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
Philippe Vigier
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-administered territories outside Europe, mostly the remains of the French colonial empire that remained a part of the French state under various statuses after decolonization. Some, but not all, 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 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. [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 regions and departments

    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, [13] Saint Pierre and Miquelon, [14] Wallis et Futuna [15]

    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

    However, this process was subject to approval in a referendum. Three independence referendums have been held, in 2018, 2020 and 2021. In the third referendum, in December 2021, 96.5% rejected independence but the turnout was only 43.9%. In the two earlier referendums the "no" vote was 57% and 53% respectively. [21]

    The future status within France of New Caledonia will now be the subject of a further referendum that was to be held before the end of 2023 [22] but it has not yet happened as of January 2024.

    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 [23] 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 [24] 79 Overseas collectivity/country Oceania Polynesia South Pacific Ocean
    Flag of Guadeloupe (local) variant.svg Guadeloupe Basse-Terre 378,561
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    1,628 [23] 233Overseas department/region Americas Caribbean Leeward Islands
    Flag-of-Martinique.svg Martinique Fort-de-France 349,925
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    1,128 [23] 310 Windward Islands
    Flag of Mayotte (local).svg Mayotte Mamoudzou 320,901
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    374 [24] 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 [25] 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). [26]
    Proposed flag of Reunion (VAR).svg Réunion Saint Denis 885,700
    (Jan. 2024) [9]
    2,504 [23] 354Overseas department/region Africa Eastern Africa Mascarene Islands
    Flag of Saint Barthelemy (local).svg Saint Barthélemy Gustavia 9,961
    (Jan. 2017 [note 6] ) [12]
    25 [note 7] [27] 398Overseas collectivity Americas Caribbean Leeward Islands Detached from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007.
    Local flag of the Collectivity of Saint Martin.svg Saint Martin Marigot 31,477
    (Jan. 2021) [13]
    53 [28] 594
    Flag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.svg Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre 6,008
    (March 2016 [note 8] ) [14]
    242 [24] 25 North America Northern America Gulf of St. Lawrence
    Flag of Wallis and Futuna.svg Wallis and Futuna Mata Utu 11,151
    (Jul. 2023) [15]
    142 [24] 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 [29] 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 [30] Overseas territory Antarctica Under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty.
    Crozet Islands Alfred Faure 340 [30] Indian Ocean
    Kerguelen Islands Port-aux-Français 7,215 [30] Population: 45 researchers in winter, 110 in summer.
    Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands Amsterdam Island Martin-de-Viviès 66 [30]
    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 [30] Claimed by Madagascar.
    Europa Island 30 [30]
    Glorioso Islands 7 [30] Indian OceanClaimed by the Comoros and Madagascar.
    Juan de Nova Island 5 [30] Mozambique ChannelClaimed by Madagascar.
    Tromelin Island 1 [30] 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. Last published population census in January 2017. The next population census in Saint Barthélemy took place in January–February 2023 but its results haven't been published yet.
    7. 25 km² including the outlying uninhabited islets. 21 km² without the outlying islets.
    8. Last published population census in March 2016. The next population census in Saint Barthélemy took place in March–April 2022 but its results haven't been published yet.

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallis and Futuna</span> Overseas collectivity of France

    Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific, situated between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast, Samoa to the east, and Tokelau to the northeast.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Wallis and Futuna</span>

    This page is an overview of the economy of Wallis and Futuna.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of France</span> Overview of the geography of France

    The geography of France consists of a terrain that is mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in the north and west and mountainous in the south and the east. Metropolitan France has a total size of 551,695 km2 (213,011 sq mi). It is the third largest country in Europe by area and the largest in Western Europe.

    The overseas departments and regions of France are departments of the French Republic which are outside the continental Europe situated portion of France, known as "metropolitan France". The distant parts have exactly the same status as mainland France's regions and departments. The French Constitution provides that, in general, French laws and regulations apply to French overseas regions the same 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. On occasion referendums are undertaken to re-assess the sentiment in local status.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Administrative divisions of France</span> Class grouping all types of territorial divisions of France (administrative or electoral)

    The administrative divisions of France are concerned with the institutional and territorial organization of French territory. These territories are located in many parts of the world. There are many administrative divisions, which may have political, electoral (districts), or administrative objectives. All the inhabited territories are represented in the National Assembly, Senate and Economic and Social Council and their citizens have French citizenship and elect the President of France.

