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Europe :: France Print
Page last updated on December 31, 2018
The World Factbook Country/Location Flag Modal
Europe :: France Print
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

The World Factbook Country/Location Locator Map Modal
Europe :: France Print
The World Factbook Country/Location Photo Gallery Modal
Europe :: France
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This satellite photo shows Northwest Europe. Visible are the Republic of Ireland (top leftmost), the United Kingdom (top left), France (middle left), Belgium (middle), the Netherlands (top middle), Germany (right), Denmark (top right), Luxembourg (between France, Germany, and Belgium), Switzerland (bottom middle), Italy (bottom middle), and Austria (bottom right); the latter three all cloud covered. The city of Paris is the gray area in northern France. Image courtesy of NASA.
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View of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain taken April 1985. The snow-covered mountains, which form a formidable physical barrier between France to the north (left) and Spain to the south (right), are the main focus of this low-oblique, southeast-looking photograph. Scarcely interrupted by accessible passes and pierced in only two places by railroad tunnels, the Pyrenees are an ideal natural boundary between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. The northern flank of the Pyrenees is characterized by a series of large alluvial deposits that fan out across southwestern France. The darker, roughly triangular area in southwest France is part of the forested Aquitaine Basin. The southern flank of the Pyrenees (Spain) is characterized by aridity and very rugged, mountainous conditions. Human settlement is sparse throughout the Pyrenees. However, because the region is rich in mineral waters, there are dozens of mineral water resorts, and winter sports attract visitors from southwestern France. The very small mountainous country of Andorra (not distinguishable in this photograph) has survived in an inaccessible upper valley of the Pyrenees. Image courtesy of NASA.
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The Alps march across this image of Autumnal (early October) southern Europe. On either side of and above the Alps are the countries of (from left to right) France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia, while below the Alps is Italy. The Mediterranean and Ligurian Seas sit to the west of Italy, while to the right is the Adriatic Sea. As the season progresses, snow begins to whiten the Alps. Image courtesy of NASA.
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The brightly lit metropolitan areas of Torino (Italy), Lyon, and Marseille (both in France) stand out amidst numerous smaller urban areas in this dramatic photo from the international space station. The image captures the nighttime appearance of the France-Italy border. The southwestern end of the Alps Mountains separates the two countries. The island of Corsica is visible in the Ligurian Sea to the south (image top). The full moon reflects brightly on the water surface and also illuminates the tops of low patchy clouds over the border (center). Photo courtesy of NASA.
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Rich in antiquities and picturesque landscapes, the island provinces of Corsica, France, (top) and Sardinia, Italy, (bottom) have captured the imaginations of historians and poets alike for centuries. Corsica, crowned with snow-capped mountains, jeweled with shimmering lakes, and cloaked in misty emerald forests, is situated in the Mediterranean Sea southeast of mainland France. The island has almost 1,700 hills and mountains, and is carved by an extensive network of rivers. Across the Strait of Bonifacio to the south is Sardinia, the Mediterranean's second largest island. Stretching across the central, eastern part of Sardinia is the rugged terrain of Gennargentu - mountainous, thickly vegetated, and mostly uninhabited. The port city of Cagliari sits on the large bay on Sardinia's southern coast. Photo courtesy of NASA.
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View of Gordes in Provence. The buildings are constructed of white stones and rise in tiers above the Imergue Valley on the edge of the Vaucluse Plateau.
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The Gordes Castle in Provence dates to 1031.
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The village square in Gordes is adjacent to the Castle.
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World War I memorial in the Gordes village square.
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The Castle on the village square in Gordes, Provence, was partially rebuilt in 1525.
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Fields of lavender in Provence near Roussillon.
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A Roman bridge still in use in Provence near Roussillon.
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View of the village of Roussillon in Provence. The village sits atop the highest hills between the Coulon Valley and the Vaucluse Plateau.
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View of an alley in the village of Roussillon in Provence.
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Village church in Roussillon, Provence.
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Much of the architecture in Roussillon is colored with earthen tones from a nearby ocher quarry.
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View of the Palais de Chaillot as seen from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The two curved buildings making up the site house a number of museums.
