Overseas France Explained

Conventional Long Name:	Overseas France
Linking Name:	France
Image Map2:	France-Constituent-Lands.png
Map2 Width:	250px
Largest Settlement:	Fort-de-France (Martinique), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Saint Denis (La Réunion), Saint Pierre (La Réunion), Nouméa (New Caledonia)
Largest Settlement Type:	settlements
Languages:	French, Antillean Creole, Guianan Creole, Reunionese Creole, Shimaore, Tahitian, Marquesan, 'Uvean, Futunan, Drehu, Nengone, Paicî, Ajië, Javanese, and 35 other native languages of New Caledonia
Languages Type:	Languages
Leader Title1:	President
Leader Title2:	Minister
Demonym:	French
Membership Type:	Territories
Population Estimate:	2,834,000 (Jan. 2024)
Area Km2:	120396
Date Format:	dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Currency:	Euro CFP Franc
Capital:	Paris
Englishmotto:	"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"
Other Symbol Type:	Great Seal
National Motto:	""
National Anthem:	French: [[La Marseillaise]]

Overseas France (French: France d'outre-mer, also French: 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. Most, but not all, are part of the European Union.

"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 120396km2^[1] and accounts for 18.0% of the French Republic's land territory.^[2] Its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 9825538km2 accounts for 96.7% of the EEZ of the French Republic.^[3]

Outside of 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.

2,834,000 people lived in overseas France in January 2024.^[4] 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 regions and departments

See main article: Overseas departments and regions of France.

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

See main article: Overseas collectivity.

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.^[5] On 7 February 2007, the French Parliament passed a bill granting COM status to both jurisdictions.^[6] The new status took effect on 22 February 2007, when the law was published in the Journal Officiel.^[7] Saint Martin remains part of the European Union, as stated in the Treaty of Lisbon.^[8]
• 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 French: 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 French: territoire (French: 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 (French: 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.^[9]

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%. ^{[10] [11]}

Overseas territory

See main article: Overseas territory (France).

• French Southern and Antarctic Lands (French: 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 French: TAAF.

Special status

• Clipperton Island (French: Île de Clipperton or French: Île de la Passion; Spanish; Castilian: Isla de la Pasión) is a 9km2 uninhabited coral atoll located 1280km (800miles) 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).

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:

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

Senate (France)

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:

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

European Parliament (European Union)

The territories used to be collectively represented in the European Parliament by the Overseas Territories of France constituency. Since the 2019 European elections, France decided to switch to a single constituency, putting an end to all regional constituencies, including the Overseas Territories constituency.

Council (European Union)

The 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 (km^2)	Population Density (inh. per km^2)	Status	UN Continental Region	UN Geographical Subregion	Location	Notes
	French Guiana	Cayenne	295,385 (Jan. 2024)	83,534^[12]	3.5	Overseas department/region	Americas	South America	The Guianas
	French Polynesia	Papeete	279,020 (Jan. 2023)	^[13]	79	Overseas collectivity/country	Oceania	Polynesia	South Pacific Ocean
	Guadeloupe	Basse-Terre	378,561 (Jan. 2024)		233	Overseas department/region	Americas	Caribbean	Leeward Islands
	Martinique	Fort-de-France	349,925 (Jan. 2024)		310				Windward Islands
	Mayotte	Mamoudzou	320,901 (Jan. 2024)		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]	14.5	Sui generis collectivity	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).^[15]
	Réunion	Saint Denis	885,700 (Jan. 2024)		354	Overseas department/region	Africa	Eastern Africa	Mascarene Islands
	Saint Barthélemy	Gustavia	(Jan. 2020)^[16]	^[17]	423	Overseas collectivity	Americas	Caribbean	Leeward Islands	Detached from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007.
	Saint Martin	Marigot	(Jan. 2020)	^[18]	610
	Saint Pierre and Miquelon	Saint Pierre	(Jan. 2020)		25		North America	Northern America	Gulf of St. Lawrence
	Wallis and Futuna	Mata Utu	(Jul. 2023)		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 (km^2)	Status	Location	Notes
	Clipperton Island	–	–	–	2^[19]	Overseas state private property
	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^[20]		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.

Photo gallery

Largest cities in overseas France

Ranked by population in the metropolitan area:

• Fort-de-France (Martinique): 347,170 inhabitants (in 2020)
• Saint Denis (Réunion): 315,080 (in 2020)
• Pointe-à-Pitre–Les Abymes (Guadeloupe): 312,630 (in 2020)
• Saint Pierre–Le Tampon (Réunion): 222,614 (in 2020)
• Nouméa (New Caledonia): 182,341 (in 2019)
• Saint Paul (Réunion): 171,109 (in 2020)
• Cayenne (French Guiana): 151,887 (in 2020)
• Papeete (French Polynesia): 138,861 (in 2022)