    A territorial collectivity, or territorial authority, in many francophone countries, is a legal entity governed by public law that exercises within its territory certain powers devolved to it by the State as part of a decentralization process. In France, it also refers to a chartered administrative division of France with recognized governing authority. It is the generic name for any territory with an elective form of local government and local regulatory authority. The nature of a French territorial collectivity is set forth in Article 72 of the Constitution of France (1958), which provides for local autonomy within limits prescribed by law.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Minister of Justice (France)</span>

    Minister of Justice, also known as Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, is a cabinet position in the Government of France. The current minister of justice has been Éric Dupond-Moretti since 2020. The ministry is headquartered on Place Vendôme in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.

    The term overseas territory is an administrative division of France and is currently only applied to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

    The French overseas collectivities are first-order administrative divisions of France, like the French regions, but have a semi-autonomous status. The COMs include some former French overseas colonies and other French overseas entities with a particular status, all of which became COMs by constitutional reform on 28 March 2003. The COMs differ from overseas regions and overseas departments, which have the same status as metropolitan France but are located outside Europe. As integral parts of France, overseas collectivities are represented in the National Assembly, Senate and Economic and Social Council. Though some are outside the European Union, all can vote to elect members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The Pacific COMs use the CFP franc, a currency pegged to the euro, whereas the Atlantic COMs use the euro itself. As of 31 March 2011, there were five COMs:

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Overseas Territories of France (European Parliament constituency)</span> Constituency of the European Parliament

    For elections in the European Union, Overseas Territories was a European Parliament constituency in France until the 2019 European Parliament election. It consisted of all the inhabited French overseas departments and collectivities, even if their territory is not part of the European Union. Constitutionally, all French citizens are also granted the same European citizenship, consequently all of them elected representatives in the European Parliament, independently of their area of residence.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Coupe de l'Outre-Mer</span> Football tournament

    La Coupe de l'Outre-Mer de football was a biennial football competition that was created in 2008. It was designed to have the regional football teams of the overseas departments and territories of France play against each other. This competition replaces the Coupe des Clubs Champions de l'Outre-Mer that involved clubs from the territories. The first edition took place between 24 September and 4 October 2008 in Île-de-France. Only players playing for a club of the regional leagues were eligible.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1959 Wallis and Futuna status referendum</span>

    A referendum on becoming an overseas territory was held in Wallis and Futuna on 27 December 1959. The proposal was approved by 94.37% of voters. Every voter on Wallis voted in favour, whilst all but three of the votes against the proposal were cast in the Futuna Islands.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policies of Overseas France</span> Policies on permits required to enter any part of Overseas France

    Although the European portion of France is part of the Schengen Area, its overseas departments, collectivities and other territories apply their own visa policies, which have some additional exemptions or restrictions compared to the visa policy of the Schengen Area.

    Prostitution in Overseas France varies from area to area with regard to extent, law enforcement and legality.

    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". www.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 "Populations légales des collectivités d'outre-mer en 2017 - Recensement de la population" (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
    13. 1 2 "Populations légales des collectivités d'outre-mer en 2021 - Recensement de la population" (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
    14. 1 2 "Populations légales des collectivités d'outre-mer en 2016 - Recensement de la population" (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
    15. 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.
    16. "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".
    17. 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. 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.
    18. "Saint-Barth To Become An Overseas Collectivity" (PDF). St. Barth Weekly. 9 February 2007. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2007.
    19. "Treaty of Lisbon, Article 2, points 287 and 293" . Retrieved 31 January 2008.
    20. "Nouvelle-Calédonie", Le Petit Larousse (2010), Paris, page 1559.
    21. "Final results of New Caledonia referendum shows most voters stayed away". Reuters. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
    22. "'Tonight France is more beautiful': Macron hails New Caledonia's rejection of independence". France 24. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
    23. 1 2 3 4 INSEE. "Comparateur de territoire" (in French). Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    24. 1 2 3 4 INSEE. "Tableau Économique de Mayotte 2010" (PDF) (in French). p. 21. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    25. ISEE. "Tableaux de l'Economie Calédonienne 2016" (in French). p. 31. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    26. Rose, Michel; Packham, Colin (12 December 2021). "New Caledonia rejects independence in final vote amid boycott". Reuters .
    27. 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.
    28. 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.
    29. Ministry of Overseas France. "L'île de Clipperton" (in French). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
    30. 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