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-7, 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.

  FRANCE SUMMARY: PDF
- 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
  land: 640,427 sq km
  water: 3,374 sq km
  551,500 sq km (metropolitan France) 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France) 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: 44
  Area - comparative:
  slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas
  Area comparison map:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Europe :: France Print
  Image Description

  slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas

  Land boundaries:
  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
  metropolitan France - total: 2751
  French Guiana - total: 1205
  Coastline:
  4,853 km
  metropolitan France: 3,427 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea)
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  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:
  mean elevation: 375 m
  elevation extremes: -2 m lowest point: Rhone River delta
  4810 highest point: Mont Blanc

  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% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 33.4% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.8% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 17.5% (2011 est.)
  forest: 29.2% (2011 est.)
  other: 18.1% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  26,420 sq km 26,950 sq km (2012)
  metropolitan France: 26,000 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second
  Natural hazards:

  metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean;

  overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding;

  volcanism: Montagne Pelee (1,394 m) on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc, it last erupted in 1932; a catastrophic eruption in May 1902 destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing an estimated 30,000 people;; La Soufriere (1,467 m) on the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean last erupted from July 1976 to March 1977;; these volcanoes are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south

  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; most major French rivers - the Meuse, Seine, Loire, Charente, Dordogne, and Garonne - flow northward or westward into the Atlantic Ocean, only the Rhone flows southward into the Mediterranean Sea
- People and Society :: France
- Population:
  67,364,357 (July 2018 est.)

  note: the above figure is for metropolitan France and five overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233

  country comparison to the world: 21
  Nationality:
  noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
  adjective: French
  Ethnic groups:
  Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities

  note: overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian

  Languages:
  French (official) 100%, French (official) declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard)

  note: overseas departments: French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili dialect)

  Religions:
  Christian (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic) 63-66%, Muslim 7-9%, Buddhist 0.5-0.75%, Jewish 0.5-0.75%, other 0.5-1.0%, none 23-28% (2015 est.)

  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

  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18.48% (male 6,366,789 /female 6,082,729)
  15-24 years: 11.8% (male 4,065,780 /female 3,884,488)
  25-54 years: 37.48% (male 12,731,825 /female 12,515,501)
  55-64 years: 12.42% (male 4,035,073 /female 4,331,751)
  65 years and over: 19.82% (male 5,781,410 /female 7,569,011) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Europe :: France Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for France. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 59.2 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 29.1 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 30.2 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 3.3 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 41.5 years
  male: 39.7 years
  female: 43.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Population growth rate:
  0.37% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Birth rate:
  12.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Death rate:
  9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Net migration rate:
  1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Population distribution:
  much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 80.4% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.72% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  10.901 million PARIS (capital), 1.69 million Lyon, 1.599 million Marseille-Aix-en-Provence, 1.054 million Lille, 997,000 Toulouse, 945,000 Bordeaux (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  28.1 years (2010 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  8 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 82 years (2018 est.)
  male: 78.9 years (2018 est.)
  female: 85.3 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Total fertility rate:
  2.06 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  78.4% (2010/11)
  Health expenditures:
  11.5% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Physicians density:
  3.24 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
  Hospital bed density:
  6.5 beds/1,000 population (2013)
  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 (2015 est.)
  rural: 98.9% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 98.7% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 1.4% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 1.1% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 1.3% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.5% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  200,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  <500 (2017 est.)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  21.6% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Education expenditures:
  5.5% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 16 years (2014)
  male: 16 years (2014)
  female: 17 years (2014)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 24.6% (2016 est.)
  male: 25.1% (2016 est.)
  female: 24.1% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
- Government :: France
- Country name:
  conventional long form: French Republic
  conventional short form: France
  local long form: Republique francaise
  local short form: France
  etymology: name derives from the Latin "Francia" meaning "Land of the Franks"; the Franks were a group of Germanic tribes located along the middle and lower Rhine River in the 3rd century A.D. who merged with Gallic-Roman populations in succeeding centuries and to whom they passed on their name
  Government type:
  semi-presidential 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; for its overseas regions the time difference is UTC-4 for Guadeloupe and Martinique, UTC-3 for French Guiana, UTC+3 for Mayotte, and UTC+4 for Reunion

