Overseas departments of 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:

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

Map of overseas France.

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.^[1] A total of three members are elected to the European Parliament to represent overseas France, including overseas departments and overseas territories.^[2] Since 1974, these regions have had their own individual regional councils for local government.^[1]