Réunion is divided into 4 arrondissements, which serve as the first level of administrative organization in this French overseas department. These arrondissements function primarily as deconcentrated units of the French state rather than elected local governments. Each arrondissement is headed by a sub-prefect who represents the national government and coordinates state services at the local level. The arrondissements handle administrative tasks such as maintaining civil records, overseeing elections, and serving as intermediaries between the prefect and the communes (second-level municipalities). While they play an important role in state administration, arrondissements in Réunion have limited autonomous authority, as most governance and public services are delivered either by the departmental government or by the individual communes within each arrondissement's territory.