While the mainland of this European country only spans one time zone, it actually has 12 other overseas territories spread out across the world, covering an impressive 13 time zones. It lays claim to territory in three of the world’s oceans, as well as in Antarctica.
Mainland France is home to some 68.8 million people as of 2025, but another 2.6 million (around 4%) are spread out across its overseas territories. Four of the distinct overseas territories are in the Caribbean Sea, four are in the Pacific Ocean, three are in the Indian Ocean and one in North America. It also has several peri-Antarctic islands and a claim on the Antarctic mainland.
Five of France’s overseas territories are considered departments of France, meaning they are treated as if they were territories in mainland France. A further five are semi-autonomous, known as overseas collectivities and one is an autonomous territory.
Most of France’s overseas residents are citizens of France and the European Union, meaning they can vote in both French and European elections.
The French Constitution states that its overseas regions are subject to French laws and regulations, including its civil code, social laws and tax laws. Local administrations here cannot themselves pass new laws. However, they can be adapted to suit the region’s particular needs.
France’s overseas regions are: French Guiana (UTC-3), Guadeloupe and Martinique (UTC-4), Mayotte (UTC+3) and Reunion (UTC+4).
France’s overseas collectives each have their own statutory laws, though certain areas, including defence, international relations, trade, and currency, are reserved for the French national government.
These are: French Polynesia (UTC-9, -9:30 and -10), Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin (UTC-4), Saint Pierre and Miquelon (UTC-3) and Wallis and Futuna (UTC+12).
New Caledonia (UTC+11) is an autonomous territory with a special status of statut particulier or sui generis, enshrined in a dedicated chapter of the French Constitution. It has seen a gradual transfer of powers from France, and citizens have French nationality and vote for the President. It is governed by a 54-member Territorial Congress, a legislative body composed of members of three provincial assemblies, with the French State represented by a High Commissioner.
Three independence referendums have been held in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
The French Southern and Antarctic Lands have been an overseas territory of France since 1956. They consist of Adélie Land on continental Antarctica, the Crozet Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, the Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands, and the Scattered Islands. These alone cover three time zones: UTC+4, +5, and +10.
Finally, Clipperton Island (UTC-8), a 3.5-square-mile uninhabited coral atoll southwest of Mexico in the Pacific Ocean is held as an overseas “state private property”. It is under the direct authority of the French Government.
France’s territorial claims in Antarctica are, although widely recognised, not accepted by everyone, including the US and Russia. Both these countries take second place for the number of time zones, with 11. In Russia, they span from UTC+2 in Kaliningrad to UTC+12 in Kamchatka.