Administrative Divisions

In the wizarding world of Great Britain, there is no comprehensive system of magical administrative divisions (such as provinces or states) that directly parallels the Muggle system of counties. Instead, the magical community is governed centrally by the Ministry of Magic located in London. Magical folk live either in concealed, isolated communities or integrated discreetly within Muggle towns and villages. The geographical locations of these wizarding settlements are typically referenced using the existing Muggle administrative and regional framework, such as counties.

While the Ministry of Magic holds nationwide authority, the day-to-day life of the wizarding population is centred around specific villages and hidden communities. These settlements represent the most tangible form of local organisation.

• Hogsmeade: The only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Great Britain. Located in Scotland, it lies in close proximity to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and serves as a commercial and social hub for students and the wider wizarding community.
• Godric's Hollow: A famous village in the West Country of England, known for being the birthplace of Godric Gryffindor and the final hiding place of James and Lily Potter. It is a mixed community where wizards and Muggles coexist, with the wizards' presence largely hidden from their non-magical neighbours.
• Ottery St Catchpole: A village located in the real-world county of Devon, England. It is a mixed community and home to several notable wizarding families, including the Weasleys, the Diggorys, and the Lovegoods.
• Tinworth: A coastal village in the county of Cornwall, England. Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour established their home, Shell Cottage, on its outskirts.
• Other Integrated Areas: Wizards also reside in primarily Muggle areas, often in isolation. Examples include the Gaunts living near the village of Little Hangleton and Horace Slughorn temporarily hiding in the village of Budleigh Babberton. The Dursley family's residence in Little Whinging, Surrey, while a Muggle home, was a key location under the protection of the Ministry of Magic and Albus Dumbledore.

The wizarding world's reliance on Muggle geography is a direct consequence of the International Statute of Secrecy. Rather than creating a separate map, the magical community embeds itself within the existing world, using enchantments like the Muggle-Repelling Charm to protect locations such as Hogwarts and the Quidditch World Cup stadium. The use of Muggle counties like Devon, Cornwall, and regions like the West Country to describe the locations of wizarding homes demonstrates that wizards operate within these established boundaries. The Ministry of Magic's authority is not geographical in the sense of ruling over land, but rather over the magical people who live upon it, wherever they may be in Great Britain.

The British model of a single, centralised Ministry of Magic appears to be common in other nations. The books make reference to foreign magical governments, such as the Bulgarian Ministry of Magic and the Norwegian Ministry of Magic. These bodies interact through international organisations like the International Confederation of Wizards. However, the internal administrative structures of these foreign magical governments are not detailed in the novels.

• J.K. Rowling has clarified that the Ministry of Magic based in London has jurisdiction over the magical communities of England, Scotland, and Wales. The Republic of Ireland has its own, separate Ministry of Magic, while Northern Ireland also has its own magical administrative body, distinct from both the London and Dublin ministries (J.K. Rowling interview).
• The Pottermore website has identified other wizarding settlements, such as Upper Flagley in Yorkshire, further supporting the established pattern of wizarding communities being located within specific Muggle counties (Pottermore).