  Administrative divisions:
  18 regions (regions, singular - region); Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte (Burgundy-Free County), Bretagne (Brittany), Centre-Val de Loire (Center-Loire Valley), Corse (Corsica), Grand Est (Grand East), Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Hauts-de-France (Upper France), Ile-de-France, Martinique, Mayotte, Normandie (Normandy), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (New Aquitaine), Occitanie (Occitania), Pays de la Loire (Lands of the Loire), Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion

  note: France is divided into 13 metropolitan regions (including the "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 Government 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:
  history: many previous; latest effective 4 October 1958 (2018)
  amendments: proposed by the president of the republic (upon recommendation of the prime minister and Parliament) or by Parliament; proposals submitted by Parliament members require passage by both houses followed by approval in a referendum; passage of proposals submitted by the government can bypass a referendum if submitted by the president to Parliament and passed by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament’s National Assembly; amended many times, last in 2008; note - in May 2018, the prime minister submitted a bill to the National Assembly to amend several provisions of the constitution (2018)
  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
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of France
  dual citizenship recognized: yes
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: 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 over by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council members - 3 appointed 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; administrative courts

  note: in April 2018, the French Government announced its intention to reform the country's judicial system

  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017)
  head of government: Prime Minister Edouard PHILIPPE (since 15 May 2017)
  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 23 April with a runoff on 7 May 2017 (next to be held in April 2022); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Emmanuel MACRON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (EM) 24.%, Marine LE PEN (FN) 21.3%, Francois FILLON (LR) 20.%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (FI) 19.6%, Benoit HAMON (PS) 6.4%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 66.1%, LE PEN 33.9%
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of:
  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 2 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)
  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 2 rounds if needed to serve 5-year terms)
  elections:
  Senate - last held on 24 September 2017 (next to be held on 24 September 2020)
  National Assembly - last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held in June 2022)
  election results:
  Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LR 146, SOC 78, UC 49, REM 21, CRC 21, other 33
  National Assembly - percent of vote by party first round - REM 28.2%, LR 15.8%. FN 13.2%, FI 11%, PS 7.4%, other 24.4%; percent of vote by party second round - REM 43.1%, LR 22.2%, FN 8.8%, MoDEM 6.1%, PS 5.7%. FI 4.9%, other 9.2%; seats by party - EM 308, LR 112, MoDEM 42, PS 29, UDI 18, FI 17, PCF 10, FN 8, other 33
  Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Movement or MoDEM [Francois BAYROU]
  Europe Ecology - The Greens or EELV [David CORMAND]
  French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT]
  La France Insoumise or FI [Jean-Luc MELENCHON]
  Left Front Coalition or FDG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON]
  Left Party or PG [linked with the movement La France Insoumise or FI [Jean-Luc MELENCHON]]
  Left Radical Party or PRG [Sylvia PINEL] (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)
  Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]
  National Rally or RN [Marine LE PEN] (formerly National Front or FN)
  New Anticapitalist Party or NPA [collective leadership; Christine POUPIN, main spokesperson; Philippe POUTOU, presidential candidate]
  Rally for France or RPF [Igor KUREK]
  Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean-Luc LAURENT]
  Socialist Party or PS [Rachid TEMAL, interim leader]
  Stand Up France (Debout La France) [Nicolas DUPONT-AIGNAN]
  The Centrists [Herve MORIN] (formerly new Center or NC)
  The Republic on the Move (La Republique en Marche) or REM [Christophe CASTANER]
  The Republicans or LR [Laurent WAUQUIEZ] (formerly Union for a Popular Movement or UMP)
  Union des Democrates et Independants or UDI [Jean-Christohe LAGARDE] and Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for French Democracy or UDF); together known as UDI-Modem; Radical Party [Laurent HENART] is a member of UDI)
  United Republic or RS [Dominique DE VILLEPIN]
  Worker's Struggle (Lutte Ouvriere) or LO [Nathalie ARTHAUD, Arlette LAGUILLER, spokespersons] (also known as Communist Union)
  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, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Gerard Roger 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 Jamie D. McCOURT (since 18 December 2017); 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
  consulate(s): Bordeaux, Lyon, Rennes, Toulouse
  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. France is the most visited country in the world with 89 million foreign tourists in 2017. 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 grew by 1.9% in 2017, up from 1.2% the year before. The unemployment rate (including overseas territories) increased from 7.8% in 2008 to 10.2% in 2015, before falling to 9.0% in 2017. Youth unemployment in metropolitan France decreased from 24.6% in the fourth quarter of 2014 to 20.6% in the fourth quarter of 2017.

