Ranked 41st largest country in the world by area, France has a relatively complex map of regions and departments. The representation indeed varies depending on the scale of the map you want to obtain.
Depending on the desired result, it is possible to simplify the map of France to obtain 6 sides, hence the nickname “Hexagon”. Geographically, the French regions and departments are distant from each other and weather trends vary widely according to the seasons.
Pour la patrie
Pour les enfants
Pour la famille
Pour la route
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With a total area of 670,922 km2, the country is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Note that the map of France also includes the overseas departments and territories (DOM-TOM) which are Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, and others.
In this article, we invite you to discover interesting details about the maps of France.
Presentation of the map of France
The map of France is divided into several departments, each belonging to one and only one region. In total, there are 101 French departments distributed in 346 arrondissements, 4058 cantons, and 36,658 communes.
Since January 1st, 2015, 96 of these French departments are located in metropolitan France. They are numbered from 1 to 95, except for Corse-du-Sud numbered 2A and Haute-Corse which bears the number 2B.
The other five arrondissements are overseas departments and territories (DOM-TOM), including Martinique, Guyana, Réunion, and others. It should be noted that since March 31, 2011, Mayotte is both a department and a region. Generally, each French department has a prefecture or a chief town (Saint-Brieuc for Côtes-d’Armor). According to the 1998 census, the average population of metropolitan French departments was 511,012 inhabitants.
Note that the responsibilities of French departments notably include school transportation, maintenance of middle schools, construction, social action, rural land consolidation, etc.
In total, there are 27 French region names, including 22 in metropolitan France. The other 5 make up the French overseas departments and territories composed of Guyana, Réunion, Mayotte, and others.
When we talk about French regions, remember that this refers to the first-level division. Long before the storming of the Bastille, the country was divided into historical provinces stemming from feudal history (some of which still exist today).
During the French Revolution, most of the French regions on the map were abolished and the map of France was then divided into 83 regional departments. From the First World War onwards, some people began to think about creating administrative divisions larger than departments.
In France, the removal of one or more levels of local government has been a hot topic in France for several years.
The debates mainly focus on the option of eliminating certain French regions as well as the French departmental level. By 2021, the 22 existing French regions could be reduced to 13 new metropolitan regions.
What are the top 10 largest urban areas by population?
Here is the updated text with the most recent INSEE data (2020 zoning, 2017 census):
To rank cities in France by population, several methods are used. Depending on the case, one can rank by commune or rank the largest cities according to the population size of metropolitan areas. For a good ranking of the largest cities, the best method is to take into account the area of attraction.
According to INSEE, an urban area of attraction is a group of communes, contiguous and without enclaves, that defines the extent of the influence of a population and employment center on surrounding communes. It consists of a center, defined based on population and employment criteria, as well as a crown made up of communes where at least 15% of the active population works in the center. Wikipedia This zoning in urban attraction areas (AAV), published in 2020, replaces the old zoning in urban areas used since 2010.
In France, the 699 urban attraction areas include more than nine out of ten people: 51% of the French population lives in the centers and 43% in the crowns. One in five people lives in the Paris attraction area. Insee
Based on this, the 10 largest urban attraction areas in France according to the 2017 census data are, in ascending order:
Rennes: is part of areas with more than 700,000 inhabitants, with an annual growth rate above 1% between 2007 and 2017, among the most dynamic in France.
Strasbourg: very large area with more than 700,000 inhabitants (French part), with cross-border influence.
Montpellier: now part of the club of very large areas with more than 700,000 inhabitants, with one of the most positive migration balances in France.
Nantes: more than 700,000 inhabitants, with an annual growth rate above 1% between 2007 and 2017.
Bordeaux: more than 700,000 inhabitants, with a strongly positive migration balance, one of the most attractive areas in the country.
Toulouse: more than 700,000 inhabitants, annual growth of 1.4% between 2007 and 2017, one of the most dynamic in France.
Lille: more than 700,000 inhabitants (French part), large northern metropolis with a strong cross-border dimension.
Marseille-Aix-en-Provence: more than 700,000 inhabitants, second largest French area outside Paris, grouping Marseille, Aix-en-Provence and their surrounding communes.
Lyon: more than 700,000 inhabitants, largest provincial area, with growth exceeding 1% per year between 2007 and 2017. Insee
Paris: with 13 million inhabitants, the Paris attraction area alone accounts for nearly one in five inhabitants.
Map of France: population in France
According to INSEE, as of January 1, 2026, the population residing in France is estimated at 69.1 million inhabitants: 66.8 million in metropolitan France and 2.3 million in overseas departments.
On the demographic level, growth is slowing down significantly. In 2025, the natural balance becomes negative in France for the first time since the end of World War II, estimated at -6,000. However, the population continues to increase thanks to the migratory balance, provisionally estimated at +176,000 people for 2025.
