“Decentralization” or “Decentralisation”—What's the difference?

Usage by country

Where each spelling is used

Of the 12 countries below, 8 prefer “decentralization” and 4 prefer “decentralisation”. Usage levels are out of 100; the more common spelling in each country is in bold.

Usage level out of 100 (if available).
Country	decentralization	decentralisation	Preference
United States	97	3	“decentralization”
United Kingdom	41	59	“decentralisation”
India	60	40	“decentralization”
Philippines	98	2	“decentralization”
Canada	87	13	“decentralization”
Australia	30	70	“decentralisation”
Liberia	100	0	“decentralization”
Ireland	40	60	“decentralisation”
New Zealand	42	58	“decentralisation”
Jamaica	100	0	“decentralization”
Trinidad & Tobago	100	0	“decentralization”
Guyana	100	0	“decentralization”

Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“decentralization”

Many observers argued that the decentralization experiment was a canard: Little…
Furthermore, and due to the decentralization of powers that characterizes Spain's…
…during this time period, the decentralization of government and dominance by…
…particular, the policy foresaw the decentralization of water services.
…they would be hamstrung by decentralization and a lack of funds,…
…the Ministry of the Interior, Decentralization and Electronic Governance () was
…is connected with an ongoing decentralization of energy systems with energy…
…re-implemented in part during the decentralization process of the late 1990s…
…productive vanguards," at "flexibility" and "decentralization" in labor markets and production,…
Decentralization of government, including the establishment…

“decentralisation”

…that Century City would cause decentralisation from the Cape Town central…
…whose move marks a large-scale decentralisation from London.
…continent, that accentuated freedom and decentralisation from an historicist's perspective.
…Brown initiated a process of decentralisation with the appointment of a…
…the French government's policy of decentralisation, overseas departments have elected regional…
…party's broad aim was a decentralisation of power.
…the pursuance of the Government's Decentralisation and Local Government reform Policy…
…the Centre Party, which supports decentralisation, free will, free and fair…
…amendment' to allow for bespoke decentralisation to its members, which was…
Decentralisation and "democratisation" of government institutions,…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license.

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