Overseas France

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Overseas France
France d'outre-mer (French)
Motto: " Liberté, égalité, fraternité "
"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"
Anthem:  La Marseillaise
("The Marseillaise")
Great Seal:
Great Seal of France.svg Great Seal of France (reverse).svg
France in the World (+Antarctica claims).svg
Territory of the French Republic (red)
Overseas territories (circled)
Claimed territory (Adélie Land; hatched)
France-Constituent-Lands.png
Capital Paris
Largest settlements Fort-de-France (Martinique), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Saint Denis (La Réunion), Saint Pierre (La Réunion), Nouméa (New Caledonia)
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
Demonym(s) French
Territories
Leaders
  President
Emmanuel Macron
  Minister
Manuel Valls
Area
 Total
120,396 [note 3]  km2 (46,485 sq mi)
Population
 Estimate
2,834,000 (Jan. 2024)
Currency Euro
CFP Franc
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy (AD)

    Overseas France (French : France d'outre-mer, also France ultramarine) [note 4] 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 are part of the European Union.

    Contents

    "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) [5] and accounts for 18.0% of the French Republic's land territory. [6] 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. [7]

    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.

    2,834,000 people lived in overseas France in January 2024. [8] 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. [9]
    Total population of five overseas collectivities and New Caledonia: 604,000. Sources: French Polynesia, [10] New Caledonia, [11] Saint Barthélemy, [12] Saint Martin, [12] Saint Pierre and Miquelon, [12] Wallis et Futuna [13]

    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.

    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.

    Sui generis collectivity

    Overseas territory

    Special status

    Political representation in legislatures

    Flag of the Minister of Overseas France Ministre-DOMTOM.svg
    Flag of the Minister of Overseas France

    With 2,834,000 inhabitants in 2024, overseas France accounts for 4.1% of the population of the French Republic. [8] 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:

    Flag of France.svg 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:

    Flag of Europe.svg 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.[ citation needed ]

    Flag of Europe.svg 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 [note 5] Name Capital Population Area
    (km2)
    Population Density
    (inh. per km2)
    Status UN Continental Region UN Geographical Subregion LocationNotes
    Flag of French Guiana.svg French Guiana Cayenne 295,385
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    83,534 [21] 3.5 Overseas department/region Americas South America The Guianas
    Flag of French Polynesia.svg French Polynesia Papeete 279,020
    (Jan. 2023) [10]
    3,521 [22] 79 Overseas collectivity/country 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. [23]
    Flag of Guadeloupe (local) variant.svg Guadeloupe Basse-Terre 378,561
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    1,628 [21] 233Overseas department/region Americas Caribbean Leeward Islands
    Flag-of-Martinique.svg Martinique Fort-de-France 349,925
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    1,128 [21] 310 Windward Islands
    Flag of Mayotte (local).svg Mayotte Mamoudzou 320,901
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    374 [22] 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.
    Flag of FLNKS.svg New Caledonia Nouméa 268,510
    (Jan. 2023) [11]
    18,575.5 [24] 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). [25]
    Proposed flag of Reunion (VAR).svg Réunion Saint Denis 885,700
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    2,504 [21] 354Overseas department/region Africa Eastern Africa Mascarene Islands
    Flag of Saint Barthelemy (local).svg Saint Barthélemy Gustavia 10,585
    (Jan. 2020) [12]
    25 [note 6] [26] 423Overseas collectivity Americas Caribbean Leeward Islands Detached from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007.
    Local flag of the Collectivity of Saint Martin.svg Saint Martin Marigot 32,358
    (Jan. 2020) [12]
    53 [27] 610
    Flag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.svg Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre 6,092
    (Jan. 2020) [12]
    242 [22] 25 North America Northern America Gulf of St. Lawrence
    Flag of Wallis and Futuna.svg Wallis and Futuna Mata Utu 11,151
    (Jul. 2023) [13]
    142 [22] 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)StatusLocationNotes
    Flag of France.svg Clipperton Island 2 [28] Overseas state private property North Pacific Ocean
    Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.svg French Southern and Antarctic Lands Adélie Land Dumont d'Urville Station 432,000 [29] Overseas territory Antarctica Under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty.
    Crozet Islands Alfred Faure 340 [29] Indian Ocean
    Kerguelen Islands Port-aux-Français 7,215 [29] Population: 45 researchers in winter, 110 in summer.
    Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands Amsterdam Island Martin-de-Viviès 66 [29]
    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 [29] Claimed by Madagascar.
    Europa Island 30 [29]
    Glorioso Islands 7 [29] Indian OceanClaimed by the Comoros and Madagascar.
    Juan de Nova Island 5 [29] Mozambique ChannelClaimed by Madagascar.
    Tromelin Island 1 [29] Indian OceanClaimed by Mauritius.

