Background: In February 2007, the Iles Eparses became an integral part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are now divided into five administrative districts, two of which are archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a district composed of two volcanic islands, Ile Saint-Paul and Ile Amsterdam; the fourth, Iles Eparses, consists of five scattered tropical islands around Madagascar. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna, scientists at the various scientific stations, fishermen, and military personnel. The fifth district is the Antarctic portion, which consists of 'Adelie Land,' a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840.

Map reference: Antarctic RegionAfrica

Area
IleAmsterdam(IleAmsterdametIleSaint-Paul): total - 55 km²; land - 55 km²; water - 0 km²

IleSaint-Paul(IleAmsterdametIleSaint-Paul): total - 7 km²; land - 7 km²; water - 0 km²

IlesCrozet: total - 352 km²; land - 352 km²; water - 0 km²

IlesKerguelen: total - 7,215 km²; land - 7,215 km²; water - 0 km²

BassasdaIndia(IlesEparses): total - 80 km²; land - 0.2 km²; water - 79.8 km² (lagoon)

EuropaIsland(IlesEparses): total - 28 km²; land - 28 km²; water - 0 km²

GloriosoIslands(IlesEparses): total - 5 km²; land - 5 km²; water - 0 km²

JuandeNovaIsland(IlesEparses): total - 4.4 km²; land - 4.4 km²; water - 0 km²

TromelinIsland(IlesEparses): total - 1 km²; land - 1 km²; water - 0 km²

Note: excludes 'Adelie Land' claim of about 500,000 km² in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline:

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands); Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Elevation
Highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m

Natural resources: fish, crayfish, note, Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts

Natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefs

Geography
Note: islands' component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
IleAmsterdam(IleAmsterdametIleSaint-Paul): uninhabited but has a meteorological station

IleSaint-Paul(IleAmsterdametIleSaint-Paul): uninhabited but is frequently visited by fishermen and has a scientific research cabin for short stays

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-24 years: NA
25-54 years: NA
55-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: NA
Youth dependency ratio: NA
Elderly dependency ratio: NA
Potential support ratio: NA

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

Environment
Current issues: introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: NA
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: NA

Current health expenditure: NA

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Abbreviation: TAAF
Etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territories' affiliation and location in the Southern Hemisphere

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 administrative districts named Iles Crozet, Iles Eparses, Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam; the fifth district is the 'Adelie Land' claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Legal system: the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Citizenship: see France

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Charles GIUSTI (since 12 October 2020)

International organization participation: UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of France)
From the us embassy: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

National anthem
Note: as a territory of France, 'La Marseillaise' is official (see France)

Internet
Country code: .tf

Airports
Total: 4 (2020)

Merchant marine
Total: 2
By type: other 2 (2021)

Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

Disputes international: French claim to 'Adelie Land' in Antarctica is not recognized by the US;