| Glorioso Islands (2006) | Paracel Islands (2008) | |
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| Airports | 1 (2006) | 1 (2007) | 
| Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 1 
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)  | 
				
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1 
 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)  | 
				- | 
| Area | total: 5 sq km 
 land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock  | 
				total: NA sq km 
 land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km  | 
				
| Area - comparative | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | NA | 
| Background | A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse. | The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. | 
| Climate | tropical | tropical | 
| Coastline | 35.2 km | 518 km | 
| Country name | conventional long form: none 
 conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses  | 
				conventional long form: none 
 conventional short form: Paracel Islands  | 
				
| Dependency status | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | - | 
| Disputes - international | claimed by Madagascar | occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam | 
| Economy - overview | no economic activity | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. | 
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m 
 highest point: unnamed location 12 m  | 
				lowest point: South China Sea 0 m 
 highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m  | 
				
| Environment - current issues | NA | NA | 
| Flag description | the flag of France is used | - | 
| Geographic coordinates | 11 30 S, 47 20 E | 16 30 N, 112 00 E | 
| Geography - note | the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group | 
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km | 
| Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km | 
| Land use | arable land: 0% 
 permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2005)  | 
				arable land: 0% 
 permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)  | 
				
| Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | - | 
| Location | Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar | Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines | 
| Map references | Africa | Southeast Asia | 
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm 
 exclusive economic zone: 200 nm  | 
				NA | 
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | occupied by China | 
| Natural hazards | periodic cyclones | typhoons | 
| Natural resources | guano, coconuts | none | 
| Population | no indigenous inhabitants 
 note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2006 est.)  | 
				no indigenous inhabitants 
 note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons  | 
				
| Terrain | low and flat | mostly low and flat |