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Aprefecture (from theLatin wordpraefectura) is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointedprefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international church structures. During theantiquity, it was the name of a type ofRoman district. In the 21st century, the term prefecture is used for the modern first-level subdivisions of theCentral African Republic,Japan, andMorocco.
Prefecture originally referred to several distinct administrative structures in ancient Rome.
In theRoman Republic and early Empire, apraefectura was a town or community lacking full civic autonomy and administered by a Roman-appointedPraefectus. These praefecturae were common in Italy before the extension of Roman citizenship and typically occupied a lower legal status than amunicipium orcolonia.
Later, during theTetrarchy, EmperorDiocletian reorganized the Roman Empire into four major administrative divisions known aspraetorian prefectures. Each was composed of severaldioceses and governed by a senior official called aPraetorian prefect. This structure persisted into theByzantine Empire and influenced later forms of territorial governance.
AsCatholic canon law is strongly inspired by Roman law, it is not surprising that the Catholic Church has several offices under a prefect. That term occurs also in otherwise styled offices, such as the head of a congregation or department of theRoman Curia. Various ecclesiastical areas, too small for adiocese, are termed prefects.
In Brazil, the prefecture (prefeitura orprefeitura municipal inPortuguese) is theexecutive branch of the government of each Brazilian municipality (município in Portuguese). The term also refers to the office of the mayor (prefeito in Portuguese).
TheCentral African Republic is divided into twentyprefectures.[1]
From 1836 until 2011, modernGreece was divided intonomoi (Greek:νομοί, singularνομός,nomos) which formed the country's main administrative units. These are most commonly translated into English as "prefectures" or "counties".
Eachnomos was headed by a prefect (νομάρχης,nomarches), who was a ministerial appointee until ca. 1990, but was then elected by direct popular vote in a process of decentralization that saw the prefectures become local government units. Municipal elections in Greece are held every four years and voting for the election of prefects and mayors was carried out concurrently but with separate ballots.
The 2010Kallikratis plan, which took effect on 1 January 2011, abolished the prefectures as separate administrative units, and transformed them intoregional units within the country's thirteenadministrative regions.
When used in the context ofChinese history, especially China before theTang dynasty, the word "prefecture" is used to translatexian (縣). This unit of administration is translated as "county" when used in a contemporary context, because of the increase of the number of "xian" and the decrease of their sizes over time in the Chinese history.
In the context of Chinese history during or after theTang dynasty, the word "prefecture" is used to translatezhou (Wade–Gileschou (州), another ancient unit of administration in China, equivalent to the modernprovince.
In modern-day China, the prefecture (地区;pinyin:dìqū) is an administrative division found in thesecond level of the administrative hierarchy. In addition to prefectures, this level also includes autonomous prefectures,leagues, andprefecture-level cities. The prefecture level comes under theprovince level, and in turn oversees thecounty level.
In Italy aprefettura is the office of aprefetto, the representative of the Government in eachprovince.
In France, apréfecture is the capital city of adepartment, and by metonymy also designates the office and residence of the prefect. As there are 101 departments in France, there are 101 prefectures. Apréfecture de région is the capital city of an administrativeregion. This is the city where the prefect – the appointed government representative – resides.
In English, "prefecture" is used as the translation fortodōfuken (都道府県), which are the main subdivisions of Japan. They consist of 43 prefectures (県ken) proper, two urban prefectures (府fu, Osaka and Kyoto), one "circuit" or "territory" (道dō, Hokkaido) and one "metropolis" (都to, Tokyo). Before the end of World War II, the word was also used for overseas areas 庁 (chō)、州 (shū) and 道 (dō, in Korea).
Until 1894Hyeon (Korean: 현;Hanja: 縣) was the lowest level administrative division in Korea and can be translated into "Petty Prefecture" in the modern sense. It was belowGun (군,郡; "county") in the administrative hierarchy.
Dohobu (도호부;都護府) was a higher level administrative division and can be translated into "Protectorate General", "Greater Prefecture", "Metropolitan Prefecture", or "Martial Prefecture" in the modern sense. The capital, Hanyang (Seoul), can sometimes be translated as "Hanseong Prefecture".
In 1895,Hyeon andDohobu divisions were abolished. From 1910 to 1949, the term "prefecture" was used to translateBu (부;府). Since 1949 neitherHyeon norBu have been used, and there has been no division in either the South Korean or North Korean administrative system which translates as "prefecture".
Mongolian prefectures (Aimags) were adopted duringQing dynasty's rule. Today these are usually translated as "provinces".
InMorocco, the 75second-level administrative subdivisions are 13 prefectures and 62provinces. They are subdivisions of the 12regions of Morocco. Each prefecture and province are subdivided in their turn into districts (cercles, sing.cercle), municipalities (communes, sing.commune) or urban municipalities (communes urbaines, sing.commune urbaine), andarrondissements in some metropolitan areas.
In Switzerland,préfecture dates back to theHelvetic Republic and were inspired by France.[2] As of 2025, fivecantons still havepréfectures, including Berne, Fribourg, Valais, Vaud.[3] Thepréfecture is a local representative of the regional government.
Traditionally, the term prefecture referred to aCity Hall and the prefect was the equivalent of a mayor and commissioner. After recent changes, the prefectures and prefects are analogous with the figure ofTown Clerk.
Quebec Equivalent
In the province of Quebec, a prefect (préfet in French) is the head of aRegional County Municipality (RCM / MRC). The method of selecting the prefect varies: in some RCMs, the prefect is elected by the mayors of the municipalities within the RCM, while in others, the prefect is elected directly by all voters during municipal elections. The prefect coordinates regional planning, infrastructure, and shared municipal services, whilemunicipalities retain authority over local matters. The prefect also serves as a liaison between the RCM and theprovincial government.
