Here are the dates of the latest changes, creations and deletions of recorded overseas territories:
- ↻ February 21, 2022: The name Clipperton was changed to La Passion-Clipperton
- ✖ March 31, 2011: Mayotte was removed from the overseas territories file to become a department.
- ✚ February 23, 2007: Three territories were created: Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, and Clipperton. Before that, Clipperton was treated as a commune of the overseas collectivity French Polynesia, while Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin were treated as communes of the department of Guadeloupe.
There were no changes in 2023, 2024 and 2025. → View the complete history (archives since 1943)
How many overseas territories are there?
France has 9 overseas collectivities (Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, La Passion-Clipperton, and Pheasant Island). There are also 5 overseas departments (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, and Mayotte).
What is the difference between Overseas Department, Overseas Collectivity and Overseas Territories?
The term Overseas Territories (TOM) was an official label that grouped together both overseas departments and overseas collectivities. It is still used informally as a general term for all of these territories. Overseas departments (DOM) appear in the same file as metropolitan departments and have a similar status. Overseas collectivities (COM) are listed in a separate file, with their own communes. They have specific legal statuses, with varying degrees of autonomy and legislative powers.