    Map

    Outre-mer en.png

    Largest cities in overseas France

    Ranked by population in the metropolitan area:

    See also

    Notes

    1. The current Constitution of France does not specify a national emblem. [1] This emblem is used by the President, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, [2] and is on the cover of French passports. For other symbols, see National symbols of France.
    2. The current Constitution of France does not specify a national emblem. [3] This emblem is used by the President, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, [4] and is on the cover of French passports. For other symbols, see National symbols of France.
    3. Excluding Adélie Land.
    4. 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).
    5. Article 2 of the French Constitution states that the French Flag 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 his 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.
    6. 25 km² including the outlying uninhabited islets. 21 km² without the outlying islets.

    References

    1. Article II of the Constitution of France  (1958)
    2. "The lictor's fasces". elysee.fr. 20 November 2012.
    3. Article II of the Constitution of France  (1958)
    4. "The lictor's fasces". elysee.fr. 20 November 2012.
    5. Larousse, Éditions. "Encyclopédie Larousse en ligne – France d'outre-mer". larousse.fr (in French). Retrieved 2 October 2022.
    6. Land area of the four old overseas departments (), Mayotte, the overseas collectivities, and New Caledonia (page 21), the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and the Scattered Islands ( Archived 19 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine ), and Clipperton ( Archived 5 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine ).
    7. "Sea Around Us – Fisheries, Ecosystems and Biodiversity" . Retrieved 20 June 2018.
    8. 1 2 The population of all five overseas departments totaled 2,230,000 in January 2024. The population of the overseas collectivities and New Caledonia amounted to 604,000 inhabitants (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon , Saint-Barthélemy , Saint-Martin , French Polynesia , Wallis et Futuna , New Caledonia ).
    9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Estimation de population par région, sexe et grande classe d'âge – Années 1975 à 2024" (in French). Retrieved 17 January 2024.
    10. 1 2 INSEE. "Chiffres détaillés>>Démographie>>Chiffres clés Démographie" (in French). Retrieved 17 January 2024.
    11. 1 2 "Bilan démographique 2022 : la Nouvelle-Calédonie perd 1 300 habitants". Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques Nouvelle-Calédonie. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
    12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 INSEE (29 December 2022). "Populations légales des collectivités d'outre-mer en 2020" (in French). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
    13. 1 2 "Résultats du recensement de la population 2023 de Wallis-et-Futuna" (in French). Préfet des îles Wallis et Futuna. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
    14. "French Caribbean voters reject change". Caribbean Net News. 9 December 2003. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 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".
    15. Magras, Bruno (16 February 2007). "Letter of Information from the Mayor to the residents and non-residents, to the French and to the foreigners, of Saint Barthelemy" (PDF). St. Barth Weekly. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2007. On 7 February of this year, the French Parliament adopted the law granting Saint-Barthélemy the Statute of an Overseas Collectivity.
    16. "Saint-Barth To Become An Overseas Collectivity" (PDF). St. Barth Weekly. 9 February 2007. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2007.
    17. "Treaty of Lisbon, Article 2, points 287 and 293" . Retrieved 31 January 2008.
    18. "Nouvelle-Calédonie", Le Petit Larousse (2010), Paris, page 1559.
    19. "Final results of New Caledonia referendum shows most voters stayed away". Reuters. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
    20. Répartition des suffrages exprimés lors des référendums sur l'indépendance de la Nouvelle-Calédonie en 2018, 2020 et 2021, , Statista.
    21. 1 2 3 4 INSEE. "Comparateur de territoire" (in French). Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    22. 1 2 3 4 INSEE. "Tableau Économique de Mayotte 2010" (PDF) (in French). p. 21. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    23. "French Polynesia profile". BBC News . 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
    24. ISEE. "Tableaux de l'Economie Calédonienne 2016" (in French). p. 31. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    25. Rose, Michel; Packham, Colin (12 December 2021). "New Caledonia rejects independence in final vote amid boycott". Reuters .
    26. INSEE. "2008, An 1 de la collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy" (PDF) (in French). p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    27. INSEE. "2008, An 1 de la collectivitéde Saint-Martin" (PDF) (in French). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    28. Ministry of Overseas France. "L'île de Clipperton" (in French). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
    29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Délégation générale à l'outre-mer. "Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises : Données géographiques et humaines" (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.

    Further reading