Overseas departments of France facts for kids
France currently has five overseas departments (French: département d’outre-mer), which are departments (territorial divisions) that are outside the European part of the country. All are officially part of France, with the same political status as the departments in Europe; and are therefore different to overseas territories. They are also part of the European Union and use the Euro as currency. They are:
Since 2003, these departments are now officially called overseas regions (French: région d'outre-mer), but this name has yet to be widely adopted. Each region returns elected representatives to the Senate and National Assembly in Paris. A total of three members are elected to the European Parliament to represent overseas France, including overseas departments and overseas territories. Since 1974, these regions have had their own individual regional councils for local government.
| Flag | Department | Prefecture | Region | Since | Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
French Guiana (French: Guyane) |
Cayenne | South America | 19 March 1946 | Parliamentary resolution |
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Guadeloupe (French: Guadeloupe) |
Basse-Terre | Caribbean | 19 March 1946 | Parliamentary resolution |
 |
Martinique (French: Martinique) |
Fort-de-France | Caribbean | 19 March 1946 | Parliamentary resolution |
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Mayotte (French: Mayotte) |
Mamoudzou | Africa | 31 March 2011 | Referendum |
 |
Réunion (French: La Réunion) |
Saint-Denis | Africa | 19 March 1946 | Parliamentary resolution |
Images for kids
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2011-2020 Map of the European Union in the world with overseas countries and territories and outermost regions
See also
In Spanish: Departamento y región de ultramar para niños
