Overseas France

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Overseas France (French: France d'outre-mer, also France ultramarine) consists of 13 French territories outside Europe, mostly the remnants of the French colonial empire that remained a part of the French state under various statuses after decolonisation.

Overseas France
France d'outre-mer (French)
Motto: "Liberté, égalité, fraternité"
"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"
Anthem: La Marseillaise
("The Marseillaise")
Great Seal:
Territory of the French Republic (red)
Overseas territories (circled)
Claimed territory (Adélie Land; hatched)
CapitalParis
Largest settlementsFort-de-France (Martinique), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Saint Denis (La Réunion), Saint Pierre (La Réunion), Nouméa (New Caledonia), Cayenne (French Guiana), Mamoudzou (Mayotte), Papeete/Faʼaʼā (French Polynesia)
LanguagesFrench
Regional languages
DemonymFrench
Territories
Leaders
• President
Emmanuel Macron
• Minister
Naïma Moutchou
Area
• Total
120,396 km2 (46,485 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate
2,834,000 (Jan. 2024)
CurrencyEuro
CFP Franc
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy (AD)

"Overseas France" is a collective name; while used in everyday life in France, it is not an administrative designation in its own right. Instead, the five overseas regions have exactly the same administrative status as the thirteen metropolitan regions; the five overseas collectivities are semi-autonomous; and New Caledonia is an autonomous territory. Overseas France includes island territories in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, French Guiana on the South American continent, and several peri-Antarctic islands as well as a claim in Antarctica. Excluding the district of Adélie Land, where French sovereignty is effective de jure by French law, but where the French exclusive claim on this part of Antarctica is frozen by the Antarctic Treaty (signed in 1959), overseas France covers a land area of 120,396 km2 (46,485 sq mi) and accounts for 18.0% of the French Republic's land territory. Its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 9,825,538 km2 (3,793,661 sq mi) accounts for 96.7% of the EEZ of the French Republic.

Outside Europe, four broad classes of overseas French territorial administration currently exist: overseas departments/regions, overseas collectivities, the sui generis territory of New Caledonia, and uninhabited territories. From a legal and administrative standpoint, these four classes have varying legal status and levels of autonomy, although all permanently inhabited territories have representation in both France's National Assembly and Senate, which together make up the French Parliament. Six of these regions are considered Outermost Regions of the European Union, with the rest, excepting Clipperton, considered overseas countries and territories that cooperate with the European Union.

2,834,000 people lived in overseas France in January 2024. Most of these residents are citizens of France and citizens of the European Union. This makes them able to vote in French and European elections.

Varying constitutional statuses

Overseas departments and regions

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 847,000—    
1960 1,103,000+30.2%
1970 1,388,000+25.8%
1980 1,582,000+14.0%
1990 1,921,000+21.4%
2000 2,295,000+19.5%
2010 2,622,000+14.2%
2020 2,782,000+6.1%
2024 2,834,000+1.9%
January 2024: Total population of all overseas departments and collectivities: 2,834,000.
Total population of five overseas departments: 2,230,000.
Total population of five overseas collectivities and New Caledonia: 604,000. Sources: French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis et Futuna

Overseas regions have exactly the same status as France's mainland regions. The French Constitution provides that, in general, French laws and regulations (France's civil code, penal code, administrative law, social laws, tax laws, etc.) apply to French overseas regions just as in metropolitan France, but can be adapted as needed to suit the region's particular needs. Hence, the local administrations of French overseas regions cannot themselves pass new laws.

  • French Guiana (since 1946)
  • Guadeloupe (since 1946)
  • Martinique (since 1946)
  • Mayotte (since 2011)
    • 1976–2003: sui generis overseas territory
      • 2001–2003: with the designation departmental community
    • 2003–2011: overseas community
    • In the 2009 Mahoran status referendum, Mahorans voted to become an overseas department in 2011, which occurred on 31 March 2011.
  • Réunion (since 1946)

Overseas collectivities

The category of "overseas collectivity" (French: collectivité d'outre-mer or COM) was created by France's constitutional reform of 28 March 2003. Each overseas collectivity has its own statutory laws.

In contrast to overseas departments/regions, the overseas collectivities are empowered to make their own laws, except in certain areas reserved to the French national government (such as defense, international relations, trade and currency, and judicial and administrative law). The overseas collectivities are governed by local elected assemblies and by the French Parliament and French Government, with a cabinet member, the Minister of the Overseas, in charge of issues related to the overseas territories.