See also

• 2009 Mahoran status referendum
• Administrative divisions of France
• Communes of France
• French colonial empire
• Government of France
• List of French possessions and colonies
• List of islands administered by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans
• Metropolitan France
  • Outre-mer
• Overseas collectivity
• Overseas department and region
• Overseas military bases of France
• Overseas Territories of France (European Parliament constituency)
• Overseas territory
• Special member state territories and the European Union
• Volontaire Civil à l'Aide Technique
• French claims in Jerusalem

• • Church of the Pater Noster
  • Benedictine monastery in Abu Ghosh
  • Tombs of the Kings
  • Church of Saint Anne

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.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Larousse . Éditions . Encyclopédie Larousse en ligne – France d'outre-mer . 2022-10-02 . larousse.fr . fr.
2. Land area of the four old overseas departments (https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2864136#consulter), Mayotte, the overseas collectivities, and New Caledonia (page 21), the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and the Scattered Islands (http://observatoire-outre-mer.interieur.gouv.fr/site/layout/set/print/content/download/166/1067/file/Tdb_TAAF_Novembre17.pdf), and Clipperton (http://agriculture.gouv.fr/telecharger/44764?token=428075c480768259a6a7d05a971137ea).
3. Web site: Sea Around Us – Fisheries, Ecosystems and Biodiversity . 20 June 2018.
4. The population of all five overseas departments totaled 2,230,000 in January 2024.https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/7752095/estim-pop-nreg-sexe-gca-1975-2024.xls The population of the overseas collectivities and New Caledonia amounted to 604,000 inhabitants (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7728793?sommaire=7728826, Saint-Barthélemy https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7728793?sommaire=7728826, Saint-Martin https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7728793?sommaire=7728826, French Polynesia https://www.ispf.pf/chiffres, Wallis et Futuna https://www.wallis-et-futuna.gouv.fr/Actualites/Les-chiffres-INSEE-du-recensement-2023-authentifies-sont-parus, New Caledonia https://www.isee.nc/population/demographie).
5. News: French Caribbean voters reject change . Caribbean Net News . 9 December 2003 . 9 February 2007 . However, voters in the two tiny French dependencies of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, which have been administratively attached to Guadeloupe, approved the referendum and are set to acquire the new status of "overseas collectivity". . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090318194043/http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2003/12/09/voters.htm . 18 March 2009 . dmy-all .
6. News: Bruno . Magras . Letter of Information from the Mayor to the residents and non-residents, to the French and to the foreigners, of Saint Barthelemy . St. Barth Weekly . 2 . 16 February 2007 . 18 February 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190522174522/http://www.st-barths.com/jsb/pdf_files/weekly108.pdf . 22 May 2019 . dead . On 7 February of this year, the French Parliament adopted the law granting Saint-Barthélemy the Statute of an Overseas Collectivity. .
7. News: Saint-Barth To Become An Overseas Collectivity . St. Barth Weekly . 2 . 9 February 2007 . 9 February 2007.
8. Web site: Treaty of Lisbon, Article 2, points 287 and 293. 31 January 2008.
9. French: "Nouvelle-Calédonie", ''Le Petit Larousse''|italic=unset (2010), Paris, page 1559.
10. News: Final results of New Caledonia referendum shows most voters stayed away . 13 December 2021 . Reuters . 13 December 2021.
11. Répartition des suffrages exprimés lors des référendums sur l'indépendance de la Nouvelle-Calédonie en 2018, 2020 et 2021, https://fr.statista.com/statistiques/939659/nouvelle-caledonie-resultats-referendum/, Statista.
12. Web site: Comparateur de territoire . . 2021-01-29 . fr .
13. Web site: Tableau Économique de Mayotte 2010 . 21 . . 2021-01-29 . fr .
14. Web site: Tableaux de l'Economie Calédonienne 2016 . ISEE. 31. 2021-01-29. fr.
15. News: Michel . Rose . Colin . Packham . 12 December 2021 . New Caledonia rejects independence in final vote amid boycott . Reuters.
16. Web site: Populations légales des collectivités d'outre-mer en 2020 . 2022-12-29 . . fr . 2024-04-16.
17. Web site: 2008, An 1 de la collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy . . 7 . 2021-01-29 . fr . 1 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201220901/http://www.epsilon.insee.fr/jspui/bitstream/1/127628/1/aes_2009_71_ga.pdf . dead .
18. Web site: 2008, An 1 de la collectivitéde Saint-Martin. INSEE. 6. 2021-01-29. fr. 1 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201220901/http://www.epsilon.insee.fr/jspui/bitstream/1/127628/1/aes_2009_71_ga.pdf. dead.
19. Web site: L'île de Clipperton . . 31 January 2014 . fr .
20. Web site: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises : Données géographiques et humaines . Délégation générale à l'outre-mer . 31 January 2014 . fr . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114459/http://observatoire-outre-mer.interieur.gouv.fr/site/content/download/166/1067/version/15/file/Tdb_TAAF_Nov2012.pdf . 2 February 2014 . dead .