of modern districts is relatively recent. Historically, the English term "district" frequently translated the (), which corresponds to what is now considered a "county" in contemporary China.
Colombia
Colombia designates ten special administrative units known as districts for specific strategic economic and cultural purposes:
Czechia
In the Czechia, the district ("", plural "") ceased to hold administrative authority following reforms in 2002. Their functions were transferred to regions ("e") and selected municipalities (""), leaving districts primarily as statistical divisions.
France
In France, the original administrative subdivisions known as districts existed from 1790 until 1800. During the 20th century, districts operated as intercommunal structures but were phased out after 1999, replaced by new entities such as and , which better represented the changing framework of regional administration.
Germany
- Within Germany, a district () serves as an administrative layer positioned between the federal states (German federal states) and local municipalities (Gemeinden). By 2011, the majority of the 402 districts were classified as , indicating rural districts. Additionally, 107 major cities—typically those with populations exceeding 100,000—are designated as urban districts ( or ), independent of any district.
- A smaller rural subdivision known as a usually derives its name from a central town or village. These subdivisions are recorded in registries (), historically utilized for taxation purposes.
- Certain federal states incorporate an extra administrative tier between the and , called (government district).
- The term district () also referred to an administrative unit in the German Democratic Republic starting from 1952.
- Many cities are internally divided into city districts ( or ), which serve as their primary subdivisions.
Hungary
On January 1, 2013, Hungary established 175 districts. The country's 19 Counties of Hungary are each divided into between six and eighteen districts. The capital city, Budapest, is segmented into 23 districts and is not part of any county.
India
India’s districts represent administrative divisions inherited from the era of the British Raj, situated directly below the state and union territory levels. These districts may be organized into divisions serving as an intermediate administrative layer.
Each district is overseen by a Deputy Commissioner or Collector, often an officer from the IAS (Indian Administrative Service), who manages administration, law enforcement, revenue collection, land affairs, coordination among departments, and disaster response. This official generally holds magisterial authority under the title of District Magistrate, with formal designations such as "Collector and District Magistrate" or "Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate."
Districts are further partitioned into smaller units like , , or , which handle localized duties including revenue management. Some regions include an intermediate subdivision managed by Assistant Commissioners or Sub-collectors. Typically, each district contains one or two principal cities or towns alongside multiple smaller towns and numerous villages. Most districts share their name with their central city.
As per data from April 2016 by the National Informatics Centre, India had 664 districts—surpassing the total number of parliamentary constituencies (545). This figure rose to 723 districts by 2019.
Indonesia
Within Western New Guinea, one of Indonesia’s seven regions, a functions as a subdivision under a regency or city and was formerly called . Official documents commonly translate as "district," although older references sometimes use "subdistrict," which aligns with recent translations for . This inconsistency has led to some confusion. Neither nor possess independent legal status; instead, they operate as administrative extensions of regencies or cities.
Iran
Iran comprises 31 provinces ( ostān), each administered from a provincial capital (). These provinces are subdivided into counties ( shahrestān), which include a central city, multiple districts ( bakhsh), and numerous villages. Counties contain cities ( shahr) and rural clusters called dehestān—groups of villages—with one city serving as the county seat. The term shahrestān combines shahr (city) and ostān (province), roughly equating to sub-province or county. Each shahrestān is governed by an office () led by a governor (), who holds the highest authority within that jurisdiction.
Iraq
In Iraq, the term for districts is , with more than 100 such districts distributed among 18 governorates (provinces). Typically, a district shares its name with its principal city, which usually serves as the district capital.
Japan
A refers to an administrative division composed of towns and villages but excludes cities. Although its official administrative function ceased in 1923, the designation continues to be used for postal addressing. The word "district" is also translated as , a category defined under Japan’s planning legislation.
Kenya
Within Kenya, a district () functions as a subdivision of a Province and is overseen by a District Officer (DO).
Malawi
Malawi is segmented into 28 districts spread over three regions, each governed by a District Commissioner.
Malaysia
In Malay, a district is called and can be directly administered by the federal government when designated as a Federal Territory, examples being Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya.
In East Malaysia, districts serve as subdivisions within state divisions, such as the Tuaran district within Sabah’s West Coast Division. Districts generally take their names from their principal town or administrative center, like Sandakan.
