What is overseas France?
A knowledge question from the official lists (theme: History, geography and culture), with its answer explained in English.
On exam day, in French
Qu'est ce que la France d'outre-mer ?
- ADes pays étrangers où vivent beaucoup de FrançaisForeign countries where many French people live
- BDes régions de la France hexagonale au bord de la merRegions of mainland France that are by the sea
- CLes ambassades françaises dans les autres paysFrench embassies in other countries
- DDes territoires français situés hors de la métropoleFrench territories located outside metropolitan FranceCorrect answer
Explanation
French territory is made up of a territory located in Europe, mainland France, also called “metropolitan France”, and of several overseas territories, located in different parts of the world. These territories include the Overseas Departments and Regions (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte) and the Overseas Collectivities (for example Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Barthélemy or French Polynesia).
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Foreign countries where many French people live — Overseas territories, such as Guadeloupe or Réunion, are not foreign countries. They are part of French territory, together with metropolitan France.
- B. Regions of mainland France that are by the sea — Mainland France is metropolitan France, located in Europe. Overseas France is made up of other French territories, located in different parts of the world.
- C. French embassies in other countries — Overseas territories are part of French territory and are located in different parts of the world. The information sheet puts them into two groups: the DROM, such as Guadeloupe or Réunion, and the COM, such as Saint Pierre and Miquelon or French Polynesia. No embassy appears in these lists.
French words to remember
- outre-meroverseas France
- métropolemetropolitan France
- France hexagonalemainland France
- territoiresterritories
Official sources (in French)
Le territoire de la France › Comment se compose le territoire français ? — Ministère de l'Intérieur (DIAN), formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr · 20 octobre 2026
« Le territoire français est composé : »
« d’un territoire situé en Europe (c’est la France hexagonale, aussi nommée “la métropole”) ; »
« de plusieurs territoires d’outre-mer, localisés dans différents endroits du monde. »
Le territoire de la France › Quels sont les territoires d’outre-mer de la France ? — Ministère de l'Intérieur (DIAN), formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr · 20 octobre 2026
« Les Départements et Régions d’Outre-Mer (DROM) : la Guadeloupe, la Guyane, la Martinique, la Réunion et Mayotte. »
« Les Collectivités d’Outre-Mer (COM) : Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, la Polynésie française, la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna, ainsi que les Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF). »
Independent course, not affiliated with the French Ministry of the Interior.The exam itself is only in French. The English explanations are AI translations, checked by an independent chain (translation, review, blind check against the French sources); no human translator has reviewed them yet.
Page updated on 22 octobre 2026 (date in French format). All questions explained in English