France

Broadcast media

a mix of both publicly operated and privately owned TV stations; state-owned France Televisions operates 4 networks, one of which is a network of regional stations, and has part-interest in several thematic cable/satellite channels and international channels; a large number of privately owned regional and local TV stations; multi-channel satellite and cable services provide a large number of channels; public broadcaster Radio France operates 7 national networks, a series of regional networks, and operates services for overseas territories and foreign audiences; Radio France Internationale (RFI), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a leading international broadcaster; a large number of commercial FM stations, with many of them consolidating into commercial networks (2008)

Internet country code

metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re

Internet hosts

17.266 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 7

Internet users

45.262 million; 44.625 million (metropolitan France) (2009) country comparison to the world: 8

Telephone system

general assessment: highly developed domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive use of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system international: country code - 33; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (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 overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe - 590; Martinique - 596; Mayotte - 262; Reunion - 262 (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

39.29 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 7

Telephones - mobile cellular

62.28 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 21

Agriculture - products

wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish

Budget

revenues: $1.41 trillion expenditures: $1.522 trillion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2013) country comparison to the world: 114 1.75% (31 December 2010) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.1% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 3.44% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$58.97 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 188 -$45.22 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$5.371 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $5.004 trillion (31 December 2011)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.6 (2011) country comparison to the world: 117 27.9 (1996)

Economy - overview

The French economy is diversified across all sectors. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. However, the government maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. With at least 82 million foreign tourists per year, France is the most visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that mitigate economic inequality. France's real GDP stagnated in 2012 and 2013. The unemployment rate (including overseas territories) increased from 7.8% in 2008 to 10.2% in 2013. Youth unemployment in metropolitan France decreased from a high of 25.4% in the fourth quarter of 2012 to 22.8% in the fourth quarter of 2013. Lower-than-expected growth and high spending have strained France's public finances. The budget deficit rose sharply from 3.3% of GDP in 2008 to 7.5% of GDP in 2009 before improving to 4.1% of GDP in 2013, while France's public debt rose from 68% of GDP to nearly 94% over the same period. In accordance with its EU obligations, France is targeting a deficit of 3.6% of GDP in 2014 and 2.8% in 2015. The administration of President Francois HOLLANDE has implemented greater state support for employment, the separation of banks' traditional deposit taking and lending activities from more speculative businesses, increasing the top corporate and personal tax rates, including a temporary 75% tax on wages over one million euros, and hiring an additional 60,000 teachers during his five-year term. In January 2014 HOLLANDE proposed a “Responsibility Pact” aimed primarily at lowering labor costs in return for businesses’ commitment to create jobs. Despite stagnant growth and fiscal challenges, France's borrowing costs have declined in recent years because investors remain attracted to the liquidity of France’s bonds.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7634 (2013 est.) 0.7752 (2012 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$578.6 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $567.1 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages

Exports - partners

Germany 16.7%, Belgium 7.5%, Italy 7.5%, Spain 6.9%, UK 6.9%, US 5.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.739 trillion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.276 trillion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $2.269 trillion (2012 est.) $2.268 trillion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 57.6% government consumption: 25.1% investment in fixed capital: 18.7% investment in inventories: 0.1% exports of goods and services: 27.3% imports of goods and services: -28.8% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.9% industry: 18.7% services: 79.4% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$35,700 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $35,800 (2012 est.) $36,000 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 0% (2012 est.) 2% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

18.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 17.6% of GDP (2012 est.) 19% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 25.4% (2011)

Imports

$659.8 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $653.4 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals

Imports - partners

Germany 19.5%, Belgium 11.3%, Italy 7.6%, Netherlands 7.4%, Spain 6.6%, UK 5.1%, China 4.9% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Industries

machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 2% (2012 est.)

Labor force

29.94 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2.9% industry: 20.6% services: 76.4% (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.762 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $1.538 trillion (31 December 2011) $1.983 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

7.9% (2011)

Public debt

93.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 90.2% of GDP (2012 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$198.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $188.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.299 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $2.273 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.489 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 $1.497 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$1.103 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $1.095 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.687 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $3.631 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$810.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $738.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

51.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Unemployment rate

10.2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 10.2% (2012 est.) note: includes overseas territories

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

374.3 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Crude oil - imports

1.298 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Crude oil - production

72,300 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Crude oil - proved reserves

85.18 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity - consumption

462.9 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Electricity - exports

73.4 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Electricity - from fossil fuels

22.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

14.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

50.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Electricity - from other renewable sources

6.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Electricity - imports

29 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity - installed generating capacity

124.3 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Electricity - production

561.2 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Natural gas - consumption

47.99 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas - exports

5.994 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - imports

47.71 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Natural gas - production

508 million cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - proved reserves

10.7 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1.792 million bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Refined petroleum products - exports

464,300 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Refined petroleum products - imports

834,800 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Refined petroleum products - production

1.55 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Area

total: 643,801 sq km; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France) country comparison to the world: 43 land: 640,427 sq km; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France) water: 3,374 sq km; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France) note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion

