An
autonomous administrative division is an
administrative division of a
country that has a degree of
autonomy, or freedom from an external authority. Typically it is either geographically distinct from the rest of the country or populated by a
national minority.
Decentralization of self-governing powers and functions to such divisions is a way for a national government to try to increase democratic participation or administrative efficiency and/or to defuse internal conflicts. Countries that include autonomous areas may be
federacies,
federations, or
confederations. Autonomous areas can be divided into
territorial autonomies, subregional territorial autonomies, and local autonomies.