subdistricts

A subdistrict is an administrative division that sits below a district or county in some countries. It serves as a mid-level unit through which local governance and public services are organized, typically encompassing several towns, villages, or neighborhoods. The exact status and powers of a subdistrict vary by country.

China uses urban subdistricts known as jiedao under districts, responsible for street-level governance, residents’ committees, and community services. In India, the term sub-district is used informally for an area administered by a tehsil or taluka under a district; these units handle revenue, land records, and local development, while rural areas may be organized around blocks and gram panchayats. In Indonesia, the kecamatan is often translated as subdistrict and is an administrative layer under a regency or city, comprising several desa or kelurahan and serving as a link between district planning and village administration.

Functions commonly include civil registration, urban or rural planning coordination, public health and safety, schooling oversight, and delivery of services such as sanitation, housing, and transportation. Governance may be carried out by appointed officials or locally elected representatives, depending on national law.

As a mid-level administrative unit, subdistricts provide a practical framework for managing diverse communities within a district, balancing centralized policy with local administration.