France
Definition
In the dissemination of statistics, a distinction is made between three geographical definitions of France. Metropolitan France comprises the 96 departments in Europe. All the statistics are available for this territory. In the national accounts, this was the reference geographical territory until the 1980 base (trade between Metropolitan France and the overseas departments was considered as foreign trade at that time).
France also has 5 overseas departments (DOM): Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion Island and Mayotte (since april 2011), making a total of 101 departments. This has been the reference economic territory for the national accounts since the 1995 base (first accounts relating to the year 1998, disseminated in 1999). This territory is that which belongs to the European Union. The territory of the French Republic also includes the following territories : New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean and two territories with a specific status: Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Mayotte. These territories are assimilated with foreign territories in the national accounts. They are not part of the European Union.
Note
Statistical publications often use the expression "Whole France" for the geographical whole comprising Metropolitan France and the Overseas Departments (DOM): Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Reunion Island and Mayotte (since april 2011).