In Peninsular Malaysia, districts are subdivisions beneath states, further divided into , which hold minimal administrative authority. Each district operates through a District Office led by a district officer and is managed by local authorities—District, Municipal, or City Councils. Urban districts may encompass several local governments; for example, Petaling in Selangor falls under three councils: Shah Alam City Council, Petaling Jaya City Council, and Subang Jaya Municipal Council. Similarly, the Johor Bahru district in Johor includes three councils: Johor Bahru City Council, Iskandar Puteri City Council, and Pasir Gudang Municipal Council. Conversely, some local authorities administer multiple districts, such as the Seberang Perai Municipal Council covering Central, North, and South Seberang Perai, and the Kuala Terengganu City Council overseeing Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus.
The boundaries of administrative districts generally do not coincide with those of electoral districts (constituencies).
Malta
Malta is organized into 13 Electoral Divisions for its single-chamber parliament. Each division includes several localities. The borders of these electoral divisions do not always align with locality boundaries.
Mauritius
The Republic of Mauritius comprises nine districts containing 2 cities, 4 towns, and 130 villages. The capital city is Port Louis. Previously considered the tenth district, the island of Rodrigues obtained autonomous status in 2002.
Nauru
The districts of Nauru represent the only administrative subdivisions within the country.
Nepal
Nepal is divided into 77 districts that act as independent administrative entities. Each district encompasses both Rural Municipalities and Municipalities. Essential documents such as citizenship cards and passports are issued by the Chief of District Office (CDO). Electoral constituencies are determined based on the population distribution within each district.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, territorial authorities classified as districts are those that have not been designated as cities. These districts typically encompass several population centers along with extensive rural zones that have smaller populations in comparison to cities. Although cities and districts are separate types of territorial authorities, terminology such as district plan is used for both categories. The Chatham Islands Territory does not fall under the classification of either a district or a city.
The boundaries of districts do not always coincide with regional borders; certain districts extend across two regions, while the Taupo District spans four different regions.
Pakistan
Pakistan consists of 160 districts (including ten within Azad Jammu and Kashmir) which serve as third-tier administrative units beneath provinces and divisions, a structure inherited from the British colonial period. Referred to in Urdu as , each district contains multiple villages, towns, and cities. Governance of a district is headed by an elected district (mayor), who manages local government responsibilities alongside the Deputy Commissioner—usually a Grade-18 officer from the Pakistan Administrative Service—tasked with maintaining law and order, executing government programs, and handling revenue-related matters. The district council, led by the nazim, includes elected councilors representing various constituencies and mandates a minimum of 33% female membership.
Philippines
In the Philippines, the concept of 'district' () closely mirrors its counterpart in the United States.
National
A congressional district is defined as an electoral area represented by a member in the lower chamber of the Congress. Locally, 'congressional district' is interchangeable with 'representative district,' since congress () specifically denotes the lower house (House of Representatives).
Legislative districts typically range between 250,000 and 500,000 inhabitants and may be composed of:
(a) an entire province, (b) clusters of municipalities and cities within a province (including some independent or highly urbanized cities), (c) a single city, (d) neighboring independent cities and municipalities (such as Pateros-Taguig), or (e) groups of barangays within a city.
Every province is entitled to at least one representative regardless of its population size. Only registered voters residing within a district participate in electing their respective House member.
Between 1916 and 1935, twelve senatorial districts elected most senators; since 1935, senators have been chosen through nationwide at-large elections.
Regional
Within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, eight congressional districts each elect three representatives to the regional legislative body (ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly).
Provincial
Provincial districts select members for the (Provincial Council), generally aligning with congressional districts but excluding independent and highly urbanized cities. Provinces with only one congressional district are subdivided into at least two provincial districts.
City
City councilor districts used for electing members of the City Council align with the boundaries of congressional districts. In cities lacking multiple congressional districts, the area is segmented into a minimum of two city council districts.
Present
These districts operate purely as administrative subdivisions within local governments and hold limited authority. Certain cities, including Manila, Iloilo, and Davao, officially partition their territories into city districts that encompass several barangays, although the extent of district-level governance differs. Some barangays also incorporate 'district' in their official names—examples include those in Jala-jala and Zamboanga City—but this designation is nominal and does not imply an additional governmental layer.
