A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international church structures, as well as in Classical antiquity, antiquity a Ancient Rome, Roman district.

Literal prefectures

Antiquity

''Prefecture'' originally refers to a self-governing body or area since the tetrarchy, when Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into four districts (each divided into Roman diocese, dioceses), grouped under ''a Vicarius'' (a number of Roman provinces, listed under that article), although he maintained two pretorian prefectures as an administrative level above the also surviving dioceses (a few of which were split).

Ecclesiastic

As Canon law (Catholic Church), 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 the Roman Curia. Various ecclesiastical areas, too small for a diocese, are termed prefects.

Analogous prefectures

Brazilian equivalent of ''prefecture''

In Brazil, the prefecture (''prefeitura'' or ''prefeitura municipal'' in Portuguese language, Portuguese) is the Executive (government), executive branch of the government of each Brazilian municipality (''município'' in Portuguese). The term also refers to the office of the mayor (''prefeito'' in Portuguese).

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is divided into sixteen Prefectures of the Central African Republic, prefectures.

Greek equivalent of ''prefecture''

From 1836 until 2011, modern Greece was divided into (, singular , ) which formed the country's main administrative units. These are most commonly translated into English language, English as "prefectures" or "counties". Each was headed by a prefect (, ), 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 2010 Kallikratis plan, which took effect on 1 January 2011, abolished the prefectures as separate administrative units, and transformed them into regional units of Greece, regional units within the country's thirteen administrative regions of Greece, administrative regions.

Chinese equivalents of ''prefecture''

The ancient sense

;Xian () When used in the context of Chinese history, especially China before the Tang Dynasty, the word "prefecture" is used to translate ''xian'' (). 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. ;Zhou () or Fu () In the context of Chinese history during or after the Tang Dynasty, the word "prefecture" is used to translate ''zhou'' (Wade–Giles ''chou'' (), another ancient unit of administration in China, equivalent to the modern ''province''.

The modern sense

In modern-day China, the prefecture (; pinyin: ) is an administrative division found in the Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#Prefecture level, second level of the administrative hierarchy. In addition to prefectures, this level also includes autonomous prefectures, Leagues of China, leagues, and prefecture-level city, prefecture-level cities. The prefecture level comes under the Province-level divisions of the People's Republic of China, province level, and in turn oversees the County-level division, county level.

Italian ''prefettura''

In Italy a ''prefettura'' is the office of prefetto; like in France they are the representative of the Government in each provincia.

French ''préfecture''

In France, a ''préfecture'' is the capital city of a Departments of France, department, and by metonymy also designates the office and residence of the prefect. As there are 101 departments in France, there are 101 prefectures. A ''préfecture de région'' is the capital city of an administrative Regions of France, region. This is the city where the prefect - the appointed government representative - resides.

Japanese sense of ''prefecture''

In English, "prefecture" is used as the translation for , 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 (shu) and 道 (dō, in Korea).

Korean equivalents of ''prefecture''

Until 1894 (; ) was the lowest level administrative division in Korea and can be translated into "Petty Prefecture" in the modern sense. It was below (, ; "county") in the administrative hierarchy. (; ) 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, and divisions were abolished. From 1910 to 1949, the term "prefecture" was used to translate (; ). Since 1949 neither nor have been used, and there has been no division in either the South Korean or North Korean administrative system which translates as "prefecture".

Mongolian equivalent

Mongolian prefectures (Aimags of Mongolia, Aimags) were adopted during Mongolia during Qing rule, Qing Dynasty's rule. Today these are usually translated as "provinces".

Moroccan ''Préfecture''

In Morocco, the 75 Prefectures and provinces of Morocco, second-level administrative subdivisions are 13 prefectures and 62 provinces. They are subdivisions of the 12 regions of Morocco. Each prefecture and province are subdivided in their turn into districts (''cercles'', sing. ''cercle''), municipality, municipalities (''communes'', sing. ''commune'') or urban municipalities (''communes urbaines'', sing. ''commune urbaine''), and ''arrondissements'' in some metropolitan areas.

Romanian ''prefectură''

Venezuelan equivalent

Traditionally the prefecture as being the City Hall and the prefect as being the equivalent of a mayor and commissioner until recently; now the prefectures and prefect are analogous with the figure of Town Clerk.