Departments of France France: Notes for Table 7: Departments of France In the administrative divisions of France, the department (, ) is one of the three levels of government below the national level ("territorial collectivities"), between the administrative regions and the commune. Ninety-six departments are in metropolitan France, and five are overseas departments, which are also classified as regions. Departments are further subdivided into 334 arrondissements, themselves divided into cantons; the last two have no autonomy, and are used for the organisation of police, fire departments, and sometimes, elections. Each department is administered by an elected body called a departmental council ("conseil départemental"
Administrative divisions of French Polynesia Administrative divisions of French Polynesia In French Polynesia, there are two levels of administrative divisions and five administrative subdivisions (). Each of these is further divided into a total of 48 communes. Many of the communes are further subdivided into communes associées. The breakdown into administrative subdivisions was as a result of decree #72-408 of May 17, 1972, and the communes were thereafter established as a result of law #71-1028, dated December 24, 1971. Below are several lists of the divisions, according to different sorting schemes. For French administrative convenience, Clipperton Island had been attached to French Polynesia until February