Administrative divisions of the Republic of Artsakh

The administrative divisions of the Republic of Artsakh are of two types; provinces and cities. There are seven provinces and one special administrative city - the capital of the Republic.[1]

Regions of the Republic of Artsakh Շրջանները Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետության (Armenian)
Provinces of the Republic of Artsakh prior to the 2020 war. Solid colors: Soviet-era NKAO; vertical stripes: not part of NKAO, Artsakh-ruled; horizontal stripes: Azerbaijani-ruled, claimed by Artsakh Shahumyan Province Martakert Askeran Martuni Hadrut Shushi Province Qashatagh
Category	Unitary state
Location	Republic of Artsakh
Number	7 Provinces 1 Special status city
Populations	2,560 (Shahumyan) – 49,986 (Stepanakert)
Areas	26 km^2 (9.9 sq mi) (Stepanakert) – 3,380 km^2 (1,304 sq mi) (Kashatagh)
Government	Region government, National government
Subdivisions	Urban community, Rural community

Municipalities in Artsakh are divided into 2 categories: urban communities and rural communities. Prior to the 2020 war, there were 10 towns (urban) and 322 villages (rural) in Artsakh.[2]

Administrative divisions

Province	Population (2005 census)[3]	Area (km^2)	Capital	Map
1 Shahumyan Province^1	2,560	1,830	Karvachar
2 Martakert Province^2	18,963	1,795	Martakert
3 Askeran Province^2	16,979	1,222	Askeran
4 Martuni Province^2	23,158	951	Martuni
5 Hadrut Province^1	12,005	1,877	Hadrut
6 Shushi Province^2	4,324	383	Shushi
7 Kashatagh Province^1	9,763	3,377	Berdzor
8 Stepanakert	49,986	25.66	Stepanakert

¹ Totally under Azerbaijani control.

² Partially under Azerbaijani control.

Azerbaijan divisions and claimed territories

Former Soviet Shahumyan district and the territory known as "Getashen subdistrict" where Shahumyan Province was originally formed

Prior to the establishment of the Artsakh republic, the territory was organised by the Republic of Azerbaijan into a number of rayons (districts). Artsakh extended its provinces across the border of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO), removing the administrative distinction between the two areas.[4] The following districts, which were not part of the NKAO but were in Azerbaijan proper, were completely within the de facto borders of Artsakh prior to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war: Lachin, Qubadli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Kalbajar. Additionally, parts of the following districts were partly under the control of Artsakh: Agdam District and Fuzuli District.

Former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
District (Rayon)	Area (km^2)	Under NKR control (km^2)	%
Askeran District	928	928	100
Hadrut District	679	0	0
Mardakert District	1,705	1,305	76.5
Martuni District	792	632	79.8
Shusha District	280	224	80
NKAO	4,384	3,089	70.5

Pre-2020 war

Before the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, districts of Azerbaijan surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh that were administered by Artsakh were: Lachin District, Qubadli District, Zangilan District, Jabrayil District and Kalbajar District, as well as parts of Agdam, and Fuzuli District. On the other hand, the eastern ends of Martakert and Martuni were under Azerbaijani control, as was the whole of Shahumian.

Former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
District (Rayon)	Area (km^2)	Under NKR control (km^2)	%
Askeran District	928	928	100
Hadrut District	679	679	100
Mardakert District	1,705	1,305	76.5
Martuni District	792	632	79.8
Shusha District	280	280	100
NKAO	4,384	3,824	87.2
Rayons of Azerbaijan SSR other than in NKAO
Southern part of Goranboy District	558	0	0
Kalbajar District	1,936	1,936	100
Lachin District	1,835	1,835	100
Qubadli District	802	802	100
Zangilan District	707	707	100
Jabrayil District	1,050	1,050	100
Fuzuli District	1,390	462	33.2
Agdam District	1,150	842	73.2
Azerbaijan	8,870	7,634	86.1

See also

• Administrative divisions of Armenia

References

1. NKR regions
2. Administrative Territorial System of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
3. NKR official census of 2005
4. Toal, Gerard; O'Loughlin, John (5 November 2013). "Land for Peace in Nagorny Karabakh? Political Geographies and Public Attitudes Inside a Contested De Facto State". Territory, Politics, Governance. 1 (2): 158–182. doi:10.1080/21622671.2013.842184. S2CID 54576963. Retrieved 27 November 2020.