Overseas France facts for kids

French overseas departments, territories and claims on Antarctica

Banner of the Minister of Overseas France

Overseas France (French: France d'outre-mer) is the part of France that is outside of the European continent. It consists of all overseas departments, territories and collectivities. These territories have several different legal statuses and levels of autonomy. Overseas France includes island territories in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, French Guiana in South America, and Adélie Land in Antarctica. Each inhabited territory is represented in both the French National Assembly and the French Senate (which together make up the Parliament of France).

2,685,705 people lived in the overseas departments and territories in January 2011.

Types of territories

The lands making up the French Republic, shown at the same geographic scale.

Overseas departments and regions

Overseas departments and regions are completely part of France.

• Guadeloupe (since 1946)
• Martinique (since 1946)
• French Guiana (since 1946)
• Réunion (since 1946)
• Mayotte (since 2011)

From 1976 to 2003, Mayotte was a unique overseas territory. Between 2003 and 2011, it was an overseas community. It became an overseas department on 31 March 2011, after its citizens voted to become a full part of France.

Overseas collectivities

The category of overseas collectivity was created by changes made to France's constitution in 28 March 2003. Each overseas collectivity has its own written laws.

• French Polynesia (since 2003)

From 1946 to 2003, French Polynesia was an overseas territory. In 2004, it was given the designation of overseas country (French: pays d'outre-mer).

• Saint Pierre and Miquelon (since 2003)

From 1976 to 1985, Saint Pierre and Miquelon was an overseas department. Between 1985 and 2003, it was a unique overseas territory.

• Wallis and Futuna (since 2003)

From 1961 to 2003, Wallis and Futuna was an overseas territory.

• Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy (since 2007)

Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy both separated from Guadeloupe in 2003. They became separate overseas collectivities of their own on 22 February 2007.

Special collectivity

• New Caledonia (since 1999)

New Caledonia was classified as an overseas territory from 1946. It gained a special status in 1999 as a result of the Nouméa Accord. It has its own citizenship, and power is gradually being passed from the French state to New Caledonia itself. A referendum on independence is to be called any time between 2014 and 2019.

Overseas territories

• French Southern and Antarctic Lands (since 1956)

Minor territories

• Clipperton Island is held as private property under the direct authority of the French government. It has no permanent population.

Representation

The overseas departments and territories are represented by 27 députés in the French National Assembly and 21 senators in the French Senate. This is 4.7% of the 577 députés and 6% of the 343 senators.

• Réunion: 7 députés and 4 senators
• Guadeloupe: 4 députés and 3 senators
• Martinique: 4 députés and 2 senators
• French Polynesia: 3 députés and 2 senators
• French Guiana: 2 députés and 2 senators
• Mayotte: 2 député and 2 senators
• New Caledonia: 2 députés and 2 senators
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon: 1 député and 1 senator
• Wallis and Futuna: 1 député and 1 senator
• Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin: 1 député and 2 senators

List of territories

Inhabited departments and collectivities

The 11 French Overseas Territories are :

Flag	Name	Capital	Population	Land area (km2)	Status	Location	Notes
	French Guiana	Cayenne	229,000 (Jan. 2009)	83,534	Overseas department / region	South America
	French Polynesia	Papeete	264,000 (Jan. 2009)	4,167	Overseas collectivity	South Pacific Ocean
	Guadeloupe	Basse-Terre	404,000 (Jan. 2009)	1,628	Overseas department / region	Antilles
	Martinique	Fort-de-France	402,000 (Jan. 2009)	1,128	Overseas department / region	Antilles
	Mayotte	Mamoudzou	186,452 (July 2007)	374	Overseas department / region	Africa (Mozambique Channel)	Also claimed by Comoros
	New Caledonia	Nouméa	244,410 (Jan. 2008)	18,575	Sui generis collectivity	South Pacific Ocean	Referendum for independence to occur sometime during the period of 2014 to 2019.
	Réunion	Saint-Denis	817,000 (Jan. 2009)	2,512	Overseas department / region	Africa (Indian Ocean)
	Saint Barthélemy	Gustavia	008,450 8,450 (Jan. 2007)	21	Overseas collectivity	Antilles	Detached from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007.
	Saint Martin	Marigot	035,925 35,925 (Jan. 2007)	53	Overseas collectivity	Antilles	Detached from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007.
	Saint Pierre and Miquelon	Saint-Pierre	006,099 6,099 (Jan. 2007)	242	Overseas collectivity	Southeast of Canada
	Wallis and Futuna	Mata-Utu	013,484 13,484 (Jul. 2008)	274	Overseas collectivity	South Pacific Ocean

Uninhabited lands

Lands generally uninhabited, except by researchers in scientific stations.

Flag	Name	Capital	Land area (km2)	Status	Location	Notes
	Banc du Geyser	-	1	TAAF district	Africa (Mozambique Channel)	Claimed by Madagascar and Comoros
	Bassas da India	-	1	TAAF district	Africa (Mozambique Channel)	Claimed by Madagascar
	Clipperton	-	7	French state private property	West of Mexico
	Crozet Islands	Alfred Faure	352	TAAF district	South Indian Ocean
	Europa	-	28	TAAF district	Africa (Mozambique Channel)	Claimed by Madagascar
	Glorioso Islands	-	5	TAAF district	Indian Ocean	Claimed by Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles
	Juan de Nova	-	5	TAAF district	Africa (Mozambique Channel)	Claimed by Madagascar
	Kerguelen Islands	Port-aux-Français	7,215	TAAF district	South Indian Ocean
	Saint-Paul Island and Amsterdam Island	Martin-de-Viviès	66	TAAF district	Indian Ocean
	Tromelin Island	-	1	TAAF district	Indian Ocean	Claimed by Mauritius

Antarctica

Flag	Name	Capital	Land area (km2)	Status	Location	Notes
	Adélie Land	Dumont d'Urville Station	432,000	TAAF district	Antarctica	Under terms of Antarctic Treaty System

Related pages

• French colonial empire
• Government of France
• Communes in France
• Metropolitan France
• Organisation internationale de la Francophonie

See also

In Spanish: Francia de ultramar para niños