Do they differ?
If so, which one is bigger?
If not, are they interchaneable?
If so, which one is bigger?
If not, are they interchaneable?
state / province
They are different. They do not differ by size; the biggest of states and provinces are all states, but the smallest state is probably smaller than the smallest province. The exact definitions are very murky...
Provinces are subdivisions/regions of a state. Provinces are often just regions with no government. Sometimes, a province does have/is a government. Sometimes, "province" is used for other novel descriptions, for instance in the Australian state of Victoria "provinces" were the name of the electorates/constituencies/electoral districts of the state's upper house. "Province" is also used as the translation for some things which have similar names, thus the Italian provinces (It. _provincia_) are apparently local governments...
States are certain sorts of governments. A state may be national (as in, the state of France), or subnational (as in, the state of Victoria). "State" is also used to refer to the land over which the state has jurisdiction, particularly when talking of subnational states. (Contrast the statements "Jacques lives in France, a country of Europe" with "John lives in Victoria, a state of Australia".)
There is some overlap in meaning. Primarily, subdivisions of a federation are sometimes called "states", sometimes "provinces", sometimes something different. The only way to know which is by learning it for that circumstance. For instance, Canada has provinces whereas Australia has states, and Swizerland has cantons. The only way you can know this is by learning it...
Provinces are subdivisions/regions of a state. Provinces are often just regions with no government. Sometimes, a province does have/is a government. Sometimes, "province" is used for other novel descriptions, for instance in the Australian state of Victoria "provinces" were the name of the electorates/constituencies/electoral districts of the state's upper house. "Province" is also used as the translation for some things which have similar names, thus the Italian provinces (It. _provincia_) are apparently local governments...
States are certain sorts of governments. A state may be national (as in, the state of France), or subnational (as in, the state of Victoria). "State" is also used to refer to the land over which the state has jurisdiction, particularly when talking of subnational states. (Contrast the statements "Jacques lives in France, a country of Europe" with "John lives in Victoria, a state of Australia".)
There is some overlap in meaning. Primarily, subdivisions of a federation are sometimes called "states", sometimes "provinces", sometimes something different. The only way to know which is by learning it for that circumstance. For instance, Canada has provinces whereas Australia has states, and Swizerland has cantons. The only way you can know this is by learning it...