Papiamento is an official language in the special municipality of Bonaire.

Cuba is divided into fourteen provinces and one special municipality.

All the special municipalities were split off from the province between 1967 and 2010.

A place with more than 1.25 million residents and with political, economical or cultural importance may become a special municipality.

A county with more than two million residents can acquire a status equal to a special municipality.

In Taiwan, districts are the only subdivision of special municipalities and provincial cities.

Currently there are 157 districts located in the special municipalities and the provincial cities.

Before 1949, Hankou has shifted between being a special municipality and a provincial city.

The special municipalities do not constitute part of a province.

On December 25, 2010, the county and city merged to form a single special municipality.