Country Information
| Sovereign State | No (Overseas Department of France) |
| Country Codes | RE, REU, 638 |
| Official Name | Réunion |
| Continent | Africa (Geographically part of Africa, politically and administratively part of France) |
| Capital | Saint-Denis |
| Government Type | Overseas Department of France |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Calling Code | +262 |
| Member Of | As a part of France, it is indirectly a part of the European Union and other organizations France is a member of |
| Population | Approximately 860,000 |
| Total Area | 2,512 km² |
| Highest Point | Piton des Neiges (3,070 meters, 10,070 feet) |
| Lowest Point | Indian Ocean (0 meters, 0 feet) |
| GDP Per Capita | Data integrated with France |
| Life Expectancy | Data integrated with France |
| Internet TLD | .re |
Réunion National Anthem
Since Réunion is an overseas department of France, it does not have its own national anthem. It uses the national anthem of France:
La Marseillaise (The Song of Marseille)
Arise, children of the Fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived!
Against us, tyranny’s
Bloody banner is raised, (repeat)
Do you hear, in the countryside,
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They’re coming right into your arms
To cut the throats of your sons, your women!
To arms, citizens,
Form your battalions,
Let’s march, let’s march!
Let an impure blood
Water our furrows! (repeat)
Flags of Neighboring Countries
History of the Réunion Flag
Réunion, as an overseas department of France, officially uses the French Tricolor as its flag. The Tricolor, adopted by France in 1794, consists of three vertical bands of equal width, displaying the national colors of France: blue, white, and red.
There is a regional flag that is used by some on the island, known as the Flag of Réunion or the Lö Mahavéli, which was created in 2003. This flag features a red, yellow, and green tricolor with four diagonal bands, which symbolize the island’s active volcano (Piton de la Fournaise), the greenery of the island, the sun, and the Indian Ocean. The flag was designed to represent the natural beauty and cultural diversity of Réunion.
While the regional flag is not officially recognized by the French government, it is used by some local organizations and sports teams to represent the unique identity and culture of Réunion. The official use of the flag is limited, but it has gained some popularity among the local population.
The use of the French Tricolor underscores Réunion’s connection to France and its status as an integral part of the French Republic. The Tricolor represents liberty, equality, and fraternity – the ideals of the French Republic – which are extended to Réunion as an overseas department. The flags used in Réunion, whether the official French Tricolor or the regional flag, reflect the island’s dual identity as both a part of France and a unique region with its own distinctive cultural heritage.