A province is a subdivision of a country. It is a kind of local government.
Some countries are divided into provinces. The word "province" comes from the Latin word provincia.
South Africa, Canada, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Spain, Indonesia, and Denmark are examples of countries that are divided into provinces.
In some countries, provinces have different names:
- Département: France
- Canton: Switzerland
- State: United States, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Venezuela, Austria, Germany, India
- Bundesland: Germany and Austria
- Voivodeship: Poland
- District: Serbia (okrug), Belize, Bhutan
- Prefectures (県): Japan
- County: United Kingdom
- Suba: Pakistan
- Praant: Although Pradesh is the Hindi word for states: Republic of India
- Fylke: Norway
- Parish: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago
Departments usually have less power than provinces. States, Bundesländer and autonomous communities have more power than provinces.