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Administrative divisions of France

March 10, 2023

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 (local government), electoral (districts), or administrative (decentralized services of the state) 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.

Territories of France, excluding Antarctic territories. Citizens from all these territories, including the overseas administrative divisions, are French citizens, vote in national elections (presidential, legislative), and all of the inhabited territories are represented in the Senate.

Types of division

Regions, the most integrated territories

The French Republic is divided into 18 regions: 12 in mainland France and 6 elsewhere (1 in Europe: Corsica; 2 in the Caribbean (the Lesser Antilles): Guadeloupe and Martinique; 1 in South America: French Guiana; and 2 in the Indian Ocean near East Africa: Mayotte and Réunion). They are traditionally divided between the metropolitan regions, located on the European continent, and the overseas regions, located outside the European continent. Both have the same status and form the most integrated part of the French Republic.

Metropolitan regions

As of 1 January 2022, metropolitan France is divided into the following:[1]

Furthermore, as of January 2009, there exist 2,585 intercommunal structures grouping 34,077 communes (93.2% of all the communes of metropolitan France), with 87.4% of the population of metropolitan France living in them.[3] These intercommunal structures are:

Overseas regions

Five overseas regions (régions d'outre-mer, or ROM), which have the same status as metropolitan regions. The overseas regions are as follows:

  1. French Guiana
  2. Guadeloupe
  3. Martinique
  4. Mayotte
  5. Réunion
  • Each overseas region is coextensive with an overseas department (département d'outre-mer, or DOM), again with the same status as departments in metropolitan France. The first four overseas departments were created in 1946 and preceded the four overseas regions, Mayotte became a DOM in 2011. The dual structure of overseas region and overseas department, with two separate assemblies administering the same territory, results from the extension of the regional scheme to the overseas departments in the 1970s. Each overseas region or department may transform into a single territorial collectivity, with the merger of the regional and departmental assemblies, which voters in Martinique and French Guiana approved in two referendums in 2010. In Réunion, the creation of a second department for the southern part of the island has been debated for some time.
  • The overseas departments are subdivided into 12 arrondissements (Mayotte does not have arrondissements).
  • The 12 arrondissements are further subdivided into 153 cantons with Mayotte having another 19 cantons.
  • The 172 cantons are composed of 129 communes. (In the five DOM, there are more cantons than communes, unlike in metropolitan France, because many communes are divided into several cantons, whereas in metropolitan France in general cantons are made up of several communes, except in large communes like Toulouse or Lille which are divided into several cantons.)
  • Furthermore, as of 1 January 2009, there exist 16 intercommunal structures in the overseas departments, grouping 89 communes (79.5% of all the communes of the overseas departments), with 83.2% of the population of the overseas departments living in them intercommunal structures.[3] These intercommunal structures are:
    • 7 agglomeration communities
    • 9 commune communities

Overseas collectivities, semi-autonomous territories

Main article: Overseas collectivity
 
The five overseas collectivities of France

The French Republic includes five overseas collectivities (collectivités d'outre-mer, or COM) with a semi-autonomous status:

  1. French Polynesia
  2. Saint Barthélemy
  3. Saint Martin
  4. Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  5. Wallis and Futuna
  • French Polynesia (designated as an "overseas country", French: pays d'outre-mer) is divided into 5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives). For elections, it is divided into six electoral districts (circonscriptions électorales), which differ slightly from the 5 administrative subdivisions. The 5 administrative subdivisions are divided into 48 communes. There also exist some associated communes as in metropolitan France.
  • Saint Barthélemy (designated as a "collectivity", French: collectivité) is a new overseas collectivity created on 22 February 2007. It was previously a commune inside the Guadeloupe department. The commune structure was abolished, and Saint Barthélemy is now one of only three permanently inhabited territories of the French Republic with no commune structure. There are no cantons and arrondissements either.
  • Saint Martin (designated as a "collectivity", French: collectivité) is also a new overseas collectivity created on 22 February 2007. It was also previously a commune inside the Guadeloupe department. The commune structure was abolished and Saint Martin is now one of only three permanently inhabited territories of the French Republic with no commune structure. There are also no cantons or arrondissements.
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon (designated as a "territorial collectivity", French: collectivité territoriale, the same designation as Corsica, a region and not an overseas collectivity) is divided into 2 communes with no arrondissements or cantons.
  • Wallis and Futuna (designated as a "territory", French: territoire) is divided into 3 districts (circonscriptions territoriales), which exactly match the three traditional chiefdoms (royaumes coutumiers) with their traditional kings still at their head, the only kings currently recognized in the French Republic. These 3 districts are Uvea, Sigave, and Alo. Uvea is the most populous and is further divided into 3 wards (districts in French): Hahake, Mua, and Hihifo. Wallis and Futuna is one of only three permanently inhabited territories of the French Republic with no communes (the others being Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin). It also has no arrondissements or cantons.

