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This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005


Map of France



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    France Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.
   Geography    France Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 547,030 sq km
land: 545,630 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas administrative divisions
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2,889 km
border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
3,427 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorospar, gypsum, timber, fish
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 33.53%
permanent crops: 2.07%
other: 64.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
20,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
largest West European nation
   People    France Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
60,656,178 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 18.4% (male 5,717,761/female 5,440,060)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 19,784,749/female 19,752,432)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,084,193/female 5,876,983) (2005 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 38.85 years
male: 37.3 years
female: 40.39 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.37% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 79.6 years
male: 75.96 years
female: 83.42 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
120,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 1,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1980 est.)
   Government    France Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique Francaise
local short form: France
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Paris
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Dependent areas:
Definition Field Listing
Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October 1958; amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty, 2000 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a five-year term
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Dominique DE VILLEPIN (since 31 May 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held 21 April and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round April 2007, second round May 2007); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president
election results: Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN (FN) 18.04%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years); note - between now and 2010, 25 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 346 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms, with one-half the seats being renewed every three years; and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held September 2007); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (next to be held not later than June 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 355, PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Citizen and Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; Democratic and European Social Rally or RDSE (mainly Radical Republican and Socialist Parties, and PRG) [Jacques PELLETIER]; French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET]; Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or NF [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Greens [Yann WEHRLING, national secretary]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Francois BAYROU]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and a part of UDF) [Nicolas SARKOZY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed); left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, approximately 889,000 members (claimed); independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed); employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed)
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTE
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. LEACH
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent areas
   Economy    France Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers. It retains controlling stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and is dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. The government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment and reform the pension system. In addition, it is focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (43.8% of GDP in 2003). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficit above the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit. Finance Minister Herve GAYMARD has promised that the 2005 deficit will fall below 3%.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.737 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $28,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 24.3%
services: 73% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27.7 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 4.1%, industry 24.4%, services 71.5% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
6.5% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
32.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $1.005 trillion
expenditures: $1.08 trillion, including capital expenditures of $23 billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
67.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
528.6 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
414.7 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
79.9 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
3 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
34,920 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.026 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
409,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.281 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
144.3 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.898 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
42.01 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.725 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
40.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.86 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-305 million (2004 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$419 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 15%, Spain 9.5%, UK 9.3%, Italy 9%, Belgium 7.2%, US 6.7% (2004)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$419.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 19.2%, Belgium 9.9%, Italy 8.8%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7%, Netherlands 6.7%, US 5.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$70.76 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $5.4 billion (2002)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    France Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
33,905,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
41,683,100 (2003)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: country code - 33; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.fr
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,396,761 (2004)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21.9 million (2003)
   Transportation    France Top of Page
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 29,519 km
standard gauge: 29,352 km 1.435-m gauge (14,481 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 893,100 km
paved: 893,100 km (including 12,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2000)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 14,232 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 703,639 GRT/889,705 DWT
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 4, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Sweden 5, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 139 (2005)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
478 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 283
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 95
914 to 1,523 m: 82
under 914 m: 65 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 195
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 120 (2004 est.)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
3 (2004 est.)
   Military    France Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army (includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age with consent for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 17-49: 13,676,509 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 17-49: 11,262,661 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 389,204 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$45,238.1 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.6% (2003)
   Transnational Issues    France Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005


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