Metropolitan France ( French : France métropolitaine or la Métropole ), also known as European France , is the area of France which is geographically in Europe . This collective name for the European regions of France is used in everyday life in France but has no administrative meaning, with the exception of only Metropolitan France being part of the Schengen Area . Indeed, the overseas regions have exactly the same administrative status as the metropolitan regions. Metropolitan France comprises mainland France and Corsica , as well as nearby French islands in the Atlantic Ocean , the English Channel ( French : la Manche ), and the Mediterranean Sea . Its borders have undergone significant changes over the centuries , particularly in the east, but have remained unaltered since 1947.
34-535: In contrast, overseas France ( France d'outre-mer ) is the collective name for all the French departments and territories outside Europe . Metropolitan and overseas France together form the French Republic. Metropolitan France accounts for 82.0% of the land territory, 3.3% of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and 95.9% of the population of the French Republic. Some small parts of France (e.g. Cerdanya ) are
68-739: A hexagon first appeared in French geography texts of the 1850s. Mainland or Continental France (French: la France continentale ), or just "the mainland" (French: le continent ), does not include the French islands in the Atlantic Ocean , English Channel , or Mediterranean Sea , the largest of which is Corsica. In Corsica, people from mainland France are referred to as les continentaux . 46°00′N 2°00′E / 46.000°N 2.000°E / 46.000; 2.000 Overseas France Overseas France ( French : France d'outre-mer , also France ultramarine ) consists of 13 French territories outside Europe , mostly
102-810: A nation or country as opposed to its colonies overseas. Today, some people in Overseas France object to the use of the term la France métropolitaine due to its colonial history. They prefer to call it "the European territory of France" ( le territoire européen de la France ), as the Treaties of the European Union do. Likewise, they oppose treating overseas France and metropolitan France as separate entities. For example, INSEE used to calculate its statistics (demography, economy, etc.) for metropolitan France only, and to analyze separate statistics for
136-697: A part of the Iberian Peninsula . In overseas France, a person from metropolitan France is often called a métro , short for métropolitain . The term "metropolitan France" dates from the country's colonial period (from the 16th to the 20th centuries), when France was referred to as la Métropole (literally "the Metropolis"), as distinguished from its colonies and protectorates, known as les colonies or l'Empire . Similar terms existed to describe other European colonial powers (e.g. "metropolitan Britain", "España metropolitana"). This application of
170-432: A referendum. Three independence referendums have been held, in 2018 , 2020 and 2021. In the first two referendums, the "yes" vote was 43.3% and 46.7% respectively. In the third referendum of December 2021, massively boycotted by the native Kanak community , which represent 42% of the population, the "yes" vote was 3.5%, with a turnout of 43.9%. With 2,834,000 inhabitants in 2024, overseas France accounts for 4.1% of
204-432: A referendum. Three independence referendums have been held, in 2018 , 2020 and 2021. In the first two referendums, the "yes" vote was 43.3% and 46.7% respectively. In the third referendum of December 2021, massively boycotted by the native Kanak community , which represent 42% of the population, the "yes" vote was 3.5%, with a turnout of 43.9%. With 2,834,000 inhabitants in 2024, overseas France accounts for 4.1% of
238-477: 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 km (46,485 sq mi) and accounts for 18.0% of the French Republic's land territory. Its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 9,825,538 km (3,793,661 sq mi) accounts for 96.7% of
272-411: 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 km (46,485 sq mi) and accounts for 18.0% of the French Republic's land territory. Its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 9,825,538 km (3,793,661 sq mi) accounts for 96.7% of
306-485: Is made up of 577 deputies, 539 of whom (93.4% of the total) are elected in metropolitan France, 27 (4.7% of the total) in overseas France, and 11 (1.9% of the total) by French citizens living in foreign countries. Legislators in 2023 voted to use the name l'Hexagone ("the Hexagon ") to refer to what had previously been known as metropolitan France in an effort to move away from colonial language. The image of France as
340-474: Is suspended since the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959). Thus, metropolitan France accounts for 82.0% of the French Republic's land territory. At sea, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of metropolitan France covers 333,691 km (128,839 sq mi), while the EEZ of Overseas France covers 9,825,538 km (3,793,661 sq mi), for a total of 10,159,229 km (3,922,500 sq mi) in
374-531: The EU Council . Every member state represents all its citizens in the council. The eleven inhabited French overseas territories are: Several of these territories are generally only transiently inhabited by researchers in scientific stations. Ranked by population in the metropolitan area : Overseas France Overseas France ( French : France d'outre-mer , also France ultramarine ) consists of 13 French territories outside Europe , mostly
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#1732775744456408-762: The French Parliament . 2,834,000 people lived in overseas France in January 2024. 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 . 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