New Caledonia, an autonomous territory

The French Republic includes one autonomous collectivity:

  1. New Caledonia

New Caledonia's status is unique in the French Republic: it is the only French local government that is not a territorial collectivity (although its subdivisions are territorial collectivities). It is regarded as a sui generis collectivity, which means that local government and parliament have the power to pass and enforce specific laws without seeking the consent of the French Government; unless such laws are declared illegitimate by the Constitutional Council in a specific proceeding brought to the Constitutional Council. As agreed in the 1998 Nouméa Accord, 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 self-determination referendum was held in 2018. Two follow-up referendums were held in 2020 and 2021.

  • It is divided into 3 provinces.
  • The provinces are subdivided into 33 communes.

Territories without civilian population

These territories have no permanent civilian population. The residents consist of military personnel, scientific researchers, and support staff.

Overseas territory

1 overseas territory (territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM): the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, which have no permanent population and no communes.

  • The French Southern and Antarctic Lands are divided into 5 districts (districts in French):
  1. Adélie Land
  2. Crozet Islands
  3. Kerguelen Islands
  4. Saint Paul Island and Amsterdam Island
  5. The Scattered Islands (Îles Éparses), a collection of five non-permanently inhabited island groups in the Indian Ocean: Bassas da India, Europa Island, the Glorioso Islands (including Banc du Geyser), Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island. These were previously administered separately but they have been combined into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands since February 2007.

Uninhabited island directly under the authority of the Minister of Overseas France

  • Clipperton Island: an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico which is directly under the authority of the Minister of the Overseas in Paris (until February 2007 it was administered by the high-commissioner of the French Republic in French Polynesia). Since the Scattered Islands were also combined with the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in February 2007, Clipperton Island is now the only island left in this category.

Territorial collectivities

Main article: Territorial collectivity
See also: Decentralisation in France

French subdivisions that have a (limited) freedom of administration are called territorial collectivities. Among them are regions, departments, communes, overseas collectivities, provinces (only present in New Caledonia), and the territorial collectivity of Corsica which belongs to no category (but is usually grouped with the regions). New Caledonia is unique as it is not a territorial collectivity.[citation needed]

General rules

Citizens from all parts of France, including the overseas administrative divisions, vote in national elections (presidential, legislative), and all of the collectivities are represented in the Senate.

List of departments by region

Metropolitan France

 
Regions and departments of Metropolitan France

Overseas departments and collectivities

 
Metropolitan France, overseas departments and overseas collectivities

Historical divisions

 
Provinces of royal France superimposed by modern administrative boundaries and the names of the actual regions
 
Regions and departments of France from 1982 to 2015

In the Medieval period, the territory of modern metropolitan France was occupied by a complex mosaic of more or less independent entities. Their gradual incorporation into France may be followed in the article Territorial formation of France.

Historically, France was divided into provinces; see Provinces of France.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Les collectivités locales en chiffres 2021" (PDF) (in French). Ministère de la Cohésion des territoires et des Relations avec les collectivités territoriales. August 2021. p. 18.
  2. ^ (in French). Government of France. 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 30 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b Direction générale des collectivités locales (DGCL), Ministry of the Interior. (in French). Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2009.

