Réunion is located in the Southern Africa region at latitude -21.1151 and longitude 55.5364 and is part of the African continent.
The DMS coordinates for the center of the country are:
- 21° 6' 54'' S
- 55° 32' 11'' E
You can see the location of Réunion on the world map below:
Maritime Borders
Réunion has no land borders; it is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
Réunion Key Facts
| Country | Réunion |
| Coordinates | Latitude: -21.1151 Longitude: 55.5364 |
| Country Codes | Alpha 2: RE Alpha 3: REU |
| Country Flag Emoji | 🇷🇪 |
| Int. Phone Prefix | +262 |
| Capital city | Saint-Denis |
| Continent Subcontinent | Africa Southern Africa |
| Country Area | 2511 sq km |
| Population 2023 | 885,700 World Rank: 162 |
| Median Age | 36 |
| Life expectancy | 81.0 |
| Major languages | French (official), Réunion Creole |
| UTC/GMT Time | Number of time zones: 1
|
| Internet TLD | .re |
| Biggest Airport | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) |
| Average temperature | 23 °C 73 °F |
| Administrative Divisions | 4 districts / 24 communes |
| Political system | Overseas department and region of France |
Réunion Economy Facts
| World Bank Income Group | High income |
| World Bank Region | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| GDP in 2023 | $23.4 (billions of USD) World Rank: 124 |
| GDP per capita in 2023 | $26,600 World Rank: 59 |
| Major Industries / Economic Sectors | Tourism, sugar and rum, public sector, agriculture |
| Top 5 Import Countries | France, China, Germany, Belgium, India |
| Top 5 Export Countries | France, Madagascar, Mayotte, Italy, Spain |
Biggest Cities in Réunion
Here are the largest cities in Réunion based on data:
| City | Population |
|---|
| Saint-Denis | 153,810 | Saint-Paul | 105,240 | Saint-Pierre | 84,200 | Le Tampon | 79,900 |
Map of Réunion with the Largest Cities
Other Countries in the Southern Africa Region
- Where are the Seychelles?
- Where are the French Southern and Antarctic Lands?
- Where is Angola?
- Where is Botswana?
- Where is Burundi?
- Where is Eswatini (formerly named Swaziland)?
- Where is Kenya?
- Where is Lesotho?
- Where is Madagascar?
- Where is Malawi?
- Where is Mauritius?
- Where is Mayotte?
- Where is Mozambique?
- Where is Namibia?
- Where is Rwanda?
- Where is Saint Helena?
- Where is South Africa?
- Where is South Sudan?
- Where is the British Indian Ocean Territory?
- Where is the Congo?
- Where is Uganda?
- Where is Zambia?
- Where is Zimbabwe?
Geography
Réunion is a mountainous volcanic island in the western Indian Ocean, about 700 kilometres east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius. It is dominated by the dormant Piton des Neiges and the very active Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world’s most frequently erupting volcanoes.
Although it sits off the coast of Africa, Réunion is fully part of France and the European Union.
Is Réunion a country?
Réunion is an overseas department and region of France — legally as much a part of France as any mainland department, and part of the EU, using the euro. Réunionnais are French and EU citizens.
| Status | Overseas department and region of France |
| Sovereign state | France |
| Capital | Saint-Denis |
| Population | 885,700 |
| Area | 2511 km² |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Official language(s) | French (official), Réunion Creole |
| ISO 3166 code | RE / REU |
| Calling code | +262 |
| Internet TLD | .re |
Climate
Réunion has a tropical climate averaging about 23°C (73°F) on the coast and far cooler in the highlands. A hot, wet cyclone season runs from November to April; the mountainous interior is among the rainiest places on Earth.
Economy
Réunion’s high-income economy leans heavily on tourism, sugar and rum, and a large public sector, with substantial support from mainland France. Unemployment is high despite the EU-level living standards.
Réunion in its region
Réunion’s nearest neighbour is Mauritius to the northeast, with Madagascar to the west across the Indian Ocean.
Administrative divisions
Réunion is organised into four districts and 24 communes, with Saint-Denis, in the north, the capital and largest city.
