Regions of France

Regions of France

The regions of France are the highest-level administrative divisions in the country. As of 2016, France is divided into 18 regions, 13 of which are located in metropolitan France, while the remaining five are overseas regions. Each region is further subdivided into departments.

Édouard Balladur's proposal for regional reform in 2009

History

The concept of regions in France has evolved over time. Initially, regions were created as economic planning areas in the 1950s. They gained administrative status in 1972, and in 1982, the regions were granted more autonomy with the decentralization laws.

In 2009, a proposal by Édouard Balladur suggested reducing the number of regions to improve administrative efficiency. This proposal was not implemented, but it sparked further discussions on regional reform.

2014 Regional Reform

In 2014, the French government, led by Prime Minister Manuel Valls, proposed a significant reduction in the number of regions from 22 to 13 in metropolitan France. This reform aimed to create larger regions that could better compete economically and manage resources more efficiently.

Manuel Valls' proposal for regional reform in 2014

The reform was part of a broader effort to streamline local government and reduce public spending. It was also intended to strengthen regional identities and improve governance.

Another map of Manuel Valls' 2014 proposal

Implementation

The new regional boundaries were officially adopted by the National Assembly in 2015 and came into effect on January 1, 2016. The reform reduced the number of regions in metropolitan France to 13.

Regions as instituted by the National Assembly (France)

Current Regions

The current regions of metropolitan France 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
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in France

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in France

Brittany in France

Overseas Regions

The five overseas regions, which also function as departments, are:

• Guadeloupe
• Martinique
• French Guiana
• Réunion
• Mayotte

Governance

Each region is governed by a regional council, which is elected by the residents of the region. The council is responsible for economic development, transportation, education, and cultural affairs within the region. The president of the regional council is the executive head of the region.

Related Pages

• Departments of France
• Communes of France
• Administrative divisions of France