After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, there have been changes in the scope and administrative divisions of Nanjing. In June 1949, Nanjing held 13 districts, numbered from 1 to 13. On June 15, 1950, the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government reorganized the city, changing the original 13 districts into 12 districts, classified into three categories: industrial and business areas (including residential areas), suburban agricultural areas, and scenic areas. The districts were numbered from 1 to 11, with one more designated as the Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum District. On January 1, 1953, the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government was established, with Nanjing as its provincial capital. In June 1953, after partial adjustments to the administrative divisions, the eleventh district was abolished. In August 1955, except for the Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum District, the names of the other 10 districts were changed sequentially to Xuanwu District, Baixia District, Qinhuai District, Jianye District, Gulou District, Xiaguan District, Pukou District, Yanziji District, Qixia District, and Yuhuatai District. On July 5, 1958, Jiangning County from Zhenjiang Prefecture and Jiangpu County and Liuhe County from Yangzhou Prefecture were incorporated into Nanjing. Nanjing then had administrative counties for the first time. In September 1958, Yanziji District, Qixia District, Yuhuatai District, and the Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum District were combined as suburban districts, leaving the city with 8 districts and 3 counties. On June 25, 1962, the three aforementioned counties were returned to Zhenjiang Prefecture and Yangzhou Prefecture, and Nanjing had 8 districts. In April 1963, the suburban districts were abolished, and Yanziji District, Qixia District, Yuhuatai District, Jiangdong District, and the Mausoleum District were established, bringing the number to 12 districts in total. In 1965, Yanziji District, Qixia District, Yuhuatai District, Jiangdong District, and the Mausoleum District were merged into Yuhuatai District and Qixia District, and the city had 9 districts. On March 11, 1971, Jiangning and Jiangpu counties were transferred to the jurisdiction of Nanjing, and then the city had 9 districts and 2 counties. In November 1975, Liuhe County was transferred under the leadership of Nanjing, and the city had 9 districts and 3 counties. In 1980, Dachang District was established, and the city had 10 districts and 3 counties. On March 1, 1983, Lishui and Gaochun counties from Zhenjiang Prefecture were transferred to Nanjing, and the city had 10 districts and 5 counties, expanding its jurisdiction. In 2000, Jiangning County was renamed Jiangning District, and then Nanjing had 11 districts and 4 counties. In 2002, Liuhe County was merged with Dachang District to form Liuhe District, and Jiangpu County was merged into Pukou District, and the city had 11 districts and 2 counties. In 2013, Baxia District was merged into Qinhuai District, and Xiaguan District was merged into the Gulou District, and Lishui and Gaochun counties became districts, with the city administrating 11 districts.

By the end of 2023, Nanjing consisted of 11 districts: Xuanwu, Qinhuai, Jianye, Gulou, Pukou, Qixia, Yuhuatai, Jiangning, Liuhe, Lishui, and Gaochun, with a total of 95 subdistricts and 6 towns.