France does not have "states" in the American sense — it is a unitary republic divided into 18 regions and 101 departments. Of the 18 regions, 13 are in mainland (metropolitan) France and 5 are overseas regions. The word "state" can be misleading, because unlike the federal states of the US or Germany, French regions and departments do not have sovereign powers; they are administrative tiers of a single central government in Paris.
Why France Has Regions, Not States
France is one of the most centralised major democracies in the world. There is only one sovereign authority — the French Republic — and all lower units derive their powers from national law rather than from a constitution that splits sovereignty. This is the opposite of a federation. As a result, the closest equivalent to an American or Indian "state" is the région, but a French region cannot pass its own criminal code, set its own income tax, or maintain its own legislature with law-making powers.
The modern structure layers several tiers on top of each other: the country is divided into regions, regions into departments, departments into arrondissements and cantons, and finally into communes — the smallest and most numerous unit of local government. France has roughly 35,000 communes, more than any other country in the European Union.
The 13 Metropolitan Regions
The 13 regions of mainland France (including the Mediterranean island of Corsica) are: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Corsica, Grand Est, Hauts-de-France, Île-de-France, Normandy, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Pays de la Loire, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
This list is the result of a major 2016 reform that reduced the number of metropolitan regions from 22 to 13 by merging neighbouring regions into larger, more economically competitive blocks. A few standouts:
- Most populous: Île-de-France, the Paris region, with more than 12 million inhabitants and roughly 31% of national GDP.
- Largest by area: Nouvelle-Aquitaine, at about 84,000 km² — larger than Austria.
- Smallest by area: Corsica, at around 8,680 km², which also holds a special status with slightly broader autonomy than other regions.
The 5 Overseas Regions
Beyond mainland Europe, France includes five overseas regions that are full and equal parts of both the French Republic and the European Union: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion. These are not colonies or dependencies — residents vote in French and European elections, use the euro, and live under French law.
The most striking is French Guiana, located on the northern coast of South America. At about 83,534 km² it is by far the largest French region by area, and it gives France its longest land border — shared not with a European neighbour but with Brazil. Réunion and Mayotte sit in the Indian Ocean, while Guadeloupe and Martinique are Caribbean islands. Each overseas region is also a single department, so they count within both the 18 regions and the 101 departments.
Departments, Communes and Other Territories
The 101 departments are the historic backbone of French administration, created during the Revolution in 1790 and still used today for everything from postal codes to vehicle registration. Each is identified by a number — Paris, for example, is both a commune and department number 75, an unusual case where a city and a department coincide.
France also governs a set of overseas collectivities and territories that are not regions or departments, including French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Wallis and Futuna. These enjoy varying degrees of local autonomy and are counted separately from the 18 regions. For a fuller picture of the country's geography, population and culture, see our france country guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does France have states like the United States?
No. France is a unitary state, not a federation, so it has no sovereign sub-states. Its closest equivalent is the region, of which there are 18, but regions are administrative units without independent law-making power.
How many regions does France have in total?
France has 18 regions: 13 in metropolitan (mainland) France plus Corsica, and 5 overseas regions — French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion.
What is the difference between a region and a department in France?
A region is the largest administrative tier and groups together several departments. Departments are smaller, older units created in 1790. France has 18 regions and 101 departments in total.
Which is the largest French region?
By area, French Guiana in South America is the largest at about 83,534 km², followed by mainland Nouvelle-Aquitaine. By population, Île-de-France around Paris is the largest with over 12 million people.