List of French possessions and colonies

[1] Around 40 countries gained independence from France throughout its history, the second most in the world behind only the British Empire.

[2] Over 50% of the world’s borders today, were drawn as a result of British and French imperialism.

[3][4][5] 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.

Map of the northern part and upper southern parts of the Americas , showing the results of the expeditions of Father Marquette and Louis Jolliet (1673) and of Cavelier de la Salle in the Mississippi valley (1681).
Map of the territories having been controlled by France in North America.
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 .
Taking up of the Louisiana by La Salle in the name of the Kingdom of France
New France at its greatest extent in 1710.
Map of French colonies in Africa (in green)
Map of territories that have been French in the south of Africa throughout history
Map of territories that have been French in Asia throughout history
Territory claim by France in Antarctic ( Adélie Land )