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How is the administrative division of France organised?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: Into communes, départements and régions. France is divided into communes, départements and régions. These are the collectivités territoriales (local authorities). The State transfers powers to them: this is decentralisation. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3)” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3)” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ Into states, provinces and citiesEn États, en provinces et en villesFrance is not a federation of states: it is a decentralised unitary State.
- ✗ Into villages, counties and countriesEn villages, en comtés et en paysVillages and counties are not local authorities (collectivités territoriales) of France.
- ✗ Into districts, cantons and territoriesEn quartiers, en cantons et en territoiresDistricts and territories are not the three main levels: these are communes, départements and régions.
- ✓ Into communes, départements and régionsEn communes, en départements et en régionsCorrect answer. France is divided into communes, départements and régions. These are the collectivités territoriales (local authorities). The State transfers powers to them: this is decentralisation.
What the source says
« Il existe plusieurs niveaux de collectivités territoriales : les communes, les départements, les régions »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Comment est organisé le découpage administratif de la France ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question comes from the list of the naturalisation version of the exam (PDF relayed by Le Français des affaires, read on 14 October 2026; the Ministry's own page for this list did not answer). The list's wording: “Comment est organisé le découpage administratif de la France ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3)” (French).
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