In Switzerland each Canton is free to decide its own internal organisation. Because of this there many types and names for smaller administrative divisions in each canton. The term District is used for these smaller divisions.

Amt, Amtsbezirk, District and Distretto |

Most Cantons are divided into Bezirke (German for districts). Some are called Ämter (Lucerne), Amtsbezirke (Bern), district (in French) or distretto (Tessin and part of Graubünden).

The Bezirke generally only deals with administration and court organization. The cantons Graubünden and Schwyz are their own legal entities. They have the power to control taxes as well.

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. Schaffhausen stopped using Bezirke in the middle of 1999. Since the start of 2003 Canton of St. Gallen does not use the Bezirk level any more.

List of Swiss districts by canton |

Canton			Districts
	AG	Aargau	11	Bezirke
	AR	Appenzell Ausserrhoden
	AI	Appenzell Innerrhoden
	BS	Basel-City
	BL	Basel-Country	5	Bezirke
	BE	Berne	26	Amtsbezirke, Districts
	FR	Fribourg	7	Districts, Bezirke
	GE	Geneva
	GL	Glarus
	GR	Graubünden	11	Bezirke, districts, distretti
	JU	Jura	3	districts
	LU	Lucerne	5	Ämter
	NE	Neuchâtel	6	districts
	NW	Nidwalden
	OW	Obwalden
	SH	Schaffhausen
	SZ	Schwyz	6	Bezirke
	SO	Solothurn	10	Bezirke
	SG	St. Gallen	8	Wahlkreise
	TG	Thurgau	8	Bezirke
	TI	Ticino	8	distretti
	UR	Uri
	VS	Valais	14	districts, Bezirke
	VD	Vaud	19	districts
	ZG	Zug
	ZH	Zürich	12	Bezirke
Total			159

Canton of Zürich |

Districts of Zürich

The Canton of Zürich is divided into 12 districts (German: Bezirke). The city of Zürich is its own district.

Canton of Bern |

There are 26 administrative districts in Berne

Districts of Canton Berne

Canton of Lucerne |

Districts of Canton Lucerne

The Canton of Lucerne is divided into 5 districts termed Ämter:

Canton of Uri |

Canton of Uri is not divided into districts: the municipality is the next lowest unit of government.

Canton of Schwyz |

The Canton of Schwyz is divided into six districts and 30 municipalities, although the districts Einsiedeln, Küssnacht and Gersau simply comprise the municipality of the same name.

Districts of the Cantons of Schwyz

Canton of Obwalden |

Obwalden is not divided into districts: the municipality is the next lowest unit of government. See: Obwalden.

Canton of Nidwalden |

Nidwalden is not divided into districts.

Canton of Glarus |

Canton of Glarus is not divided into districts: the municipality is the next lower unit of government.

Canton of Zug |

Canton of Zug is not divided into districts.

Canton of Fribourg |

Districts of canton Fribourg

The Canton of Fribourg is divided into 7 districts:

Canton of Solothurn |

Districts of Canton Solothurn

From 2005, Solothurn's ten districts are combined in pairs into five electoral districts, called Amtei. From 2005, districts are only used for statistics.

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 |

districts of Canton Basel-Landschaft

There are 5 Bezirke in Basel-Landschaft:

Canton of Schaffhausen |

The Canton of Schaffhausen used to be divided into 6 districts (Bezirke) until July 1999. The municipality is now the next lower unit of government.

Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden |

Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden is not divided into districts. The municipality is the next lower unit of government.

Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden |

Districts of Appenzell Innerrhoden

The 6 Bezirke (districts) are the local government level. They are part of the municipalities:

Feuerschaugemeinde is a special-purpose municipality for firefighting, energy and water for the town Appenzell.

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).

Canton of Graubünden |

Districts of Canton Graubünden

Canton Graubünden is divided into 11 Districts. They tend to follow the natural boundaries of the landscape. The districts are further subdivided into 39 sub-districts (German: Kreise):

Canton of Aargau |

Districts in Aargau

Aargau is divided into 11 districts.

Canton of Thurgau |

Districts of Canton Thurgau

The Canton of Thurgau is divided into eight districts. Each district is named after its capital.

Canton of Ticino |

The Canton of Ticino is divided into 8 districts (called distretti):

• Distretto di Mendrisio


• Distretto di Lugano


• Distretto di Locarno


• Distretto di Vallemaggia


• Distretto di Bellinzona


• Distretto di Riviera


• Distretto di Blenio


• Distretto di Leventina

Canton of Vaud |

Since 1803 the Canton of Vaud has been divided into 19 districts:

As of January 1, 2008, Vaud will be reorganized into the following districts:

• Aigle


• Broye-Vully (which will combine the districts of Avenches and Payerne, and part of the districts of Moudon and Oron)


• Gros-de-Vaud (which will combine the district of Echallens, and part of the districts of Cossonay, Moudon, and Oron)


• Jura-North Vaudois (which will combine the districts of Grandson, Orbe, and Yverdon)


• 
  Lausanne (part of the current district will be merged into West Lausannois)


• Lavaux-Oron (which will combine the district of Lavaux and part of the district of Oron)


• 
  Morges (which will combine parts of the districts of Aubonne, Cossonay, Morges, and Rolle)


• 
  Nyon (part of Rolle district will merge into Nyon)


• Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut (which will combine the current districts of Pays-d'Enhaut and Vevey)


• West Lausannois (which will be carved out of parts of the districts of Lausanne and Morges)

Canton of Valais |

Districts in Valais

The Canton of Valais is divided into 14 districts and half-districts:

• Brig


• Conthey


• Entremont


• Goms


• Hérens


• Leuk


• Martigny


• Monthey


• Raron


• Saint-Maurice


• Sierre


• Sion


• Visp

See also: Valais Municipalities

Canton of Neuchâtel |

Districts of Canton Neuchâtel

The Canton of Neuchâtel is divided into 6 districts which belong to 4 geographic regions:

Canton of Geneva |

The Canton of Geneva is not divided into districts. The municipality is the next level of government.

Canton of Jura |

Districts in Canton of Jura

Canton Jura is divided into 3 districts: