Regions of France

France top-level territorial subdivision (1956-)

France is split into 18 administrative regions (regions). These regions are a kind of local government.

Thirteen regions are in Metropolitan France (the part of the country that is in Europe). Each region contains a few of the Departments of France. Corsica has a different status than the other 12 metropolitan regions. It is called collectivist territorial. Five regions are overseas.

There used to be 27 regions. In 2016, some regions were combined and there are now 18.

Regions of France
Flag[1] Region Capital Km2 Etymology
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Lyon 69 711 Auvergne, Rhône-Alpes
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Dijon 47 784 Burgundy, Franche-Comté
Flag of Brittany Brittany Rennes 27 208 Duchy of Brittany
Flag of Centre-Val de Loire Centre-Val de Loire[2] Orléans 39 151 North-central France; crosses the middle of the Loire Valley
Flag of Corsica Corsica Ajaccio 8 722 Territorial collectivity
Grand Est Strasbourg 57 433
Hauts-de-France Lille 31 813
Flag of Île-de-France Île-de-France Paris 12 012 Province of Île-de-France
Flag of Normandy Normandy Rouen 30,627 Duchy of Normandy
Flag of Aquitaine Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux 84 061
Occitanie Toulouse 72 724
Flag of Pays-de-la-Loire Pays de la Loire Nantes 32 082 None; created for Nantes
Flag of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) Marseille 31 400 Former province of Provence
The following five overseas departments also have the special status of overseas region.
Flag of French Guiana French Guiana Cayenne 83 534 Overseas region
Flag of Guadeloupe Guadeloupe Basse-Terre 1 628 Overseas region
Flag of Martinique Martinique Fort-de-France 1 128 Overseas region
unofficial flag of Mayotte Mayotte Mamoudzou 374 Overseas region
Flag of Réunion Réunion Saint-Denis 2 512 Overseas region

References change

  1. These flags are not official.
  2. New name as of 17 January 2015; formerly named Centre.