There are 18 cities and towns in the Kirov oblast. Of them 5 cities are of direct oblast subordination. The largest cities are Kirov (the oblast's principal city) having population of (499.8 thousand), Kirovo-Chepetsk, Vyatskie Polyany, Kotelnich, Slobodskoy, Yaransk, Omutninsk.

Today on the territory of the Kirov oblast there are 448 municipal communities whose foundation, boundaries and status are stipulated by a Kirov oblast law № 284 ZO of December 7, 2004   "Of establishing boundaries of   municipal communities of Kirov oblast and granting them a status of a municipal district, a city district, an urban settlement, a village settlement" (edition of August 2, 2005)

• 39 municipal districts;
• 6 city districts;
• 53 urban settlements;
• 350 village settlements.