Overseas France

Overseas France () is the part of France that is outside of the European continent. It consists of all overseas departments, territories and collectivities. These territories have several different legal statuses and levels of autonomy. Overseas France includes island territories in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, French Guiana in South America, and Adélie Land in Antarctica. Each inhabited territory is represented in both the French National Assembly and the French Senate (which together make up the Parliament of France).

2,685,705 people lived in the overseas departments and territories in January 2011. 

 Types of territories 
 Overseas departments and regions 

Overseas departments and regions are completely part of France.
Guadeloupe (since 1946)
Martinique (since 1946)
French Guiana (since 1946)
Réunion (since 1946)
Mayotte (since 2011)
From 1976 to 2003, Mayotte was a unique overseas territory. Between 2003 and 2011, it was an overseas community. It became an overseas department on 31 March 2011, after its citizens voted to become a full part of France.

 Overseas collectivities 

The category of overseas collectivity was created by changes made to France's constitution in 28 March 2003. Each overseas collectivity has its own written laws.
 French Polynesia (since 2003)
From 1946 to 2003, French Polynesia was an overseas territory. In 2004, it was given the designation of overseas country ().
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon (since 2003)
From 1976 to 1985, Saint Pierre and Miquelon was an overseas department. Between 1985 and 2003, it was a unique overseas territory.
 Wallis and Futuna (since 2003)
From 1961 to 2003, Wallis and Futuna was an overseas territory.
 Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy (since 2007)
Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy both separated from Guadeloupe in 2003. They became separate overseas collectivities of their own on 22 February 2007.

 Special collectivity 
 New Caledonia (since 1999)
New Caledonia was classified as an overseas territory from 1946. It gained a special status in 1999 as a result of the Nouméa Accord. It has its own citizenship, and power is gradually being passed from the French state to New Caledonia itself. A referendum on independence is to be called any time between 2014 and 2019."Nouvelle-Calédonie", Le Petit Larousse (2010), Paris, page 1559.

 Overseas territories 
 French Southern and Antarctic Lands (since 1956)

 Minor territories 
 Clipperton Island is held as private property under the direct authority of the French government. It has no permanent population.

 Representation 
The overseas departments and territories are represented by 27 députés in the French National Assembly and 21 senators in the French Senate. This is 4.7% of the 577 députés and 6% of the 343 senators.
Réunion: 7 députés and 4 senators
Guadeloupe: 4 députés and 3 senators
Martinique: 4 députés and 2 senators
French Polynesia: 3 députés and 2 senators
French Guiana: 2 députés and 2 senators
Mayotte: 2 député and 2 senators
New Caledonia: 2 députés and 2 senators
Saint Pierre and Miquelon: 1 député and 1 senator
Wallis and Futuna: 1 député and 1 senator
Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin: 1 député and 2 senators

 List of territories 

 Inhabited departments and collectivities 
The 11 French Overseas Territories are :
Flag  Name  Capital   Population Land area (km2)  Status  Location  Notes  French Guiana Cayenne 229,000 (Jan. 2009)  83,534 Overseas department / region South America  French Polynesia Papeete 264,000 (Jan. 2009) 4,167 Overseas collectivity South Pacific Ocean  Guadeloupe Basse-Terre 404,000 (Jan. 2009) 1,628 Overseas department / region Antilles   Martinique Fort-de-France 402,000 (Jan. 2009) 1,128 Overseas department / region Antilles  Mayotte Mamoudzou 186,452 (July 2007)  374 Overseas department / region Africa(Mozambique Channel) Also claimed by Comoros  New Caledonia Nouméa 244,410 (Jan. 2008)  18,575 Sui generis collectivity South Pacific Ocean Referendum for independence to occur sometime during the period of 2014 to 2019.  Réunion Saint-Denis 817,000 (Jan. 2009) 2,512  Overseas department / region Africa (Indian Ocean)   Saint Barthélemy Gustavia  (Jan. 2007)  21 Overseas collectivity Antilles Detached from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007.  Saint Martin Marigot  (Jan. 2007) 53 Overseas collectivity Antilles Detached from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007.  Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint-Pierre  (Jan. 2007) 242 Overseas collectivity Southeast of Canada   Wallis and Futuna Mata-Utu  (Jul. 2008)  274  Overseas collectivity South Pacific Ocean  

 Overall Summary  Status  Population (Jan. 2011) Land area (km2) Overseas Departments / Regions 1,890,705 91,847  Overseas Collectivities & New Caledonia   795,000 23,632 Total  2,685,705 120,049

 Uninhabited lands 

Lands generally uninhabited, except by researchers in scientific stations.

 Flag  Name  Capital  Land area (km2)  Status  Location  Notes Banc du Geyser - 1  TAAF district Africa(Mozambique Channel) Claimed by Madagascar and Comoros Bassas da India - 1  TAAF district Africa(Mozambique Channel) Claimed by Madagascar Clipperton - 7 French state private property West of Mexico  Crozet Islands Alfred Faure 352 TAAF district South Indian Ocean  Europa - 28 TAAF district Africa(Mozambique Channel) Claimed by Madagascar Glorioso Islands - 5 TAAF district Indian Ocean Claimed by Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles Juan de Nova - 5  TAAF district Africa(Mozambique Channel) Claimed by Madagascar  Kerguelen Islands Port-aux-Français 7,215 TAAF district South Indian Ocean  Saint-Paul Island andAmsterdam Island Martin-de-Viviès 66  TAAF district Indian Ocean  Tromelin Island - 1  TAAF district Indian Ocean Claimed by Mauritius

 Antarctica 

 Flag  Name  Capital  Land area (km2)  Status  Location  Notes 50px Adélie LandDumont d'Urville Station 432,000 TAAF district Antarctica Under terms of Antarctic Treaty System

 Related pages 
French colonial empire
Government of France
Communes in France
Metropolitan France
Organisation internationale de la Francophonie

 References 

 Other websites 
 Official website 

Category:Subdivisions of France