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Europe :: France

- ## Introduction :: FRANCE

- 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 withdraw French forces from 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.

- ## Geography :: FRANCE

- 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 halfway between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
  Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
  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
  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
  Area:
  total: 643,801 sq km; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France)
  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
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Area - comparative:
  slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  metropolitan France - total: 2,751 km
  border countries (8): 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 (2): Brazil 649 km, Suriname 556 km
  Coastline:
  total: 4,853 km
  metropolitan France: 3,427 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea)
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  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)
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
  highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
  note: 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
  Natural resources:
  metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish
  French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 52.7%
  arable land 33.4%; permanent crops 1.8%; permanent pasture 17.5%
  forest: 29.2%
  other: 18.1% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  total: 26,420 sq km 26,950 sq km
  metropolitan France: 27,230 sq km (2007)
  Total renewable water resources:
  211 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 31.62 cu km/yr (19%/71%/10%)
  per capita: 512.1 cu m/yr (2009)
  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)
  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
  Geography - note:
  largest West European nation

- ## People and Society :: FRANCE

- Nationality:
  noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
  adjective: French
  Ethnic groups:
  Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
  overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian
  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)
  Religions:
  Christian (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic) 63-66%, Muslim 7-9%, Jewish .5-.75%, Buddhist .5-.75%, other .5-1.0%, none 23-28%
  note: France maintains a tradition of secularism and has not officially collected data on religious affiliation since the 1872 national census, which complicates assessments of France's religious composition; an 1872 law prohibiting state authorities from collecting data on individuals' ethnicity or religious beliefs was reaffirmed by a 1978 law emphasizing the prohibition of the collection or exploitation of personal data revealing an individual's race, ethnicity, or political, philosophical, or religious opinions; a 1905 law codified France's separation of Church and State (2015 est.)
  Population:
  66,553,766
  note: the above figure is for metropolitan France and five overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18.66% (male 6,350,008/female 6,066,407)
  15-24 years: 11.82% (male 4,025,283/female 3,842,989)
  25-54 years: 38.31% (male 12,823,675/female 12,671,013)
  55-64 years: 12.48% (male 4,008,672/female 4,294,218)
  65 years and over: 18.74% (male 5,360,078/female 7,111,423) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 60.3%
  youth dependency ratio: 29.6%
  elderly dependency ratio: 30.6%
  potential support ratio: 3.3% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 41.1 years
  male: 39.4 years
  female: 42.6 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.43% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Birth rate:
  12.38 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Death rate:
  9.16 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Net migration rate:
  1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 79.5% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  PARIS (capital) 10.843 million; Lyon 1.609 million; Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 1.605 million; Lille 1.027 million; Nice-Cannes 967,000; Toulouse 938,000 (2015)
  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: 0.93 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 3.28 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 2.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 81.75 years
  male: 78.65 years
  female: 85.01 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Total fertility rate:
  2.08 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  76.4%
  note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2008)
  Health expenditures:
  11.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Physicians density:
  3.19 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  6.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  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 (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 98.6% of population
  rural: 98.9% of population
  total: 98.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1.4% of population
  rural: 1.1% of population
  total: 1.3% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  1,500 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  25.7% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Education expenditures:
  5.9% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 16 years
  male: 16 years
  female: 16 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 23.8%
  male: 23.9%
  female: 23.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39

- ## Government :: FRANCE

- Country name:
  conventional long form: French Republic
  conventional short form: France
  local long form: Republique francaise
  local short form: France
  Government type:
  republic
  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
  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)
  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
  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)
  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)
  Constitution:
  many previous; latest adopted 4 October 1958; amended many times, last in 2008 (2014)
  Legal system:
  civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  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
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-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 president; percent of vote in first round - Francois HOLLANDE (PS) 28.6%, Nicolas SARKOZY (UMP) 27.2%, Marine LE PEN (FN) 17.9%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (PG) 11.1%, Francois BAYROU (moDem) 9.1%, other 6.1%; percent of vote in second round - HOLLANDE 51.6%, SARKOZY 48.4%
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (348 seats -328 for metropolitan France and overseas departments and regions of Guadeloupe, Martinque, French Guiana, Reunion, and Mayotte, 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 departmental electoral colleges using absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed for departments with 1-3 members and proportional representation vote in departments with 4 or more members; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats - 556 for metropolitan France, 10 for overseas departments, and 11 for citizens abroad; members directly elected by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed to serve 5-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
  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
  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]
  The Republicans (formerly Union for a Popular Movement or UMP) [Nicolas SARKOZY]
  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
  United Republic or RS [Dominique DE VILLEPIN]
  Worker's Struggle (Lutte Ouvriere) or LO [collective leadership; spokespersons Nathalie ARTHAUD and Arlette LAQUILLER]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des cadres (French Confederation of Management - General Confederation of Executives) or CFE-CGC [Carole COUVERT, president] (independent white-collar union with 140,000 members)
  Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail (French Democratic Confederation of Labor) or CFDT [Laurent BERGER, secretary general] (left-leaning labor union with approximately 875,000 members)
  Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens (French Confederation of Christian Workers) or CFTC [Philippe LOUIS, president] (independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims 142,000 members)
  Confederation generale du travail (General Confederation of Labor) or CGT [Bernard THIBAULT, secretary general] (historically communist labor union with approximately 710,000 members)
  Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere (General Confederation of Labor - Worker's Force) or FO [Jean-Claude MAILLY, secretary general] (independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members)
  Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF [Pierre GATTAZ, president] (employers' union with claimed 750,000 companies as members)
  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
  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-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Gerard ARAUD (since 18 September 2014)
  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, Washington DC
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jane D. HARTLEY (since 31 October 2014); 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
  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
  National symbol(s):
  Gallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne (female personification); national colors: blue, white, red
  National anthem:
  name: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
  lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
  note: adopted 1795, restored 1870; originally known as "Chant de Guerre pour l'Armee du Rhin" (War Song for the Army of the Rhine), the National Guard of Marseille made the song famous by singing it while marching into Paris in 1792 during the French Revolutionary Wars