External links

    March 10, 2023
    administrative, divisions, france, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, thi. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Administrative divisions of France news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information January 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 local government electoral districts or administrative decentralized services of the state 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 Territories of France excluding Antarctic territories Citizens from all these territories including the overseas administrative divisions are French citizens vote in national elections presidential legislative and all of the inhabited territories are represented in the Senate Contents 1 Types of division 1 1 Regions the most integrated territories 1 1 1 Metropolitan regions 1 1 2 Overseas regions 1 2 Overseas collectivities semi autonomous territories 1 3 New Caledonia an autonomous territory 1 4 Territories without civilian population 1 4 1 Overseas territory 1 4 2 Uninhabited island directly under the authority of the Minister of Overseas France 2 Territorial collectivities 3 General rules 4 List of departments by region 4 1 Metropolitan France 4 2 Overseas departments and collectivities 5 Historical divisions 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksTypes of division EditRegions the most integrated territories Edit Hauts de France Normandy Ile de France Grand Est Bourgogne Franche Comte Centre Val de Loire Pays de la Loire Brittany Nouvelle Aquitaine Auvergne Rhone Alpes Occitania Provence Alpes Cote d Azur Corsica French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique Mayotte ReunionBelgium Luxembourg Germany Switzerland Italy United Kingdom Andorra Brazil Suriname SpainChannel Bay ofBiscay LigurianSea MediterraneanSea The French Republic is divided into 18 regions 12 in mainland France and 6 elsewhere 1 in Europe Corsica 2 in the Caribbean the Lesser Antilles Guadeloupe and Martinique 1 in South America French Guiana and 2 in the Indian Ocean near East Africa Mayotte and Reunion They are traditionally divided between the metropolitan regions located on the European continent and the overseas regions located outside the European continent Both have the same status and form the most integrated part of the French Republic Metropolitan regions Edit As of 1 January 2022 update metropolitan France is divided into the following 1 13 regions including Corsica 2 although Corsica is formally a single territorial collectivity it is considered equivalent to a region local authority The regions are subdivided into 96 departments local authority The departments are subdivided into 320 arrondissements not a public or legal entity The departments are subdivided into 1 995 cantons not a public or legal entity The departments are subdivided into 34 826 communes local authority Three urban communes Paris Marseille and Lyon are further divided into municipal arrondissements There are 20 arrondissements of Paris 16 arrondissements of Marseille and 9 arrondissements of Lyon The city of Marseille is also divided into 8 municipal sectors Each sector is composed of two arrondissements There are also 710 associated communes as of January 2009 update formerly independent communes which were merged with larger communes but have retained some limited degree of autonomy e g the commune of Lomme which was absorbed by Lille in 2000 and transformed into an associated commune inside the commune of Lille Furthermore as of January 2009 update there exist 2 585 intercommunal structures grouping 34 077 communes 93 2 of all the communes of metropolitan France with 87 4 of the population of metropolitan France living in them 3 These intercommunal structures are 16 urban communities communautes urbaines or CU 167 agglomeration communities communautes d agglomeration or CA 2 397 commune communities communautes de communes or CC 5 Syndicates of New Agglomeration syndicats d agglomeration nouvelle or SAN a category being phased outOverseas regions Edit Five overseas regions regions d outre mer or ROM which have the same status as metropolitan regions The overseas regions are as follows French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique Mayotte ReunionEach overseas region is coextensive with an overseas department departement d outre mer or DOM again with the same status as departments in metropolitan France The first four overseas departments were created in 1946 and preceded the four overseas regions Mayotte became a DOM in 2011 The dual structure of overseas region and overseas department with two separate assemblies administering the same territory results from the extension of the regional scheme to the overseas departments in the 1970s Each overseas region or department may transform into a single territorial collectivity with the merger of the regional and departmental assemblies which voters in Martinique and French Guiana approved in two referendums in 2010 In Reunion the creation of a second department for the southern part of the island has been debated for some time The overseas departments are subdivided into 12 arrondissements Mayotte does not have