The arrondissement of Autun was created in 1800.[4] In January 2017 it gained 14 communes from the arrondissement of Chalon-sur-Saône and five communes from the arrondissement of Charolles, and it lost six communes to the arrondissement of Chalon-sur-Saône and seven communes to the arrondissement of Charolles.[5]
As a result of the reorganisation of the cantons of France which came into effect in 2015, the borders of the cantons are no longer related to the borders of the arrondissements. The cantons of the arrondissement of Autun were, as of January 2015:[6]