List of French possessions and colonies


From the 16th to the 17th centuries, the First French colonial empire existed mainly in the Americas and Asia. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the second French colonial empire existed mainly in Africa and Asia. France had about 80 colonies throughout its history, the second most colonies in the world behind only the British Empire. Around 40 countries gained independence from France throughout its history, the second most in the world behind only the British Empire. Over 50% of the world’s borders today were drawn as a result of British and French imperialism.
France began to establish colonies in North America, the Caribbean and India, following Spanish and Portuguese successes during the Age of Discovery, in rivalry with Britain. A series of wars with Britain during the 18th century and early 19th century, which France finally lost, almost ended its colonial ambitions in these regions, and without it what some historians term the "first" French colonial empire. In the 19th century, starting with the Occupation of Algeria in 1830, France began to establish a new empire in Africa and Southeast Asia. The following is a list of all countries that were part of the French colonial empires from to the present, either entirely or in part, either under French sovereignty or as mandate.

In the Americas

Image:Claude Bernou Carte de lAmerique septentrionale.jpg|right|thumb|Map of the northern part and upper southern parts of the Americas, showing the results of the expeditions of Father Marquette and Louis Jolliet and of Cavelier de la Salle in the Mississippi valley.
[Image:New France Colonies Map.svg|right|thumb|Map of the territories having been controlled by France in North America.]
Image:Frank bond 1912 louisiana and the louisiana purchase.jpg|right|thumb|This map shows the Louisiana Purchase area, which corresponds approximately with the western half of colonial French Louisiana, the part not ceded to English-speaking peoples in 1763.
Image:Lasalle au Mississippi.jpg|thumb|right|Taking up of the Louisiana by La Salle in the name of the Kingdom of France
[Image:N FR.JPG|thumb|200px|New France at its greatest extent in 1710.]

In Southern Europe

In Africa

[Image:Map of Africa (2674833839).jpg|thumb|right|Map of French colonies in Africa (in green)]

[French North Africa]

[French West Africa]

[French Equatorial Africa]

East Africa and Indian Ocean

In Asia

In Oceania

In Antarctica

Image:Antarctica, France territorial claim.svg|thumb|right|Territory claim by France in Antarctic