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.
Amt, Amtsbezirk, District and Distretto
Most Cantons are divided into Bezirke (German for districts). They are also termed Ämter (Lucerne), Amtsbezirke (Bern), district (in French) or distretto (Tessin and Graubünden).
The Bezirk generally provides only administration and court organisation. 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.
Absence of a district level in ten cantons
Ten of the 26 Cantons entirely dispense with the district level of government:
Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Zug, Basel-City and Geneva (each with its own reason, be it historical or practical or because the area is small enough already). Schaffhausen renounced Bezirke since the middle of 1999. Since the start of 2003 Canton of St. Gallen does not recognise the Bezirk level any more; their functions are now undertaken by the electoral constituency.
List of Swiss districts by canton
The cantons are here ordered according to Article 1 (in German) of the Swiss constitution, to see the same cantons in dictionary order see Districts of Switzerland (alphabetical order).
Canton of Zürich
Canton of Bern
Canton of Lucerne
Canton of Uri
Canton of Uri is not divided into districts: the muncipility is the next lowest unit of government. See: Municipalities of the canton of Uri.
Canton of Schwyz
Canton of Obwalden
Obwalden is not divided into districts: the muncipility is the next lowest unit of government. See: Obwalden#MunicipalitiesObwalden.
Canton of Nidwalden
Nidwalden is not divided into districts.
See: Nidwalden#Municipalities
Canton of Glarus
Canton of Glarus is not divided into districts: the muncipility is the next lower unit of government. See: Municipalities of canton of Glarus .
Canton of Zug
Canton of Zug is not divided into districts.
See: Municipalities of the canton of Zug
Canton of Fribourg
Canton of Solothurn
See: Municipalities of the canton of Solothurn
Canton of Basel-City
Basel-City is not divided into districts. It is formed only of the city of Basel and two municipalities.
Canton of Basel-Country
Canton of Schaffhausen
The Canton of Schaffhausen used to be divided into 6 districts (Bezirke) until July 1999, but the municipality is now the next lower unit of government.
Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden is not divided into districts any longer, and so the municipality is the next lower unit of government. Former districts were: Hinterland with capital Herisau, Mittelland with capital Teufen, Vorderland with capital Heiden.
See: Municipalities of the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden
Canton of St. Gallen
The canton used to be subdivided into 14 districts (Bezirke) until 2003 January 1,
when it was reorganised into 8 constituencies (Wahlkreise). See Canton of St. Gallen#Constituencies and municipalities.
Canton of Graubünden
Canton of Aargau
Canton of Thurgau
Canton of Ticino
Canton of Vaud
Canton of Valais
Canton of Neuchâtel
Canton of Geneva
The Canton of Geneva is not divided into districts, and so the muncipility is the next level of government. See: Municipalities of the canton of Geneva.
Canton of Jura
