Overseas France

Updated on Jan 11, 2024

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Demonym French Date format dd/mm/yyyy (AD) Currencies Euro, CFP franc		Currency Euro CFP Franc Area 551,394 km²

Largest settlements Nouméa, New Caledonia Papeete, French Polynesia Languages French, Antillean Creole, Guianese Creole, Reunionese Creole, Shimaore, Tahitian, Marquesan, 'Uvean, Futunan, Drehu, Nengone, Paicî, Ajië, Xârâcùù, and 35 other native languages of New Caledonia Territories 5 departments/regions 8 territories Guadeloupe Martinique French Guiana Réunion Mayotte Saint Martin Saint Barthélemy Saint Pierre and Miquelon New Caledonia Wallis and Futuna French Polynesia Clipperton French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Overseas France (French: France d'outre-mer) consists of all the French-administered territories outside of the European continent. These territories have varying legal status and different levels of autonomy, although all (except those with no permanent inhabitants) have representation in both France's National Assembly and Senate, which together make up the French Parliament. Their citizens have French nationality and vote for the president of France. They have the right to vote in elections to the European Parliament (French citizens living overseas currently vote in the Overseas constituency). Overseas France includes island territories in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, French Guiana on the South American continent, and several Periantarctic Islands as well as a claim in Antarctica.

From a legal and administrative standpoint, overseas regions are very different from overseas collectivities. Overseas regions have exactly the same status as mainland France's 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 the same as in mainland France, but can be adapted as needed to suit the region's particular needs. In the French overseas regions, laws cannot be adapted whereas the overseas collectivities are empowered to make their own laws, except in certain areas (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 (where a cabinet member, the Minister of Overseas France, is in charge of issues related to the overseas territories).

Overseas France has an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 9,821,231 km² (3,791,998 sq. miles), and account for 17.8% of the land territory and 96.7% of the EEZ of the French Republic (excluding the district of Adélie Land, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories, where the French sovereignty is effective de jure by French law, but where the French exclusive claim on this part of Antarctica is frozen by a mandatory international cooperation since the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959).

Overseas regions

Guadeloupe (since 1946)

French Guiana (since 1946)

Martinique (since 1946)

Réunion (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 March 31, 2011.

Overseas collectivities

The category of "overseas collectivity" was created by France's constitutional reform of March 28, 2003. Each overseas collectivity has its own statutory laws.

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 clarified that this designation did not create a new political category.

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).

Saint Martin: In 2003, the populations of St. Martin and St. Barthélemy voted in favour of secession from Guadeloupe in order to become separate overseas collectivities of France. On February 7, 2007, the French Parliament passed a bill granting COM status to both jurisdictions. The new status took effect on February 22, 2007 when the law was published in the Journal Officiel. They remain part of the European Union, as stated in the Treaty of Lisbon.

Saint Barthélemy (see the comments immediately above).

Overseas territories

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

Special status

New Caledonia was classified as an overseas territory beginning in 1946, but as a result of the 1998 Nouméa Accord, it gained a special status (statut particulier or statut original) in 1999. A New Caledonian citizenship was established (in addition to the French citizenship which is kept in parallel, along with the consequent 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.

Clipperton Island (French: Île de Clipperton or Île de la Passion, Spanish: Isla de la Pasión) is a 9 km² (3.5 sq mi) coral atoll located 1,280 km (800 miles) south-west of Acapulco, Mexico, in the Pacific Ocean. It is held as state private property under the direct authority of the French government, and is administered by France's Overseas Minister.

Political representation in the French Parliament

With 2,691,000 inhabitants in 2013, Overseas France account for 4.1% of the population of the French Republic. They enjoy a corresponding representation in the two chambers of the French Parliament.

Representation in the National Assembly

In the 13th Legislature (2012-2017), Overseas France is represented by 27 députés (M.P.s) in the French National Assembly, accounting for 4.7% of the 577 députés in the National Assembly:

Réunion: 7 députés

Guadeloupe: 4 députés

Martinique: 4 députés

French Polynesia: 3 députés

French Guiana: 2 députés

Mayotte: 2 député

New Caledonia: 2 députés

Saint Pierre and Miquelon: 1 député

Wallis and Futuna: 1 député

Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin: 1 député

Representation in the Senate

Since September 2011, Overseas France is represented by 21 senators in the French Senate, accounting for 6.0% of the 343 senators in the Senate:

Réunion: 4 senators

Guadeloupe: 3 senators

French Guiana: 2 senators

French Polynesia: 2 senators

Martinique: 2 senators

Mayotte: 2 senators

New Caledonia: 2 senators

Saint Barthélemy: 1 senator

Saint Martin: 1 senator

Saint Pierre and Miquelon: 1 senator

Wallis and Futuna: 1 senator

Inhabited departments and collectivities

The 11 French overseas territories are :

Uninhabited overseas territories

(Lands generally uninhabited, except by researchers in scientific stations)

Largest cities in overseas France

Ranked by population in the urban area:

Pointe-à-Pitre–Les Abymes (Guadeloupe): 315,684 inhabitants (in 2013)

Saint-Denis (Réunion): 197,256 (in 2013)

Fort-de-France (Martinique): 171,628 (in 2008)

Nouméa (New Caledonia): 163,723 (in 2009)

Saint-Pierre (Réunion): 148,273 (in 2008)

Papeete (French Polynesia): 131,695 (in 2007)

Saint-Paul (Réunion): 103,008 (in 2008)

Cayenne (French Guiana): 102,089 (in 2008)

References

Overseas France Wikipedia

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