Historical
During the Spanish and early American colonial periods, some regions in the Philippines were classified as 'districts,' especially areas not organized as provinces. In the American era, cities and municipalities were subdivided into city and municipal districts, which represented the lowest tier of government prior to the establishment of barangays.
Special-purpose districts
The country also features special-purpose districts created for specific government functions, such as school districts managed by the Department of Education (DepEd), engineering districts overseen by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and coast guard districts administered by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Informal districts
In various cities and municipalities, the term 'district' is used informally to denote areas without official administrative status, like central business districts found in Naga, Camarines Sur and Makati.
Poland
In Poland, the second-tier local government unit comparable to a county or district (LAU-1) is known as a . As of 2008, there are 379 such powiat-level units: 314 land counties and 65 city counties. For more information, see list of counties in Poland.
Portugal
Districts (), once serving as administrative divisions under civil governors who represented the central government, have seen their roles largely phased out since 2011 when civil governors' duties were reassigned to other entities. Presently, districts mainly function as regional jurisdictions for certain public institutions (such as the Public Security Police) and private organizations including football associations.
Russia
Within Russia, districts act as both administrative and municipal divisions within its federal subjects, as well as administrative subdivisions inside larger cities ("city districts"), commonly referred to as () and (). In the Sakha Republic, these are termed (; ), with legislation equating "ulus" to "district." The Sakha Republic encompasses five cities under its administration alongside 33 uluses.
Historically, during the Russian Empire, the term "district" corresponded to .
Serbia
The territory of Serbia is organized into twenty-nine districts (), along with the city of Belgrade. Each district is further divided into smaller administrative units known as municipalities ().
Slovakia
In Slovakia, a district () serves as a fundamental administrative division at the local government level.
South Africa
Within South Africa, district municipalities exist beneath the provincial tier and are further segmented into local municipalities. Notably, in the nation’s eight largest metropolitan areas—Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London/King Williams Town, East Rand, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth including Uitenhage, and Pretoria—the governance structure differs: metropolitan municipalities replace both district and local municipalities, streamlining administration in these major urban centers.
South Korea
Districts () in South Korea function as subdivisions within major cities. While smaller cities do not have districts, those in Seoul and six additional Metropolitan Cities act as autonomous administrative entities comparable to independent cities.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s local government framework consists of nine provinces: Western, Central, Southern, Northern, Eastern, North Western, North Central, Uva, and Sabaragamuwa. Since 1988, the Northern and Eastern Provinces have been administered jointly.
Each province is subdivided into divisions originally derived from feudal counties (, ). These administrative units transitioned from 'D.R.O. Divisions' to 'A.G.A. Divisions' and are presently managed by 'Divisional Secretaries' under the designation 'D.S. Divisions'. Additionally, rural divisions fall under the jurisdiction of elected regional councils known as Pradeshiya Sabha.
Sweden
Certain Swedish municipalities partition their areas into smaller administrative segments typically governed by local boards tasked with municipal oversight. These units are officially called "districts" in English, although the term "borough" is frequently used colloquially.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, some cantons are structured into districts, whereas others forgo this intermediate level and administer governance directly at the electoral district () level.
Taiwan
In the Republic of China (Taiwan), districts () represent third-tier administrative subdivisions within special municipalities and provincial cities of Taiwan Province. Currently, there are 157 such districts distributed among 5 special municipalities and 3 provincial cities.
Thailand
A district () in Thailand functions as a subdivision within a province (). Certain provinces also contain smaller entities referred to as minor districts ().
Turkey
Turkey’s administrative divisions include districts (), which serve as subdivisions of provinces (). Each district is overseen by a district governor (Kaymakam) appointed by the Ministry of the Interior alongside an elected mayor who represents the local residents. For more details, see Districts of Turkey.
Ukraine
In Ukraine, the second tier of administrative organization consists of districts (raions), which serve as the most prevalent subdivisions within regions. Additionally, larger cities are segmented into administrative units known as "city districts."
England
In much of England, districts represent the fundamental level of local government. In regions with a two-tier governance structure, districts generally operate as the subordinate level beneath counties. Their duties encompass:
- Collecting taxes (Council Tax and non-domestic rates)
- Providing leisure facilities
- Managing refuse collection
- Overseeing housing services
- Handling planning matters
- Supporting arts and entertainment
- Ensuring environmental health
Taxation is administered through Council Tax and non-domestic rates, with coordination at the national level.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is partitioned into 11 districts for purposes of local administration. Unlike other parts of the UK, local councils here do not oversee education, road construction, or housing, although they appoint representatives to the Northern Ireland Housing Council.