arrondissements The 12 arrondissements are further subdivided into 153 cantons with Mayotte having another 19 cantons The 172 cantons are composed of 129 communes In the five DOM there are more cantons than communes unlike in metropolitan France because many communes are divided into several cantons whereas in metropolitan France in general cantons are made up of several communes except in large communes like Toulouse or Lille which are divided into several cantons Furthermore as of 1 January 2009 there exist 16 intercommunal structures in the overseas departments grouping 89 communes 79 5 of all the communes of the overseas departments with 83 2 of the population of the overseas departments living in them intercommunal structures 3 These intercommunal structures are 7 agglomeration communities 9 commune communitiesOverseas collectivities semi autonomous territories Edit Main article Overseas collectivity The five overseas collectivities of France The French Republic includes five overseas collectivities collectivites d outre mer or COM with a semi autonomous status French Polynesia Saint Barthelemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Wallis and FutunaFrench Polynesia designated as an overseas country French pays d outre mer is divided into 5 administrative subdivisions subdivisions administratives For elections it is divided into six electoral districts circonscriptions electorales which differ slightly from the 5 administrative subdivisions The 5 administrative subdivisions are divided into 48 communes There also exist some associated communes as in metropolitan France Saint Barthelemy designated as a collectivity French collectivite is a new overseas collectivity created on 22 February 2007 It was previously a commune inside the Guadeloupe department The commune structure was abolished and Saint Barthelemy is now one of only three permanently inhabited territories of the French Republic with no commune structure There are no cantons and arrondissements either Saint Martin designated as a collectivity French collectivite is also a new overseas collectivity created on 22 February 2007 It was also previously a commune inside the Guadeloupe department The commune structure was abolished and Saint Martin is now one of only three permanently inhabited territories of the French Republic with no commune structure There are also no cantons or arrondissements Saint Pierre and Miquelon designated as a territorial collectivity French collectivite territoriale the same designation as Corsica a region and not an overseas collectivity is divided into 2 communes with no arrondissements or cantons Wallis and Futuna designated as a territory French territoire is divided into 3 districts circonscriptions territoriales which exactly match the three traditional chiefdoms royaumes coutumiers with their traditional kings still at their head the only kings currently recognized in the French Republic These 3 districts are Uvea Sigave and Alo Uvea is the most populous and is further divided into 3 wards districts in French Hahake Mua and Hihifo Wallis and Futuna is one of only three permanently inhabited territories of the French Republic with no communes the others being Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin It also has no arrondissements or cantons New Caledonia an autonomous territory Edit The French Republic includes one autonomous collectivity New CaledoniaNew Caledonia s status is unique in the French Republic it is the only French local government that is not a territorial collectivity although its subdivisions are territorial collectivities It is regarded as a sui generis collectivity which means that local government and parliament have the power to pass and enforce specific laws without seeking the consent of the French Government unless such laws are declared illegitimate by the Constitutional Council in a specific proceeding brought to the Constitutional Council As agreed in the 1998 Noumea Accord 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 self determination referendum was held in 2018 Two follow up referendums were held in 2020 and 2021 It is divided into 3 provinces The provinces are subdivided into 33 communes Territories without civilian population Edit These territories have no permanent civilian population The residents consist of military personnel scientific researchers and support staff Overseas territory Edit 1 overseas territory territoire d outre mer or TOM the French Southern and Antarctic Lands which have no permanent population and no communes The French Southern and Antarctic Lands are divided into 5 districts districts in French Adelie Land Crozet Islands Kerguelen Islands Saint Paul Island and Amsterdam Island The Scattered Islands Iles Eparses a collection of five non permanently inhabited island groups in the Indian Ocean Bassas da India Europa Island the Glorioso Islands including Banc du Geyser Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island These were previously administered separately but they have been combined into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands since February 2007 Uninhabited island directly under the authority of the Minister of Overseas France