Regarding fertility, the trend is sharply downward. The period fertility indicator stands at 1.56 children per woman in 2025, the lowest level since the end of World War I, far from the 1.8 recorded in 1990 and the 1.87 of 2018. However, France remains one of the most fertile countries in the European Union.
In France, the average density is 118 inhabitants per square kilometer. The population continues to increase in many regions, notably due to immigration and the aging of the age pyramid. As of January 1, 2025, 21.8% of inhabitants are at least 65 years old, compared to 16.3% in 2005.
Regarding life expectancy, it stands at 85.9 years for women and 80.3 years for men in 2025, a slight increase compared to 2017 data (79.5 years for men and 85.3 years for women).
How to create and draw a map of France?
To create a map of France, you can use specialized software like Open Office which can be downloaded from the internet for free.
To create an accurate and understandable map of France with this tool, you need to know the basics of cartographic semiology.
After downloading the free version of Open Office software, you should follow online tutorials for quick mastery. Since it is automatic mapping, this method is not very useful for young students.
On the other hand, with the Word software, it is quite possible to reproduce a map of France that clearly shows Normandy, Aquitaine, the municipalities of the Seine-Saint-Denis department, those of Marne, etc.
In case of error, Word software allows unlimited modifications. If you download a map, you can easily make a plan to successfully create your map of France.
To draw a map of France, you have the choice between downloading “Open Office” and downloading a base map to vectorize in Word software. With nearly 1000 km from north to south and east to west, the map of France fits into an almost square shape.
Download a map and get a graph paper or a large squared notebook sheet. Follow one of the many online tutorials to quickly draw the map of France with all its divisions.
The different types of maps of France
The map of France is a communication tool that displays geographic information on a flat surface. There are different types of maps in free or paid versions with various formats. Today, among others, we find:
The relief map : in France, the relief consists of several elements. On the map of France, you will find for example 6 mountain ranges namely: the Jura, the Vosges, the Massif Central, the Armorican Massif, the Pyrenees, and the Alps. This last massif includes Mont Blanc which is the highest summit in France at 4,810.45 m. On the map of France, you will also find three seas and one ocean bordering metropolitan France. The Rhine, the Rhône, the Seine, the Garonne, and the Loire constitute the five rivers of France. There are also two basins (the Paris basin and the Aquitaine basin). On a map of France, the country’s relief is characterized by an “S” shape that goes from the south of the Vosges to the north of the Pyrenees passing through the Rhône-Alpes valley and the south of the Massif Central.
Les nouvelles régions, les départements, les préfectures, les sous - préfectures, les fleuves
Les grands ports, les grands aéroports, les collectivités et territoires d’outre-mer
The poster map: whatever the chosen format, this map provides an overall aerial view of France and Europe. Depending on the use you want to make of it, you can add personal data (zones, routes, texts, objects, etc.). As a rule, aerial photos have a high resolution over a large part of metropolitan France. They are updated every 3 years and it is possible that some territories overlap two departments.
The wall map: available in several sizes, a wall map can give you an overview of Normandy and all the regions of France. It also provides information on the French road network and is an effective tool to follow your route well if you want to travel by motorcycle from Paris to the other end of France. However, be sure to check the weather before setting off.
Road map: the France regions departments are characterized by a modern and well-maintained road network. On the map of France, you can easily find the plan of the main traffic axes (roads and highways). Depending on the type of road or route, the French road network is managed by the State, concessionary companies, and local authorities. In total, this road network has more than one million kilometers, including 9,768 km of national roads and 11,300 km of highways.
The administrative map: the territorial organization of France is divided into three levels, namely: the region, the department, and the municipality. Since November 25, 2014, the country has a new regions map showing the new regions. There are now 13 new regions easily identifiable on the new France regions map.
Pour la patrie
Pour les enfants
Pour la famille
Pour la route
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Besides the aforementioned maps, there are also 3D maps, paper maps, educational maps, etc.
Where to buy a map of France?
To get a France map, you just have to go to Amazon. This online store offers a wide collection of maps of France. You will not only have the option to choose the framing but also to have a custom map made.
Grupo Erik - Poster Carte De France avec Départements et Régions
Carte physique de la France - Papier plastifié - Format A0 - 84,1 x 118,9 cm
The site has a large number of administrative, educational, 3D, and other maps in its aisles. It is up to you to choose your map with one click, pay the bill to receive your order shortly.
How to read a map of France?
Reading a map is generally very easy. Knowing that a map is a miniature image of a geographic area, it is important to understand a number of elements to be able to decipher the symbols. First of all, you must master the scale of a France map.
For a 1/25,000th map, 1 cm on the map corresponds to 25,000 cm, or 250 m on the ground. Another thing to know is the contour lines that help read the relief. Note that the other elements making up the legend must be well studied.
