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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 'Romandy' parts) or distretto (Tessin and Graubünden).
The Bezirk generally only provides the administration and court organisation.
However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Graubünden
and Schwyz are their own legal subjects with jurisdiction over tax
and often have their own Landsgemeinde.
Renouncement of districts in ten Cantons
Ten of the 26 Cantons refuse entirely the Bezirk 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; the functions are now undertaken by the constituency.
List of Swiss Bezirke by Canton
The cantons are here ordered according to Article 1 (http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/101/a1.html) of the Swiss constitution, to see the same cantons in dictionary order see Districts of Switzerland (alphabetical order).
Canton Zürich
Districts in the Canton of Zürich The Canton of Zürich is divided into 12 districts (German: Bezirke):
- Zürich comprises the city of Zürich
- Affoltern with capital Affoltern am Albis
- Andelfingen with capital Andelfingen
- Bülach with capital Bülach
- Dielsdorf with capital Dielsdorf
- Dietikon with capital Dietikon
- Hinwil with capital Hinwil
- Horgen with capital Horgen
- Meilen with capital Meilen
- Pfäffikon with capital Pfäffikon
- Uster with capital Uster
- Winterthur with capital Winterthur
Canton Bern
As of April 2004, there are 398 municipalities of the canton of Berne within the following 26 administrative districts:
- Aarberg with capital Aarberg
- Aarwangen with capital Aarwangen
- Bern with capital Bern
- Biel with capital Biel
- Büren with capital Büren an der Aare
- Burgdorf with capital Burgdorf
- Courtelary with capital Courtelary
- Erlach with capital Erlach
- Fraubrunnen with capital Fraubrunnen
- Frutigen with capital Frutigen
- Interlaken with capital Interlaken
- Konolfingen with capital Konolfingen
- Laupen with capital Laupen
- Moutier with capital Moutier
- La Neuveville with capital La Neuveville
- Nidau with capital Nidau
- Niedersimmental with capital Wimmis
- Oberhasli with capital Meiringen
- Obersimmental with capital Blankenburg
- Saanen with capital Saanen
- Schwarzenburg with capital Schwarzenburg
- Seftigen with capital Belp
- Signau with capital Langnau im Emmental
- Thun with capital Thun
- Trachselwald with capital Trachselwald
- Wangen with capital Wangen an der Aare
Canton Lucerne
 Districts of Canton Lucerne The Canton of Lucerne is divided into 5 districts termed Ämter:
- Amt Luzern with capital Luzern
- Amt Hochdorf with capital Hochdorf
- Amt Sursee with capital Sursee
- Amt Willisau with capital Willisau
- Amt Entlebuch with capital Schüpfheim
Canton Uri
Canton of Uri is not divided into Bezirke.
See: Municipalities of Canton Uri
Canton Schwyz
Canton Obwalden
Canton of Obwalden is not divided into Bezirke.
See: Obwalden#MunicipalitiesObwalden
Canton Nidwalden
Canton of Nidwalden is not divided into Bezirke.
See: Nidwalden#Municipalities
Canton Glarus
Canton of Glarus is not divided into Bezirke.
See: Municipalities of Canton Glarus
Canton Zug
Canton of Zug is not divided into Bezirke.
See: Municipalities of Canton Zug
Canton Freiburg
 Districts of canton Fribourg Canton of Fribourg is divided into 7 Bezirke:
- Broye capital Estavayer-le-Lac
- Glâne capital Romont
- Gruyère (german Greyerz) capital Bulle
- Saane (french Sarine) capital Fribourg
- See (french District du Lac) capital Murten
- Sense (french Singine) capital Tafers
- Veveyse (german Vivisbach) capital Châtel-Saint-Denis
See also: Municipalities of the canton of Fribourg
Canton Solothurn
See: Municipalities of Canton Solothurn
Canton Basel-City
Basel-City is not divided into Bezirke.
See: Municipalities of Canton Basel-City
Canton Basel-Country
 districts of Canton Basel-Landschaft There are 5 Bezirke in Basel-Landschaft:
- Arlesheim (Pop: 145 039) capital: Arlesheim (Pop: 8 944)
- Laufen (Pop: 17 845) capital: Laufen (Pop: 5 039)
- Liestal (Pop: 55 396) capital: Liestal (Pop: 12 817)
- Sissach (Pop: 31 770) capital: Sissach (Pop: 5 569)
- Waldenburg (Pop: 15 045) capital: Waldenburg (Pop: 1 280)
Canton Schaffhausen
Canton Schaffhausen used to be divided into 6 districts (Bezirke) until 1999 July.
Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden is not divided into Bezirke.
See: Municipalities of Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden
The 6 Bezirke (districts) are at the same time municipalities with the same name:
- Feuerschaugemeinde (Special municipality for firefighting, energy and water)
- See also: Municipalities of Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden
Canton 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 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):
- Albula with the sub-districts Alvaschein, Belfort, Bergün and Surses
- Bernina with the sub-districts Brusio and Poschiavo
- Hinterrhein with the sub-districts Avers, Domleschg, Rheinwald, Schams and Thusis
- Imboden with the sub-districts Trins and Rhäzüns
- Inn with the sub-districts Ramosch, Sur Tasna, Suot Tasna and Val Müstair
- Landquart with the sub-districts Maienfeld, Fläsch and Fünf Dörfer
- Maloja with the sub-districts Bergell and Oberengadin
- Moesa with the sub-districts Calanca, Misox and Roveredo
- Plessur with the sub-districts Chur, Churwalden and Schanfigg
- Prättigau/Davos with the sub-districts Davos, Jenaz, Klosters, Küblis, Luzein, Schiers and Seewis
- Surselva with the sub-districts Disentis, Ilanz, Lumnezia/Lugnez, Ruis and Safien
Canton Aargau
Aargau is divided into 11 districts:
Canton Thurgau
Canton Tessin
Canton Waadt
Canton Wallis
Canton Neuenburg
Districts of Canton Neuchâtel The Canton of Neuchâtel is divided into 6 districts which belong to 4 geographic regions:
- District of Neuchâtel, Le Littoral region, capital Neuchâtel
- District of Boudry, Le Littoral region, capital Boudry
- District of Val-de-Ruz, Val-de-Ruz region, capital Cernier
- District of Val-de-Travers, Val-de-Travers region, capital Fleurier
- District of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Montagnes Neuchâteloises region, capital La Chaux-de-Fonds
- District of Locle, Montagnes Neuchâteloises region, capital Le Locle
Canton Geneva
Canton of Geneva is not divided into Bezirke.
See: Municipalities of Canton Genf
Canton Jura
 Districts in Canton of Jura Canton of Jura is divided into 3 districts:
- Delémont (district) (German: Delsberg) - capital: Delémont
- Porrentruy (district) (German: Pruntrut) - capital: Porrentruy
- Franches-Montagnes (district) (German: Freiberge) - capital: Saignelégier
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