Background: In 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, the 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.
Ile Amsterdam: Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish, the island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station established on the island in 1949 is still in use.
Ile Saint Paul: Claimed by France since 1893, the island was a fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928, a spiny lobster cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931, seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when rescue finally arrived.
Iles Crozet: A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau, Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups: L'Occidental (the West), which includes Ile aux Cochons, Ilots des Apotres, Ile des Pingouins, and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the East), which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession, the largest island of the Crozets. Discovered and claimed by France in 1772, the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar, they became part of the TAAF in 1955.
Iles Kerguelen: This island group, discovered in 1772, consists of one large island (Ile Kerguelen) and about 300 smaller islands. A permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at Port-aux-Francais.
Adelie Land: The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the Antarctic claim known as 'Adelie Land.' The US Government does not recognize it as a French dependency.
Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide.
Europa Island: This heavily wooded island has been a French possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.
Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th-century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.
Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Réunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.

Area
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 55 km²; land - 55 km²; water - 0 km²
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 7 km²; land - 7 km²; water - 0 km²
Iles Crozet: total - 352 km²; land - 352 km²; water - 0 km²
Iles Kerguelen: total - 7,215 km²; land - 7,215 km²; water - 0 km²
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): total - 80 km²; land - 0.2 km²; water - 79.8 km² (lagoon)
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): total - 28 km²; land - 28 km²; water - 0 km²
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): total - 5 km²; land - 5 km²; water - 0 km²
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): total - 4.4 km²; land - 4.4 km²; water - 0 km²
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 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
Comparative Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, D.C.
Comparative Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Comparative Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Comparative Iles Kerguelen: slightly larger than Delaware
Comparative Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Comparative Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of Washington, D.C.
Comparative Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Comparative Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Comparative Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 28 km
Iles Kerguelen: 2,800 km
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22.2 km
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 24.1 km
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 3.7 km

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

Climate
Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity
Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy
Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy
Iles Eparses: tropical

Terrain
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs
Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands
Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount

Elevation
Highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Highest points throughout the French Southern and Antarctic Lands: Crête de la Novara on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 284 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m; 24 unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 6 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m

Natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Éparses are subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard because it is under water for three hours before and after high tide
Volcanism: Réunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m), which has erupted many times in recent years, is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare, eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby cities

Geography
Note: islands are widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean
Note Bassas da India (Iles Éparses): atoll is a circular reef on top of a long-extinct, submerged volcano
Note Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Éparses): wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles
Note Glorioso Island (Iles Éparses): an extensive reef system surrounds the island
Note Tromelin Island (Iles Éparses): climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

Population
Total: no permanent inhabitants
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): uninhabited but has a meteorological station
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): uninhabited but is visited by fishermen and researchers
Iles Crozet: uninhabited except for staff of the Alfred Faure research station on Ile del la Possession
Iles Kerguelen: researchers are located at the main base at Port-aux-Francais on Ile Kerguelen
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): uninhabitable
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession; visited by researchers
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): uninhabited, visited by researchers

Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but the 5 administrative districts are Iles Crozet, Iles Éparses, Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam, and 'Adelie Land', a claim in Antarctica that the US does not recognize

Legal system: the laws of France apply

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Florence JEANBLANC-RISLER (since 5 October 2022)

National anthem
Title: 'La Marseillaise' (The Song of Marseille)
Lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
History: official anthem, as a French territory

Exports
Commodities: fish (2023)
Commodities note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Imports
Commodities: scented mixtures, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, surveying equipment, fish, refined petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Airports: 4 (2025)

Heliports: 3 (2025)

Merchant marine
Total: 2 (2023)
By type: other 2