Overseas departments of France

Map of overseas France.

France currently has five overseas departments (French: département d’outre-mer), which are departments (territorial divisions) that are outside the European part of the country. All are officially part of France, with the same political status as the departments in Europe; and are therefore different to overseas territories. They are also part of the European Union and use the Euro as currency. They are:

Since 2003, these departments are now officially called overseas regions (French: région d'outre-mer), but this name has yet to be widely adopted. Each region returns elected representatives to the Senate and National Assembly in Paris. A total of three members are elected to the European Parliament to represent overseas France, including overseas departments and overseas territories. Since 1974, these regions have had their own individual regional councils for local government.

Current overseas departments of France

Flag	Department	Prefecture	Region	Since	Instrument
	French Guiana (French: Guyane)	Cayenne	South America	19 March 1946	Parliamentary resolution
	Guadeloupe (French: Guadeloupe)	Basse-Terre	Caribbean	19 March 1946	Parliamentary resolution
	Martinique (French: Martinique)	Fort-de-France	Caribbean	19 March 1946	Parliamentary resolution
	Mayotte (French: Mayotte)	Mamoudzou	Africa	31 March 2011	Referendum
	Réunion (French: La Réunion)	Saint-Denis	Africa	19 March 1946	Parliamentary resolution

Other websites

• (in French) Ministry of the overseas departments and territories
• (in French) History of France’s overseas administrative divisions Archived 2006-09-29 at the Wayback Machine