Are the French Overseas department territories of France or just as much of France?

Question

Or are they just as much as France as Alaska and Hawii are to the U.S.

Answer 1

DOM : Departements d'Outre Mer are just like mainland France.

No difference in legislation, rights of citizens etc...

TOM : Territoires d'Outre Mer are different as some might enjoy some degree of independance.

Answer 2

they belong to france

Answer 3

As some of the answers have indicated, there are 3 categories: Territoires d'outre mer, Collectivites d'outre mer, and Departements d'outre mer.

Although the differences are administrative, I'd say they also mostly differ in that they have their own culture... don't forget, many are islands, far, far, far away from the mainland. One more accurate comparison may be Hawaii.

Answer 4

There are different flavours of overseas territories:

Départements d'outre mer (DOM): they are french like any other mainland France departement. They include Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane and la Réunion

Collectivités d'outre mer (COM) have more local autonomy. These include: Saint Pierre et Miquelon, Mayotte, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin and New Caledonia

Territoires d'Outre mer

Answer 5

They are territories, not States.  Just like the US has Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands, that is how the French territories are to France.