  • French Polynesia (1946–2003: overseas territory; since 2003: overseas collectivity): In 2004 it was given the designation of "overseas country" (French: pays d'outre-mer), but the Constitutional Council of France has ruled that this designation did not create a new political category.
  • Saint Barthélemy: In 2003, Saint-Barthélemy voted to become an overseas collectivity of France. Saint-Barthélemy is not part of the European Union, having changed the status to an overseas country or territory associated with the European Union in 2012.
  • Saint Martin: In a 2003 referendum, Saint Martin voted in favour of secession from Guadeloupe to become separate overseas collectivity of France. On 7 February 2007, the French Parliament passed a bill granting COM status to Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy. The new status took effect on 22 February 2007, when the law was published in the Journal Officiel. Saint Martin remains part of the European Union, as stated in the Treaty of Lisbon.
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon (1976–85: overseas department; 1985–2003: sui generis overseas territory; since 2003: overseas collectivity): Despite being given the political status of "overseas collectivity", Saint Pierre et Miquelon is called collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, literally "territorial collectivity".
  • Wallis and Futuna (1961–2003: overseas territory; since 2003: overseas collectivity): It is still commonly referred to as a territoire (Territoire des îles Wallis et Futuna).

Sui generis collectivity

  • New Caledonia had the status of an overseas territory from 1946 to 1998, but as of the 1998 Nouméa Accord it gained a special status (statut particulier or sui generis) in 1999. A New Caledonian citizenship was established (in addition to the French citizenship which is kept in parallel, along with the European citizenship), and a gradual transfer of power from the French state to New Caledonia itself was begun, to last from 15 to 20 years. However, this process was subject to approval in a referendum. Three independence referendums have been held, in 2018, 2020 and 2021. In the first two referendums, the "yes" vote was 43.3% and 46.7% respectively. In the third referendum of December 2021, massively boycotted by the native Kanak community, which represent 42% of the population, the "yes" vote was 3.5%, with a turnout of 43.9%.

Overseas territory

  • French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises or TAAF); overseas territory of France (since 1956). It is currently the only overseas territory. According to law 2007-224 of 21 February 2007, the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean constitute the 5th district of TAAF.

Special status

  • Clipperton Island (French: Île de Clipperton or Île de la Passion; Spanish: Isla de la Pasión) is a 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) uninhabited coral atoll located 1,280 km (800 miles) south-west of Acapulco, Mexico in the Pacific Ocean. It is held as an overseas "state private property" under the direct authority of the French government, and is administered by France's Minister of the Overseas ("private" in this context refers to official restrictions on access, rather than private ownership per se).
  • French national domain in the Holy Land; four parcels of land in Jerusalem that are administered by the French government.

Political representation in legislatures

With 2,834,000 inhabitants in 2024, overseas France accounts for 4.1% of the population of the French Republic. They enjoy a corresponding representation in the two chambers of the French Parliament and, in the 16th legislature of the French Fifth Republic (2022–2027), overseas France is represented by 27 deputies in the French National Assembly, accounting for 4.7% of the 577 deputies in the National Assembly:

Since September 2011, overseas France has been represented by 21 senators in the French Senate, accounting for 6.0% of the 348 senators in the Senate:

European Union representation

The territories used to be collectively represented in the European Parliament by the Overseas Territories of France constituency until the 2019 European elections, when all French constituencies merged to form a single constituency.

Overseas France and other special territories of EU member states are not separately represented in the EU Council. Every member state represents all its citizens in the council.

Overview

Inhabited collectivities and departments/regions

The eleven inhabited French overseas territories are:

Flag Name Capital Population Area
(km2) 		Population Density
(inh. per km2) 		Status EU/EEA Status UN Continental Region UN Geographical Subregion Location Notes
French Guiana Cayenne 295,385
(Jan. 2024) 		83,534 3.5 Overseas department/region Outermost Region Americas South America The Guianas
French Polynesia Papeete 279,020
(Jan. 2023) 		3,521 79 Overseas collectivity/country Overseas Country or Territory Oceania Polynesia South Pacific Ocean Consists of the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the Austral Islands. The most populous island is Tahiti.
Guadeloupe Basse-Terre 378,561
(Jan. 2024) 		1,628 233 Overseas department/region Outermost Region Americas Caribbean Leeward Islands
Martinique Fort-de-France 349,925
(Jan. 2024) 		1,128 310 Windward Islands
Mayotte Mamoudzou 320,901
(Jan. 2024) 		374 858 Africa Eastern Africa Comoro Islands Voted on 29 March 2009, in favour of attaining overseas department / region status. That status became effective on March 31, 2011.
Also claimed by the Comoros.
New Caledonia Nouméa 268,510
(Jan. 2023) 		18,575.5 14.5 Sui generis collectivity Overseas Country or Territory Oceania Melanesia South Pacific Ocean Independence referendums occurred on 4 November 2018 (56.4% voting against and 43.6% voting in favor), as well as on 4 October 2020 (53.3% voting against and 46.7% voting in favor). A third and final one held in December 2021 rejected independence (96.5% voting against and 3.5% voting in favor).
Réunion Saint Denis 885,700
(Jan. 2024) 		2,504 354 Overseas department/region Outermost Region Africa Eastern Africa Mascarene Islands
Saint Barthélemy Gustavia 10,585
(Jan. 2020) 		25 423 Overseas collectivity Overseas Country or Territory Americas Caribbean Leeward Islands Detached from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007.
Saint Martin Marigot 32,358
(Jan. 2020) 		53 610 Outermost Region
Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre 6,092
(Jan. 2020) 		242 25 Overseas Country or Territory Northern America Gulf of St. Lawrence
Wallis and Futuna Mata Utu 11,151
(Jul. 2023) 		142 79 Oceania Polynesia South Pacific Ocean

Uninhabited overseas territories

Several of these territories are generally only transiently inhabited by researchers in scientific stations.

Flag Name TAAF District Island Capital Area (km2) Status Location Notes
Clipperton Island – – – 2 Overseas state private property North Pacific Ocean
French Southern and Antarctic Lands Adélie Land Dumont d'Urville Station 432,000 Overseas territory Antarctica Under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty.
Crozet Islands Alfred Faure 340 Indian Ocean
Kerguelen Islands Port-aux-Français 7,215 Population: 45 researchers in winter, 110 in summer.
Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands Amsterdam Island Martin-de-Viviès 66
Saint Paul Island
Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean Banc du Geyser Saint Pierre, Réunion 0 Mozambique Channel Claimed by the Comoros and Madagascar.
Bassas da India 1 Claimed by Madagascar.
Europa Island 30
Glorioso Islands 7 Indian Ocean Claimed by the Comoros and Madagascar.
Juan de Nova Island 5 Mozambique Channel Claimed by Madagascar.
Tromelin Island 1 Indian Ocean Claimed by Mauritius.

Map

Largest cities in overseas France

Ranked by population in the metropolitan area:

  • Fort-de-France (Martinique): 346,937 inhabitants (in 2022)
  • Saint Denis (Réunion): 323,655 (in 2022)
  • Pointe-à-Pitre–Les Abymes (Guadeloupe): 314,576 (in 2022)
  • Saint Pierre–Le Tampon (Réunion): 226,245 (in 2022)
  • Saint Paul (Réunion): 174,704 (in 2022)
  • Nouméa (New Caledonia): 173,814 (in 2025)
  • Cayenne (French Guiana): 152,190 (in 2022)
  • Papeete (French Polynesia): 138,861 (in 2022)

See also

Notes

  1. Excluding Adélie Land.
  2. Also les Outre-mer, les outre-mers, or, colloquially, les DOM-TOM (départements d'outre-mer et territoires d'outre-mer) or les DROM-COM (départements et régions d'outre-mer et collectivités d'outre-mer).
  3. Article 2 of the French Constitution states that the French tricolour is the only legal flag of France. Only French Polynesia, an overseas country, and New Caledonia, a sui generis collectivity, are allowed to have their official flags. This right was granted to French Polynesia by a 6 September 1984 law and to New Caledonia by the Nouméa Accord. The Administrator of French Antarctica is also granted their own flag through a 23 February 2007 ordinance. Historical flags are sometimes used but have no basis in law. Many territories use unofficial flags to represent the territories. The unofficial flags are shown in this table.
  4. 25 km² including the outlying uninhabited islets. 21 km² without the outlying islets.

Further reading

  • Robert Aldrich and John Connell, France's Overseas Frontier, Cambridge University Press, 1992.
  • Frédéric Monera, L'idée de République et la jurisprudence du Conseil constitutionnel, Paris: L.G.D.J., 2004.

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