Edit Clipperton Island an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico which is directly under the authority of the Minister of the Overseas in Paris until February 2007 it was administered by the high commissioner of the French Republic in French Polynesia Since the Scattered Islands were also combined with the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in February 2007 Clipperton Island is now the only island left in this category Territorial collectivities EditMain article Territorial collectivity See also Decentralisation in France French subdivisions that have a limited freedom of administration are called territorial collectivities Among them are regions departments communes overseas collectivities provinces only present in New Caledonia and the territorial collectivity of Corsica which belongs to no category but is usually grouped with the regions New Caledonia is unique as it is not a territorial collectivity citation needed General rules EditCitizens from all parts of France including the overseas administrative divisions vote in national elections presidential legislative and all of the collectivities are represented in the Senate List of departments by region EditMetropolitan France Edit Regions and departments of Metropolitan France Auvergne Rhone Alpes 01 Ain 03 Allier 07 Ardeche 15 Cantal 26 Drome 38 Isere 42 Loire 43 Haute Loire 63 Puy de Dome 69D Rhone 69M Lyon Metropolis 73 Savoie 74 Haute Savoie Bourgogne Franche Comte 21 Cote d Or 25 Doubs 39 Jura 58 Nievre 70 Haute Saone 71 Saone et Loire 89 Yonne 90 Territoire de Belfort Brittany Bretagne 22 Cotes d Armor 29 Finistere 35 Ille et Vilaine 56 Morbihan Centre Val de Loire 18 Cher 28 Eure et Loir 36 Indre 37 Indre et Loire 41 Loir et Cher 45 Loiret Corsica Corse Corsica 2A Corse du Sud 2B Haute Corse Ile de France 75 Paris 77 Seine et Marne 78 Yvelines 91 Essonne 92 Hauts de Seine 93 Seine Saint Denis 94 Val de Marne 95 Val d Oise Grand Est 08 Ardennes 10 Aube 51 Marne 52 Haute Marne 54 Meurthe et Moselle 55 Meuse 57 Moselle 67 Bas Rhin 68 Haut Rhin 88 Vosges Hauts de France 02 Aisne 59 Nord 60 Oise 62 Pas de Calais 80 Somme Normandy Normandie 14 Calvados 27 Eure 50 Manche 61 Orne 76 Seine Maritime Nouvelle Aquitaine 16 Charente 17 Charente Maritime 19 Correze 23 Creuse 24 Dordogne 33 Gironde 40 Landes 47 Lot et Garonne 64 Pyrenees Atlantiques 79 Deux Sevres 86 Vienne 87 Haute Vienne Occitanie 09 Ariege 11 Aude 12 Aveyron 30 Gard 31 Haute Garonne 32 Gers 34 Herault 46 Lot 48 Lozere 65 Hautes Pyrenees 66 Pyrenees Orientales 81 Tarn 82 Tarn et Garonne Pays de la Loire 44 Loire Atlantique 49 Maine et Loire 53 Mayenne 72 Sarthe 85 Vendee Provence Alpes Cote d Azur 04 Alpes de Haute Provence 05 Hautes Alpes 06 Alpes Maritimes 13 Bouches du Rhone 83 Var 84 Vaucluse Overseas departments and collectivities Edit Metropolitan France overseas departments and overseas collectivities Overseas departments the following are both departments and regions 971 Guadeloupe 972 Martinique 973 French Guiana 974 Reunion 976 Mayotte Overseas collectivities 975 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 977 Saint Barthelemy 978 Saint Martin 986 Wallis and Futuna 987 French Polynesia was also given the designation of overseas country Sui generis collectivity 988 New Caledonia Overseas territory 984 French Southern and Antarctic Lands including France s Antarctic claim and the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean Special status 989 Clipperton IslandHistorical divisions Edit Provinces of royal France superimposed by modern administrative boundaries and the names of the actual regions Regions and departments of France from 1982 to 2015 In the Medieval period the territory of modern metropolitan France was occupied by a complex mosaic of more or less independent entities Their gradual incorporation into France may be followed in the article Territorial formation of France Historically France was divided into provinces see Provinces of France See also Edit2009 Mahoran status referendum Decentralisation in France List of 35 largest French metropolitan areas by population Outre mer Overseas collectivity Overseas department and region Overseas France Overseas Territories of France European Parliament constituency Overseas territory Special member state territories and the European Union Zone d etudes et d amenagement du territoire ZEAT the eight statistical divisions of metropolitan mainland FranceReferences Edit Les collectivites locales en chiffres 2021 PDF in French Ministere de la Cohesion des territoires et des Relations avec les collectivites territoriales August 2021 p 18 La reforme territoriale in French Government of France 18 December 2015 Archived from the original on 30 December 2015 Retrieved 1 January 2016 a b Direction generale des collectivites locales DGCL Ministry of the Interior Intercommunalite Bilan statistique 2009 in French Archived from the original on 6 March 2009 Retrieved 24 March 2009 External links EditLocal websites by region Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Administrative divisions of France amp oldid 1129622934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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