Aimag (Mongolian: Аймаг, ) is a Mongolian and Turkic word for a tribe. It is also used as a term for country subdivisions in Mongolia and China.
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In the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia in China, the traditional subdivision into aimags (leagues) had been preserved at first. The aimags represent the subdivision directly below the province level. Eventually most of the aimags were converted into prefecture level cities. As of 2004, the three aimags left are Xilin Gol, Hinggan, and Alxa.
Outer Mongolia, an area roughly equivalent to that of the modern state of Mongolia was once part of Qing Empire. During the Qing period the region consisted of four Khalkha aimags (Setsen Khan Aimag, Tüsheet Khan Aimag, Sain Noyon Khan Aimag and Zasagt Khan Aimag), or of Khalkha plus Khovd and Tannu-Tuva.
In Mongolia, an aimag is the first level administrative subdivision and translated in English language by Statoids.com [1] and CIA Factbook [2] as province.
The capital Ulan Bator is administrated as an independent municipality.
Each aimag is again subdivided into Sums.