  France’s public finances have historically been strained by high spending and low growth. In 2017, the budget deficit improved to 2.7% of GDP, bringing it in compliance with the EU-mandated 3% deficit target. Meanwhile, France's public debt rose from 89.5% of GDP in 2012 to 97% in 2017.

  Since entering office in May 2017, President Emmanuel MACRON launched a series of economic reforms to improve competitiveness and boost economic growth. President MACRON campaigned on reforming France’s labor code and in late 2017 implemented a range of reforms to increase flexibility in the labor market by making it easier for firms to hire and fire and simplifying negotiations between employers and employees. In addition to labor reforms, President MACRON’s 2018 budget cuts public spending, taxes, and social security contributions to spur private investment and increase purchasing power. The government plans to gradually reduce corporate tax rate for businesses from 33.3% to 25% by 2022.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.856 trillion (2017 est.)
  $2.791 trillion (2016 est.)
  $2.761 trillion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 10
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $2.588 trillion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2.3% (2017 est.)
  1.1% (2016 est.)
  1% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $44,100 (2017 est.)
  $43,200 (2016 est.)
  $42,900 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 40
  Gross national saving:
  22.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
  21.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
  22.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 54.1% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 23.6% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 22.5% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: 0.9% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 30.9% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -32% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1.7% (2017 est.)
  industry: 19.5% (2017 est.)
  services: 78.8% (2017 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% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Labor force:
  30.68 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 2.8% (2016 est.)
  industry: 20% (2016 est.)
  services: 77.2% (2016 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  9.4% (2017 est.)
  10.1% (2016 est.)

  note: includes overseas territories

  country comparison to the world: 136
  Population below poverty line:
  14.2% (2015 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 25.4% (2013)
  highest 10%: 25.4% (2013)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  29.3 (2016)
  29.2 (2015)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Budget:
  revenues: 1.392 trillion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 1.459 trillion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  53.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Public debt:
  96.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
  96.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

  note: data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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: 20
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.2% (2017 est.)
  0.3% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Central bank discount rate:
  0% (31 December 2016)
  0.05% (31 December 2015)

