Administrative geographies

The hierarchy of areas relating to national and local government in the UK.

  • Our changing geography

    Why and how boundary changes happen and a review of the history of major reorganisations of local government.

  • England

    Detailed information on the administrative structure within England.

  • Scotland

    Detailed information on the administrative structure within Scotland.

  • Wales

    Detailed information on the administrative structure within Wales.

  • Northern Ireland

    Detailed information on the administrative structure within Northern Ireland.

Administrative geographies refer to the hierarchy of areas relating to national and local government in the UK. This multi-layered hierarchy is complicated by the differing structure in each constituent country of the UK. In addition, the boundaries of many of the layers in the hierarchy are subject to either periodic or occasional change.

Click on the headings above to find out more about the countries of the UK in general, or a specific country of your choice. 'Our Changing Geography' explains why and how boundary changes occur and also reviews the major reorganisation of local government in the 1990s and again in 2009.

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