Subdivisions of Libya have varied significantly over the last two centuries. Initially
Libya under
Ottoman and
Italian control was organized into three to four provinces, then into three governorates (
muhafazah) and after
World War II into twenty-five districts (
baladiyah). Successively into thirty-two districts (
shabiyat) with three administrative regions, and then into twenty-two districts (
shabiyat). In 2012 the ruling
General National Congress divided the country into governorates (
muhafazat) and districts (
baladiyat). While the districts have been created, the governorates have not.