Their primary functions include waste management and recycling, leisure and community service provision, building control, and fostering local economic and cultural growth. While they participate in consultations on some planning applications, they do not serve as planning authorities. The collection of local taxes is handled by the Rate Collection Agency.
Scotland
From 1975 until 1996, districts functioned as local government units in Scotland. Before this period, between 1930 and 1975, districts operated as subdivisions within counties under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929. Since 1996, Scotland has been organized into 32 unitary council areas, rendering districts obsolete.
Other district-related administrative divisions include:
- Shires of Scotland, prior to 1975
- Subdivisions of Scotland, encompassing councils/unitary authorities established post-1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
- Committee areas, which exist within larger unitary authorities since 1996
Wales
The term district lacks official status in Wales, which is divided into 22 unitary authorities. Informally, district may describe an entire ward or a portion thereof within a city.
United States
Various forms of districts exist across the United States.
Federal District
The District of Columbia stands as the sole U.S. jurisdiction—excluding territories—that does not fall within any state boundary.
Legislative constituencies
A constituency represented in the Congress is known as a congressional district. Each state contains one or more such districts determined by the latest census. Only residents within a given district vote for its representative to the House of Representatives. Nationwide, there are 435 congressional districts, each encompassing approximately 760,000 individuals.
A district electing a representative to a state legislature is termed a legislative district.
Furthermore, some city councils that are not elected on an at-large basis divide their jurisdiction into districts or wards.
Federal Judicial Districts
Federal courts exercise authority over federal judicial districts. In more than half of the states, a single federal judicial district corresponds to the entire state, whereas other states are divided into multiple districts.
Special-Purpose Districts
The United States contains numerous special-purpose districts endowed with restricted local governmental powers. Among the most prevalent are school districts, while others encompass community college districts, hospital districts, utility districts, irrigation districts, port authorities, and public transportation districts.
During the latter part of the 20th century, many municipalities adopted names for non-governmental districts to foster distinct identity and recognition. For instance, in Los Angeles, neighborhoods such as Hollywood function as city-designated districts, whereas adjacent areas like Beverly Hills and West Hollywood are autonomous incorporated cities with separate governing bodies. Despite their close geographic proximity within the Greater Los Angeles region, this results in differences in governance and service provision. District boundaries may be indicated by signage bearing municipal emblems, while official city limits display demographic and elevation statistics. These districts remain subject to the laws and regulations of their parent municipality.
Several federal and local organizations acknowledge historic districts, including those listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Municipalities
From the late 1700s until the passage of the Philadelphia Act of Consolidation in 1854, districts operated as politically autonomous municipalities consisting of densely populated neighborhoods located outside Philadelphia’s formal limits. Notable examples such as Northern Liberties, Southwark, and Spring Garden were among the ten most populous municipalities in the United States at that time.
Municipal Utility Districts
A municipal utility district is a type of special-purpose district or jurisdiction that delivers essential services including electricity, natural gas, sewage treatment, waste collection, wholesale telecommunications, and water supply to local residents. These entities are generally created through voter approval at the local level and governed by an elected board of directors. Municipal utilities operate as nonprofit government agencies serving communities at local or state levels.
In contrast, public utility districts (PUDs) in the U.S. perform comparable roles but are established by municipal or county governments and do not possess taxing powers. PUDs provide public utility services within their designated areas and typically function as nonprofit organizations overseen by commissions that may be either appointed or elected. These districts can serve individual communities or multiple municipalities within a metropolitan region.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, a district represents a second-tier administrative division beneath provinces () and centrally administered municipalities (). Rural districts are referred to as , while urban districts include (municipal subdivisions), (provincial cities), and (town-level towns). As of 2020, Vietnam comprised 707 districts: 77 provincial cities, 52 towns, 49 urban subdivisions, and 529 rural districts/counties (including 12 island districts).
District populations and land areas vary significantly. Excluding island districts, Biên Hoà stands as the most populous provincial city with over one million inhabitants, whereas Mường Lay town has just above 12,000 residents. The largest district by area is Tương Dương at 2,812 km²; conversely, Cồn Cỏ is the smallest at only 2.3 km².