Canada Administrative Divisions

Name: Canada Administrative Divisions Dataset
Creator: GeoPostcodes
License: https://www.geopostcodes.com/pricing/

What is the hierarchy of administrative divisions in Canada?

Canada operates on a multi-level system starting with ten provinces and three territories as the primary administrative divisions. These are further subdivided into various local government units, which may include counties, regional municipalities, districts, or regional districts, depending on the province or territory. The smallest administrative units are municipalities, such as cities, towns, villages, and townships. Census divisions and census subdivisions are statistical units used by Statistics Canada and do not always correspond directly to administrative boundaries.

Here’s a breakdown of the hierarchy:

Provinces and Territories: Canada is divided into provinces and territories, which are the primary administrative divisions.

Local Governments: Each province and territory is subdivided into local governments, which may include counties, regional municipalities, districts, or regional districts, depending on the province or territory.

Municipalities: Local governments are further subdivided into municipalities, such as cities, towns, villages, and townships, which are the smallest administrative units in Canada.

List of Canada's administrative divisions with their counts and names

These are the summarized administrative divisions. The full dataset is available in the Download Center.

iso	country	admin level 1	admin level 2	admin level 3	admin level 4
CA	Canada	Alberta (Province)	19 Census divisions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	British Columbia (Province)	29 Regional districts	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Manitoba (Province)	23 Census divisions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	New Brunswick (Province)	12 Regional service commissions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Newfoundland and Labrador (Province)	11 Census divisions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Northwest Territories (Territory)	6 Census divisions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Nova Scotia (Province)	18 Regional service commissions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Nunavut (Territory)	3 Census divisions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Ontario (Province)	10 Districts, 22 Regional service commissions, 8 Regional municipalities, 9 Unitary Authorities	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Prince Edward Island (Province)	3 Regional service commissions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Quebec (Province)	17 Administrative regions	16 Equivalent territories, 1 Census subdivision (CSD), 87 Regional county municipality	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Saskatchewan (Province)	18 Census divisions	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CA	Canada	Yukon (Territory)	1 Census division	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.

Why is building an Administrative Divisions Database complex?

The complexity arises from inconsistent global standards, frequent boundary changes, non-uniform naming conventions (e.g., “suburb” in Australia vs. “county” in the US), and variations in administrative levels across countries. Integrating and harmonizing data from multiple sources requires advanced normalization, versioning, and geospatial validation techniques.

How does GeoPostcodes solve the problem for you?

Our standardized database overcomes the complexity of different administrative division
systems worldwide. Our database follows a unified structure that you can integrate
seamlessly into your system or platform of choice without needing to become an expert in
each country’s unique administrative hierarchy.

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Updated: July 1, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the administrative divisions of Canada?

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories, which form the top-level administrative units. These are subdivided into 81 census divisions, 29 regional districts, 58 counties, and 44 other units across 4 types. The smallest administrative level consists of 102 regional county municipality (Municipalités régionales de comté). Major provinces include Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.

How many administrative levels does Canada have?

Canada has 3 administrative levels. Level 1: 10 provinces and 3 territories. Level 2: 81 census divisions, 29 regional districts, 58 counties, and 44 other units across 4 types. Level 3: 102 regional county municipality (Municipalités régionales de comté).

How is Canada organized into provinces?

What is the difference between provinces and territories in Canada?

In Canada, provinces and territories both sit at administrative level 1 but serve different functions. Provinces — there are 10 — typically group multiple smaller municipalities under a shared administration. Territories — there are 3 — are a larger city or urban area that handle its own administration independently.

What are administrative divisions called in French?

Canadian administrative divisions have specific local names at each level. In French, administrative regions are called Régions administratives; regional county municipality are called Municipalités régionales de comté. These local-language terms appear in official documents, legal records, and government databases, so matching them correctly is important for data integration and compliance.

How often do administrative boundaries change in Canada?

Administrative boundaries in Canada change as governments reorganize regions, merge municipalities, or create new administrative units to reflect population shifts and political decisions. Changes most commonly affect the regional county municipality level, where Canada currently has 102 units. Businesses that rely on Canadian administrative data should use a regularly updated reference dataset to avoid mismatches in geocoding, tax jurisdiction mapping, and compliance reporting.