Climate

metropolitan France: 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 French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average Mayotte: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November) Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)

Coastline

total: 4,853 km metropolitan France: 3,427 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m note: in order to assess the possible effects of climate change on the ice and snow cap of Mont Blanc, its surface and peak have been extensively measured in recent years; these new peak measurements have exceeded the traditional height of 4,807 m and have varied between 4,808 m and 4,811 m; the actual rock summit is 4,792 m and is 40 m away from the ice-covered summit

Environment - current issues

some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 31.62 cu km/yr (19%/71%/10%) per capita: 512.1 cu m/yr (2009)

Geographic coordinates

metropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W Mayotte: 12 50 S, 45 10 E Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E

Geography - note

largest West European nation

Irrigated land

total: 26,420 sq km 26,950 sq km metropolitan France: 27,230 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

metropolitan France - total: 2,751 km border countries: Andorra 55 km, Belgium 556 km, Germany 418 km, Italy 476 km, Luxembourg 69 km, Monaco 6 km, Spain 646 km, Switzerland 525 km French Guiana - total: 1,205 km border countries: Brazil 649 km, Suriname 556 km

Land use

arable land: 33.45% permanent crops: 1.86% other: 64.69% note: French Guiana - arable land 0.13%, permanent crops 0.04%, other 99.83% (90% forest, 10% other); Guadeloupe - arable land 11.70%, permanent crops 2.92%, other 85.38%; Martinique - arable land 9.09%, permanent crops 10.0%, other 80.91%; Reunion - arable land 13.94%, permanent crops 1.59%, other 84.47% (2011)

Location

metropolitan France: 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 French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Mayotte: Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Map references

metropolitan France: Europe French Guiana: South America Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean Mayotte: Africa Reunion: World

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding; volcanic activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)

Natural resources

metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay

Terrain

metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Total renewable water resources

211 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

27 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy), Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica), Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Martinique, Mayotte, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion, Rhone-Alpes note: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 5 overseas regions (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion) and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 5 overseas departments (which are the same as the overseas regions)

Capital

name: Paris geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: applies to metropolitan France only, not to its overseas departments, collectivities, or territories

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2013)

Country name

conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique francaise local short form: France

Dependent areas

Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica; New Caledonia has been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since 1998, a unique status falling between that of an independent country and a French overseas department

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mark A. TAPLIN; note - also accredited to Monaco embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Francois M. DELATTRE (since 18 February 2011) 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, San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Manuel VALLS (since 1 April 2014) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 April and 6 May 2012 (next to be held in the spring of 2017); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Francois HOLLANDE elected; first round: percent of vote - Francois HOLLANDE 28.6%, Nicolas SARKOZY 27.2%, Marine LE PEN 17.9%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON 11.1%, Francois BAYROU, 9.1%, others 6.1%; second round: HOLLANDE 51.6%, SARKOZY 48.4%

Flag description

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 when the "ancient French color" of white was combined with the blue and red colors of the Parisian militia; the official flag for all French dependent areas note: the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands

Government type

republic

Independence

no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of the court president, 6 divisional presiding judges, 120 trial judges, and 70 deputy judges organized into 6 divisions - 3 civil, 1 commercial, 1 labor, and 1 criminal); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the president of the republic from nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary, presided by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judge term of appointment NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic and 3 each by the National Assembly and Senate presidents; members serve 9-year, non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: appellate courts or Cour d'Appel; regional courts or Tribunal de Grande Instance; first instance courts or Tribunal' d'instance

Legal system

civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (348 seats; 328 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for French Polynesia, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 1 for Wallis and Futuna, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms; one third elected every three years); and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 for metropolitan France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for overseas dependencies; members elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 25 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2014); National Assembly - last held on 10 and 17 June 2012 (next to be held in June 2017) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS/Greens 140, UMP 132, UDF 31, PCF/MRC 21, PRG 17, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PS 48.5%, UMP 33.6%, miscellaneous left wing parties 3.8%, Greens 3.0%, miscellaneous right wing parties 2.6%, NC 2.1%, PRG 2.1%, FDG 1.7%, other 2.6%; seats by party - PS 280, UMP 194, miscellaneous left wing parties 22, Greens 17, miscellaneous right wing parties 15, NC 12, PRG 12, FDG 10, other 15

National anthem

name: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)

National holiday

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)

National symbol(s)

Gallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne

Political parties and leaders

Europe Ecology - The Greens or EELV [Emmanuelle COSSE] French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT] Left Front Coalition or FDG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON] Left Party or PG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON and Martine BILLARD] Left Radical Party or PRG [Jean-Michel BAYLET] (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS] National Front or FN [Marine LE PEN] New Anticapitalist Party or NPA [collective leadership; main spokesperson Christine POUPIN] New Center or NC [Herve MORIN] Radical Party [Jean-Louis BORLOO] Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA] Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean-Luc LAURENT] Socialist Party or PS [Haerlem DESIR] United Republic or RS [Dominique DE VILLEPIN] Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [Jean-Francois COPE] Union des Democrates et Independants or UDI [Jean-Louis BORLOO] and Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for French Democracy or UDF); together known as UDI-Modem Worker's Struggle (Lutte Ouvriere) or LO [collective leadership; spokespersons Nathalie ARTHAUD and Arlette LAQUILLER]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail (French Democratic Confederation of Labor) or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with approximately 875,000 members [Laurent BERGER, Secretary General] Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des cadres (French Confederation of Management - General Confederation of Executives) or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 140,000 members [Carole COUVERT, president] Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens (French Confederation of Christian Workers) or CFTC, independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims 142,000 members [Philippe LOUIS, president] Confederation generale du travail (General Confederation of Labor) or CGT, historically communist labor union with approximately 710,000 members [Bernard THIBAULT, secretary general] Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere (General Confederation of Labor - Worker's Force) or FO, independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members [Jean-Claude MAILLY, secretary general] Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000 companies as members (claimed) [Pierre GATTAZ, president] French Guiana: conservationists gold mining pressure groups hunting pressure groups Guadeloupe: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG Movement for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI The Socialist Renewal Movement Martinique: Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM Frantz Fanon Circle League of Workers and Peasants Proletarian Action Group or GAP Reunion: NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-8, the G-20, the EU and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to take French forces out of NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion - became French regions and were made part of France proper.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 14,563,662 females age 16-49: 14,238,434 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 12,025,341 females age 16-49: 11,721,827 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 396,050 female: 377,839 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Army (Armee de Terre; includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale), Air Force (Armee de l'Air (AdlA); includes Air Defense) (2011)

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2014) country comparison to the world: 47 1.9% of GDP (2013) 1.9% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; 1-year service obligation; women serve in noncombat posts (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.7% (male 6,337,877/female 6,053,185) 15-24 years: 11.9% (male 4,018,044/female 3,837,191) 25-54 years: 38.6% (male 12,851,278/female 12,719,073) 55-64 years: 12.5% (male 4,012,614/female 4,290,624) 65 years and over: 17.9% (male 5,197,519/female 6,941,607) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

12.49 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Contraceptive prevalence rate

76.4% note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2008)

Death rate

9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 57.4 % youth dependency ratio: 28.6 % elderly dependency ratio: 28.8 % potential support ratio: 3.5 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 43

Ethnic groups

Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,700 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

150,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Health expenditures

11.6% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 10

Hospital bed density

6.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 214 male: 3.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

French (official) 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) overseas departments: French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili dialect)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.66 years country comparison to the world: 15 male: 78.55 years female: 84.91 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Major urban areas - population

PARIS (capital) 10.62 million; Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 14,890,100; Lyon 1.488 million; Lille 1.042 million; Nice-Cannes 991,000; Toulouse 933,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 158

Median age

total: 40.9 years male: 39.3 years female: 42.4 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.1 (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French

Net migration rate

1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.2% (2008) country comparison to the world: 108

Physicians density

3.38 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

66,259,012 country comparison to the world: 22 note: the above figure is for metropolitan France and five overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

0.45% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Religions

Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4% overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, pagan

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.08 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 23.8% country comparison to the world: 43 male: 23.9% female: 23.7% (2012)

Urbanization

urban population: 85.8% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

Madagascar claims the French territories of 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

metropolitan France: transshipment point for South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 23,762 (Sri Lanka); 13,513 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 12,795 (Russia); 12,560 (Cambodia); 11,738 (Serbia); 10,867 (Turkey); 8,528 (Vietnam); 7,261 (Laos); 5,101 (Mauritania) (2013) stateless persons: 1,210 (2012)

Airports

464 (2013) country comparison to the world: 17

Airports - with paved runways

total: 294 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 97 914 to 1,523 m: 83 under 914 m: 75 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 170 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 64 under 914 m: 105 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 162 country comparison to the world: 36 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 7, chemical tanker 34, container 27, liquefied gas 12, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 41, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11 foreign-owned: 50 (Belgium 7, Bermuda 5, Denmark 11, French Polynesia 11, Germany 1, New Caledonia 3, Singapore 3, Sweden 4, Switzerland 5) registered in other countries: 151 (Bahamas 15, Belgium 7, Bermuda 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 16, Egypt 1, Hong Kong 4, Indonesia 1, Ireland 2, Italy 2, Luxembourg 15, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 7, Mexico 1, Morocco 3, Netherlands 2, Norway 5, Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 3, South Korea 2, Taiwan 2, UK 39, US 4, unknown 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 15,322 km; oil 2,939 km; refined products 5,084 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Brest, Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, river port(s): Paris, Rouen (Seine); Strasbourg (Rhine); Bordeaux (Garronne) container port(s): Le Havre (2,215,262)(2011) cruise/ferry port(s): Calais, Cherbourg, Le Havre

Railways

total: 29,640 km country comparison to the world: 9 standard gauge: 29,473 km 1.435-m gauge (15,361 km electrified) narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (63 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 1,028,446 km (metropolitan France; includes 11,416 km of expressways) country comparison to the world: 8 note: there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments (2010)

Waterways

metropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2010) country comparison to the world: 16