  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: 153
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  1.29% (31 December 2017 est.)
  1.6% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Stock of narrow money:
  $1.465 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.139 trillion (31 December 2016 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: 5
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.465 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.139 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $4.334 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $3.646 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $1.591 trillion (31 March 2017 est.)
  $2.088 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $2.086 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Current account balance:
  -$14.83 billion (2017 est.)
  -$18.55 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Exports:
  $549.9 billion (2017 est.)
  $507 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Exports - partners:
  Germany 14.8%, Spain 7.7%, Italy 7.5%, US 7.2%, Belgium 7%, UK 6.7% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
  Imports:
  $601.7 billion (2017 est.)
  $536.7 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
  Imports - partners:
  Germany 18.5%, Belgium 10.2%, Netherlands 8.3%, Italy 7.9%, Spain 7.1%, UK 5.3%, US 5.2%, China 5.1% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $156.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $138.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Debt - external:
  $5.36 trillion (31 March 2016 est.)
  $5.25 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $858.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $807.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $1.429 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.259 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Exchange rates:
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.885 (2017 est.)
  0.903 (2016 est.)
  0.9214 (2015 est.)
  0.885 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: France
- Electricity access:
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
  Electricity - production:
  529.1 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Electricity - consumption:
  450.8 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Electricity - exports:
  61.41 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Electricity - imports:
  19.9 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  130.8 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  17% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  50% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Crude oil - production:
  15,170 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Crude oil - imports:
  1.147 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  65.97 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  1.311 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  1.705 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  440,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  886,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Natural gas - production:
  16.99 million cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Natural gas - consumption:
  41.88 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Natural gas - exports:
  6.031 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Natural gas - imports:
  48.59 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  8.41 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  341.2 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
- Communications :: France
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 38.687 million (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 69.017 million (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive use of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system; highly developed; 3rd largest in Europe; broadband subscriber rate remains strong at 4% (2017)
  domestic: 58 per 100 persons for fixed-line and 103 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2017)
  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 (2015)
  overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe - 590; Martinique - 596; Mayotte - 262; Reunion - 262; ACE submarine cable connecting France with African markets extended (2015)
  Broadcast media:
  a mix of both publicly operated and privately owned TV stations; state-owned France television stations operate 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, 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 users:
  total: 57,226,585 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 85.6% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 28.429 million (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
- Transportation :: France
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 30 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 485 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 65,039,503 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4,098,310,000 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  F (2016)
  Airports:
  464 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 294 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 14 (2017)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 97 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 83 (2017)
  under 914 m: 75 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 170 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 64 (2013)
  under 914 m: 105 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  15322 km gas, 2939 km oil, 5084 km refined products (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 29,640 km (2014)
  standard gauge: 29,473 km 1.435-m gauge (15,561 km electrified) (2014)
  narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (63 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Roadways:
  total: 1,028,446 km (metropolitan France) (2010)
  paved: 1,028,446 km (includes 11,416 km of expressways) (2010)

  note: not included are 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments

  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: 555 (2017)
  by type: container ship 24, general cargo 72, oil tanker 28, other 431 (2017)

  note: includes Monaco

  country comparison to the world: 37
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Brest, Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes,
  container port(s) (TEUs): Le Havre (2,510,000) (2016)
  LNG terminal(s) (import): Fos Cavaou, Fos Tonkin, Montoir de Bretagne
  river port(s): Paris, Rouen (Seine)
  cruise/ferry port(s): Calais, Cherbourg, Le Havre
  Strasbourg (Rhine) Bordeaux (Garronne)
- Military and Security :: France
- Military expenditures:
  1.79% of GDP (2017)
  1.79% of GDP (2016)
  1.79% of GDP (2015)
  1.82% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  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)
- Terrorism :: France
- Terrorist groups - foreign based:
  Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA):
  aim(s): establish an independent Basque homeland based on Marxist principles in what is now southwestern France and northern Spain
  area(s) of operation: maintains a presence in the southwest (April 2018)
- Transnational Issues :: France
- Disputes - international:
  Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova IslandComoros claims MayotteMauritius claims Tromelin Islandterritorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French GuianaFrance 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): 24,110 (Sri Lanka), 15,697 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 15,634 (Russia), 13,425 (Afghanistan), 13,376 (Serbia and Kosovo), 12,520 (Syria), 11,361 (Cambodia), 11,337 (Sudan), 10,727 (Turkey), 7,911 (Vietnam), 7,788 (Guinea), 7,245 (Iraq), 6,271 (Laos), 5,320 (Mauritania) (2017)
  stateless persons: 1,425 (2017)
  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