- ## Economy :: FRANCE

- 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 more than 84 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 increased by 0.4% in 2014. The unemployment rate (including overseas territories) increased from 7.8% in 2008 to 10.4% in the fourth quarter of 2014. Youth unemployment in metropolitan France decreased from a high of 25.4% in the fourth quarter of 2012 to 24.3% in the fourth quarter of 2014. 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% of GDP in 2014, while France's public debt rose from 68% of GDP to more than 95% in 2014, and may hit 100% by 2016. Elected on a conventionally leftist platform, President Francois HOLLANDE surprised and angered many supporters with a January 2014 speech announcing a sharp change in his economic policy, recasting himself as a liberalizing reformer. The government's budget for 2014 shifted the balance of fiscal consolidation from taxes to a total of $24 billion in spending cuts. In December 2014, HOLLANDE announced additional reforms, including a plan to extend commercial business hours, liberalize professional services, and sell off $6.2-12.4 billion in state owned assets. France’s tax burden remains well above the EU average and income tax cuts over the past decade are being partly reversed, particularly for higher earners. The top rate of income tax is 41%. The government is allowing a 75% payroll tax on salaries over $1.24 million to lapse.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.581 trillion (2014 est.)
  $2.571 trillion (2013 est.)
  $2.564 trillion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 9
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $2.847 trillion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  0.4% (2014 est.)
  0.3% (2013 est.)
  0.3% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $40,400 (2014 est.)
  $40,200 (2013 est.)
  $40,100 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Gross national saving:
  20.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  20.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  21.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 55.1%
  government consumption: 24.3%
  investment in fixed capital: 21.6%
  investment in inventories: 0.1%
  exports of goods and services: 28.3%
  imports of goods and services: -29.3%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1.7%
  industry: 19.4%
  services: 78.9% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
  Industries:
  machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Labor force:
  29.87 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 3%
  industry: 21.3%
  services: 75.7% (2013 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  10.2% (2014 est.)
  10.3% (2013 est.)
  note: includes overseas territories
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Population below poverty line:
  8.1% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.6%
  highest 10%: 25.4% (2013)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  30.1 (2013)
  30.5 (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Budget:
  revenues: $1.507 trillion
  expenditures: $1.631 trillion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  51.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Public debt:
  95.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  92.2% of GDP (2013 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
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.6% (2014 est.)
  1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Central bank discount rate:
  0.05% (31 December 2014)
  0.25% (31 December 2013)
  note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  2.8% (31 December 2014 est.)
  2.84% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Stock of narrow money:
  $1.081 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.14 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
  note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 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
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Stock of broad money:
  $2.541 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.771 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $3.484 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.774 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $1.762 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $1.538 trillion (31 December 2011)
  $1.983 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Current account balance:
  -$29.91 billion (2014 est.)
  -$40.2 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Exports:
  $582.5 billion (2014 est.)
  $580.8 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Exports - commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
  Exports - partners:
  Germany 16.9%, Belgium 7.5%, Italy 7.4%, Spain 7.3%, UK 7.2%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.1% (2014)
  Imports:
  $678.1 billion (2014 est.)
  $681.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
  Imports - partners:
  Germany 19.9%, Belgium 11.4%, Italy 7.8%, Netherlands 7.7%, Spain 6.7%, China 5%, UK 4.4% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $143.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $144.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Debt - external:
  $5.371 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $5.004 trillion (31 December 2011)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $1.108 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.102 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $1.51 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.496 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Exchange rates:
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.7489 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
  0.7752 (2012 est.)
  0.7185 (2011 est.)
  0.755 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: FRANCE

- Electricity - production:
  568 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Electricity - consumption:
  462.9 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Electricity - exports:
  59.95 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Electricity - imports:
  11.95 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  130.4 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  24.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  51.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  14.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  9.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Crude oil - production:
  16,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Crude oil - imports:
  1.697 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  89.57 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  1.321 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  1.767 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  464,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  915,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Natural gas - production:
  339 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Natural gas - consumption:
  42.8 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Natural gas - exports:
  1.8 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Natural gas - imports:
  39.2 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  9.656 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  385.6 million Mt (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19

- ## Communications :: FRANCE

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 38.81 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 64.9 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  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)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
  Internet country code:
  metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re
  Internet users:
  total: 56.8 million
  percent of population: 85.8% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11

- ## Transportation :: FRANCE

- 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)
  Pipelines:
  gas 15,322 km; oil 2,939 km; refined products 5,084 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 29,640 km
  standard gauge: 29,473 km 1.435-m gauge (15,561 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (63 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Roadways:
  total: 1,028,446 km (metropolitan France; includes 11,416 km of expressways)
  note: not included are 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Waterways:
  metropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km navigable by craft up to 3,000 metric tons) (2010)
  Merchant marine:
  total: 162
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  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
  LNG terminal(s) (import): Fos Cavaou, Fos Tonkin, Montoir de Bretagne

- ## Military :: FRANCE

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

- ## Transnational Issues :: FRANCE

- 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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 23,966 (Sri Lanka); 13,727 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 13,644 (Russia); 12,003 (Cambodia); 12,119 (Serbia and Kosovo); 10,699 (Turkey); 8,281 (Vietnam); 7,036 (Laos); 5,201 (Guinea); 5,058 (Mauritania) (2014)
  stateless persons: 1,288 (2014)
  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

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