442-588: The French Parliament . 2,834,000 people lived in overseas France in January 2024. 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 . 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
476-814: The French Senate , accounting for 6.0% of the 348 senators in the Senate: 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. The special territories of EU member states are not separately represented in
510-479: The French Senate , accounting for 6.0% of the 348 senators in the Senate: 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. The special territories of EU member states are not separately represented in
544-654: The Ministry of the Interior releases election results, they use the term la France entière to refer to the entire French Republic, including all of overseas France, and not just the five overseas departments. Since INSEE now calculates statistics for la France entière , this practice has spread to international institutions. For instance, the French GDP published by the World Bank includes metropolitan France and
578-590: The EEZ of the French Republic . Outside 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
612-526: The EEZ of the French Republic . Outside 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
646-400: The French Republic (excluding Adélie Land). Thus, metropolitan France accounts for 3.3% of the French Republic's EEZ. According to INSEE , 65,250,000 people lived in metropolitan France as of January 2021, while 2,785,000 lived in overseas France, for a total of 68,035,000 inhabitants in the French Republic. Thus, metropolitan France accounts for 95.9% of the French Republic's population. In
680-596: 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. However, this process was subject to approval in
714-417: 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. However, this process was subject to approval in
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#1732775744456748-491: The figures for France since the mid-2010s too. INSEE refers to metropolitan France and the five overseas departments as la France entière ("the whole of France"). "The whole of France" includes the five overseas departments, but does not include the other overseas collectivities and territories that have more autonomy than the departments. Other branches of the French administration may have different definitions of what la France entière is. For example, in contrast to INSEE, when
782-516: The five overseas departments. The World Bank refers to this total as "France"; it does not use the phrase "the whole of France", as INSEE does. Metropolitan France covers a land area of 543,940 km (210,020 sq mi), while overseas France covers a land area of 119,396 km (46,099 sq mi), for a total of 663,336 km (256,115 sq mi) in the French Republic (excluding Adélie Land in Antarctica where sovereignty
816-404: The overseas departments and territories. People in the overseas departments have opposed this separate treatment, arguing that the then four overseas departments were fully part of France. As a result, since the end of the 1990s INSEE has included the four overseas departments in its figures for France (such as total population or GDP). The fifth overseas department, Mayotte , has been included in
850-667: The population of the French Republic. 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: Since September 2011, overseas France has been represented by 21 senators in
884-427: The population of the French Republic. 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: Since September 2011, overseas France has been represented by 21 senators in
918-485: The region's particular needs. Hence, the local administrations of French overseas regions cannot themselves pass new laws. 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
952-485: The region's particular needs. Hence, the local administrations of French overseas regions cannot themselves pass new laws. 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
986-525: The remnants of the French colonial empire that remained a part of the French state under various statuses after decolonisation . Most, but not all are part of the European Union . "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
1020-409: The remnants of the French colonial empire that remained a part of the French state under various statuses after decolonisation . Most, but not all are part of the European Union . "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
1054-497: The second round of the 2017 French presidential election , 35,467,327 French people cast a ballot (meaning a turnout of 74.56%). 33,883,463 of these (95.53% of the total voters) cast their ballots in metropolitan France (turnout: 76.26%), 1,003,910 (2.83% of the total voters) cast their ballots in overseas France (turnout: 53.59%), and 579,954 (1.64% of the total voters) cast their ballots in foreign countries (French people living abroad; turnout: 45.84%). The French National Assembly
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1088-542: 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
1122-424: 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
1156-496: The words "metropolis" and "metropolitan" came from Ancient Greek " metropolis " (from μήτηρ mētēr "mother" and πόλις pólis "city, town"), which was the name for a city-state that created colonies across the Mediterranean (e.g. Marseille was a colony of the city-state of Phocaea ; therefore Phocaea was the "metropolis" of Marseille). By extension "metropolis" and "metropolitan" came to mean "motherland",
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