Governorates of Iraq
Iraq presently consists of 19 governorates, also known as "provinces". As per the Iraqi constitution, three or more governorates can join to form an autonomous region. Baghdad and Basra are the oldest standing administrative regions of Iraq while In 2014 the decision was made to create the Helebce Governorate out of the Helebce District of Slêmanî Governorate.
On 21 January 2014, the Council of Ministers of the Government of Iraq approved in principle proposals to create more governorates. The Council announced that two new governorates Tal Afar and Tuz Xurmatu would be formed from the current Nineveh Governorate and Saladin Governorate, respectively. It was also announced that the city of Fallujah of the Al Anbar Governorate would become a separate governorate, which was announced in response to a Sunni Islamist uprising in the city.
Governorates
Previous governorates
| Governorate | Now part of |
| Mosul | Nineveh Governorate Duhok Governorate |
| Diwaniya | Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate Muthanna Governorate Najaf Governorate |
| Dulaim Ramadi | Al Anbar Governorate |
| Muntafiq | Dhi Qar Governorate |
| Amara | Maysan Governorate |
| Kut | Wasit Governorate |
| Baghdad | Baghdad Governorate Saladin Governorate |
| Kerkuk At-Ta'mim | Kerkuk Governorate |