At the creation of the department of Réunion in 1947, its only arrondissement was Saint-Denis.[2] The arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, containing 11 communes that were previously part of the arrondissement of Saint-Denis, was created in 1964.[3] The arrondissement of Saint-Benoît, containing six communes that were previously part of the arrondissement of Saint-Denis, was created in 1968.[4] The arrondissement of Saint-Paul, containing four communes that were previously part of the arrondissement of Saint-Pierre and one commune that was previously part of the arrondissement of Saint-Denis, was created in 1969.[5]
The borders of the arrondissements of Réunion were modified in September 2006:[6]
the communes Le Port and La Possession were transferred from the arrondissement of Saint-Denis to the arrondissement of Saint-Paul
the communes Les Avirons and L'Étang-Salé were transferred from the arrondissement of Saint-Paul to the arrondissement of Saint-Pierre