France's Administrative Divisions

France's administrative divisions are organized hierarchically. The country is divided into regions, which are the largest units, serving as administrative and economic areas. These regions are subdivided into departments, acting as local government jurisdictions responsible for services like education and transportation. Departments are further divided into arrondissements, then into cantons, which serve mainly for electoral purposes. At the local level, communes are the smallest units, similar to municipalities or towns, handling community services and local governance. This structure ensures organized management from national policies down to local community needs.