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A maritime power
This sheet presents the geographical position of France in the world. It shows the French presence at sea.
Key points of the sheet
- An Exclusive Economic Zone (zone Économique Exclusive, ZEE) is a sea area beyond territorial waters. The coastal State has exclusive rights to exploit and manage the resources there.
- Thanks to its overseas territories, France has the second largest ZEE in the world, just after the United States. It has more than 10 million km2 of sea areas.
- These areas cover almost all the oceans, for example the Indian Ocean (Réunion) and the Pacific (Polynesia). In the Antarctic Ocean, there are the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Crozet, Kerguelen, Amsterdam, Saint-Paul).
- France has more than 22,000 km of maritime borders and more than 30 neighbouring countries by sea. This is more than any other country in the world.
- These sea areas are a geopolitical asset: France can strengthen its sovereignty and have influence. They are also an economic asset (fishing, control of sea transport) and help to study biodiversity.
- French sea areas cover 10.2 million km², not counting extensions of the continental shelf. French Polynesia makes up 47 % of them, the TAAF (not counting the Éparses Islands) 17 % and New Caledonia 13 %.
- Réunion, Mayotte and the Éparses Islands make up 10 %, Clipperton 5 %. Metropolitan France and Wallis and Futuna make up 3 % each.
- The French Antilles and French Guiana make up 1 % each. The transcription also states "1 % share of the ZEE".
Words to know
- Exclusive Economic Zone (zone Économique Exclusive)
- It is a sea area beyond territorial waters where the coastal State alone exploits and manages the resources.
- overseas territories (territoires d’outre-mer)
- Thanks to them, France has the second largest ZEE in the world.
- French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises)
- They are in the Antarctic Ocean and include Crozet, Kerguelen, Amsterdam and Saint-Paul.
- maritime borders (frontières maritimes)
- France has more than 22,000 km of maritime borders.
- geopolitical asset (Atout géopolitique)
- Thanks to its sea areas, France can strengthen its sovereignty and protect its strategic interests.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Which country has a larger ZEE than France?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel pays a une ZEE plus grande que la France ?
France has the second largest ZEE in the world, just after the United States.
In which ocean is Réunion?
In French, the language of the exam: Dans quel océan se trouve la Réunion ?
Réunion, Mayotte and the Éparses Islands are in the Indian Ocean.
Which territory has the largest share of the French ZEE?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel territoire a la plus grande part de la ZEE française ?
French Polynesia makes up 47 % of French sea areas.
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Source
Sheet “Une puissance maritime” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.