In France, there are 234 sub-prefectures. They are in 333 districts.
This administrative organization shows how the State is close to the people. It wants its services near everyone, everywhere fairly.
The Nord department has many sub-prefectures, 5 in total. They are in Avesnes-sur-Helpe, Cambrai, Douai, Dunkerque, and Valenciennes. However, other departments do not have a sub-prefecture.
The division is made to provide public services that are close and convenient. This helps all citizens.
Understanding this system is important to see how the territorial administration works in France.
Geographical distribution of sub-prefectures in France
France has 234 sub-prefectures in its departments. This shows the administrative importance across the territory. Each department normally has 2 or 3 sub-prefectures. However, some have more or none at all.
The Marne has 4 sub-prefectures, with Reims where 179,380 people live. It is the most populated in France.
The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence has only one sub-prefecture, Castellane. It is the least populated with 1,456 inhabitants.
The differences show how the administrative map has changed. Some places do not have a sub-prefecture. Val-d'Oise and Mayotte report directly to their prefecture for related missions.
| Department | Number of sub-prefectures | Most populated sub-prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| Marne | 4 | Reims (179,380 inhab.) |
| Alpes-de-Haute-Provence | 1 | Castellane (1,456 inhab.) |
| Val-d'Oise | 0 | – |
| Mayotte | 0 | – |
Administrative division of sub-prefectures
In the territories, the State seeks to be closer to the people. Thus, it organizes public services locally. Over time, the number of sub-prefectures has changed, reducing from 333 to 234.
Other places have a special division. For example, Val-d'Oise (Cergy) and Mayotte (Mamoudzou) are different. They do not have districts managed locally. This shows the efforts to better adapt to the needs of the areas.
| Department | Number of districts | Number of sub-prefectures |
|---|---|---|
| Hauts-de-Seine | 3 | 3 |
| Val-d'Oise | 3 | 0 |
| Mayotte | 1 | 0 |
These changes aim to better serve people locally. There is currently much discussion about reviewing the administrative map. There are trials in certain parts of the country. This helps to see if the changes are useful.
Local organization of public services
The government wants more public services in rural areas. This is what the third source states. They have reopened 6 sub-prefectures, 5 in France and 1 in Guyana, for this purpose. This shows their desire to bring the State closer to everyone everywhere.
These offices are open to be closer to the people. Public services will therefore be easier to find, even far from cities. Thus, the administration can better assist those in need.
By reopening these places, the government aims to better distribute services everywhere. Placing services close to home is very important to them. This helps modernize how the State is organized. And it highlights the importance of its local services for all of us.
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