Districts of Switzerland


In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each canton is
completely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore, there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between canton and municipality, loosely termed districts.
Most cantons are divided into Bezirke. They are also termed Ämter, Amtsbezirke, district or distretto. The Bezirke generally provide only administration and court organization. However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Graubünden and Schwyz are their own legal entities with jurisdiction over tax and often have their own Landsgemeinde.
Seven of the 26 cantons – Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Basel-City and Geneva – have always existed without the district level of government. An eighth one, Appenzell Innerrhoden, uses no intermediate level either, but calls its lowest-level subdivisions Bezirke, although they are functionally equivalent to municipalities elsewhere.
A number of further cantons are considering an abolition of the district level in the future: Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Schaffhausen, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Schwyz in 2006 voted on its abolition, but voted in favour of keeping the division, some with modifications. Bern in 2006 decided a reduction of its 26 districts to ten administrative regions, which took effect in 2010. St. Gallen, Solothurn and Lucerne removed the administrative role, but retained districts for elections. In 2008 Vaud decided on a reduction from 19 to 10 districts, followed by Thurgau which combined eight into five in 2012. In 2017 Graubünden replaced the 11 districts with 11 regions. In 2018 Neuchâtel eliminated the district level.
For further updated about this districts, see: Population size and population composition – Data, indicators: Cantons, communes or Permanent resident population by age, canton, district and commune 2010–2013.

Zürich

The Canton of Zürich is divided into 12 districts containing an estimated 641650 people:
The Canton of Bern is divided in five regions: Berner Jura, Seeland, Bern-Mittelland, Oberland and Emmental-Oberaargau
The current division has taken effect on 1 January 2010, based on a 2006 decision to abolish the former system of districts.
On 1 January 2010, the 26 administrative districts were combined into 10 new administrative districts :
The Canton of Lucerne used to be divided into 5 Ämter:
These were abolished with the new cantonal constitution of 2007, although they will continue to be used as electoral districts.

Schwyz

The Canton of Schwyz is divided into 6 districts:
The Canton of Fribourg is divided into 7 districts:
From 2005, Solothurn's ten districts are merged pairwise into five electoral districts, termed Amtei. From 2005, districts only have a statistical meaning.
is divided into 5 districts:
The canton abolished the district level in 2003, but it remains divided into eight constituencies without administrative significance:
Beginning in 2017 Graubünden is divided into 11 regions:
is divided into 11 districts:
is divided into five districts and each is named after its capital:
is divided into 8 districts:
is divided into 10 districts:
is divided into 13 districts:
The district of Raron is divided into:
The Canton of Neuchâtel was divided into 6 districts until 1 January 2018 when the district system was terminated.
The Canton of Jura is divided into 3 districts:
The Canton of Schaffhausen is divided into 6 districts:
The Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden is divided into 3 districts:
In Appenzell Innerrhoden districts are the lowest administrative division as the canton has no municipalities. The districts are functionally equivalent to municipalities elsewhere in Switzerland, and are generally shown as municipalities on maps etc.
The Canton is divided into 6 districts: