The arrondissement of Nevers was created in 1800.[4] At the January 2017 reorganisation of the arrondissements of Nièvre, it gained one commune from the arrondissement of Château-Chinon (Ville), and it lost one commune to the arrondissement of Château-Chinon (Ville).[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 Nevers were, as of January 2015:[6]