ANKARA
India is not the only country that granted a degree of autonomy to its only Muslim-majority region, Jammu and Kashmir.
Autonomy measures were incorporated in the country's constitution half a century ago, as a concession to the leaders of the Muslim-majority region, who in 1947 opted to accede to Hindu-majority India, instead of Muslim-majority Pakistan, when both countries gained independence.
On Aug. 5, India stripped the region of its autonomy, which was meant to preserve its unique demography and cultural identity.
Anadolu Agency compiled a list of 121 regions that enjoy varying degrees of autonomy granted them by 40 countries, in order to help preserve their ethnic and cultural distinctiveness.
Russia tops the list with 26 regions granted self-rule, followed by the U.K. and France with 11 regions. China and Italy have seven such regions apiece.
1. China
Hong Kong, Macau, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Tibet
2. Canada
Quebec
3. Finland
Aland Islands
4. Norway
Svalbard
5. New Zealand
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
6. Netherlands
Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten
7. Germany
Heligoland, Busingen am Hochrhein
8. Antigua and Barbuda
Barbuda
9. Australia
Torres Strait Islands
10. Azerbaijan
Nakhchivan
11. Denmark
Faroe Islands, Greenland
12. Fiji
Rotuma
13. France
New Caledonia, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia. Mayotte, French Guiana, Martinique, Corsica, Alsace
14. Georgia
Abkhazia, Adjara, South Ossetia
15. Greece
Mount Athos
16. Indonesia
Yogyakarta, Aceh, Papua, West Papua
17. Iraq
Kurdish Regional Government
18. Italy
Campione d'Italia, Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, Trentino-Alto Adige/Sudtirol, South Tyrol, Trentino
19. Mauritius
Rodrigues
20. Mexico
Mexico City
21. Moldova
Gagauzia, Transnistria
22. Myanmar
Danu Self-Administered Zone, Kokang Self-Administered Zone, Naga Self-Administered Zone, Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, Wa Self-Administered Division
23. Nicaragua
Atlantico Norte, Atlantico Sur
24. Panama
Embera-Wounaan, Kuna de Madugani, Kuna de Wargandi, Kuna Yala, Ngobe-Bugle
25. Papua New Guinea
Bougainville
26. Philippines
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region
27. Portugal
Azores, Madeira
28. Russia
Adygea, Altai Republic, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Chechnya, Chuvashia, Republic of Crimea Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Karelia, Khakassia, Komi, Mari El, Mordovia, North Ossetia-Alania, Sakha Republic, Tatarstan, Tuva, Udmurtia, Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Chukotka, Khanty-Mansi, Nenets, Yamalo-Nenets
29. Saint Kitts and Nevis
Nevis
30. Sao Tome and Príncipe
Autonomous Region of Príncipe
31. Serbia
Vojvodina
32. Somalia
Puntland
33. South Korea
Jejudo
34. Tajikistan
Gorno-Badakhshan
35. Tanzania
Zanzibar
36. Trinidad and Tobago
Tobago
37. United Kingdom
Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Anguilla
38. Uzbekistan
Karakalpakstan
39. Ukraine
Crimea
40. United States
Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands