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The Place de la Concorde in Paris is the largest square in the French capital. In the center of the Place stands a giant obelisk, transported from Egypt and erected in 1836.
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The Eglise du Dome is the church at the building complex named Les Invalides in Paris. Containing a hospital and retirement home for war veterans, the site also consists of museums and monuments relating to the military history of France.
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Altar in the church of Saint-Ferdinand-des-Ternes in Paris.
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Flower festooned boat on the Seine River in Paris.
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The Louvre Pyramid, built in 1989, serves as the main entrance to the Louvre, one of the world's largest and most visited museums. Objects dating from prehistory to the 19th century are on display there.
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The massive courtyard at the Chateau de Versailles (Palace of Versailles). Most of the construction at the sprawling site was carried out in four phases between 1664 and 1710, during the reign of Louis XIV.
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The Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey) is a Romanesque church dedicated to St. Etienne (St. Stephen)in Caen. Built by order of William the Conqueror, the former Benedictine abbey was completed in 1063.
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The tomb of William the Conqueror in the Church of St. Etienne in Caen.
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Gardens before the Church of St. Etienne in Caen. Formerly referred to as the Men's Abbey, the structure was completed in 1063 and is now dedicated to St. Stephen.
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Entrance to the D-Day Landing Museum in Arromanches, Normandy.
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Rows of crosses at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy. Located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach (one of the landing beaches for the Normandy Invasion of 1944), the cemetery contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead.
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View of the marina outside the walled city of Saint-Malo in Brittany. The city began as a 6th century monastic settlement. Over time its citizens developed a reputation for asserting their autonomy. From 1490-93, Saint-Malo declared itself an independent republic. During the 16th-18th centuries, it was famous as the home of the corsairs (French privateers). Jacques Cartier, the French explorer, called Saint-Malo home. The first colonists of the Falkland Islands came from Saint-Malo.
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The Chateau de Saint-Malo in Britanny now serves as the town museum and town hall.
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The fortified island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel off the coast of Normandy. At one time the site was disconnected from the coast at high tide, but silting has since connected the island to the mainland. Today, an operation is underway to desilt the area around the island. It was not until the 8th century that the first monastic establishment appeared on the island. Before that it was a stronghold of Romano-Breton culture and power. In the Hundred Years War, the French successfully prevented the English from capturing the island. During the Reformation, the popularity of the Mont declined, and during the French Revolution it became a prison which finally closed in 1863. In 1874, Mont-Saint-Michel was declared a historic monument; in 1979, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Close up of some of the impressive fortifications at Mont-Saint-Michel.
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The cloisters at Mont-Saint-Michel.
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Shops in the town of Cognac, where the famous brandy (distilled wine) was first developed.
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The Chateau fort de Lourdes, which overlooks the town, occupies a strategic position in the Pyrenees. Parts of the structure date back to Roman times.
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Pilgrims and visitors at Lourdes. The Rosary Basilica in the foreground serves as an entranceway to the larger Basilica of the Immaculate Conception behind. Lourdes is the reputed site of 18 Marian apparitions in 1858. The town is one of the world's greatest pilgrimage sites hosting some 5 million visitors annually.
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Some of the massive walls at the fortified town of Carcassone. Restored in 1853, the fortress became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
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A section of the fortifications at Chateau Comtal, part of the larger defenses at the fortress of Carcassone.
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A street scene on a rainy day in the fortified town of Carcassone.
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The ancient Roman arena at Nimes is still in use today. Built about A.D. 70, it was remodeled in 1863 and can seat some 16,300 spectators.
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The Maison Carree in Nimes, one of the best preserved of surviving Roman temples, dates to 16 B.C. In subsequent centuries it served as a church, a meeting hall, a storehouse, and a stable. In 1823 it became a museum.
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The Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard, built during the mid-first century A.D., was part of a 50 km (30 mi) long aqueduct system that brought water to the city of Nemausus (today's Nimes). Built entirely without the use of mortar, its construction is thought to have taken about three years using 800 to 1,000 workers.
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The city of Avignon in southeastern France is well known as the former seat of the papacy in the 14th century. Shown is the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) on the right and the Romanesque Cathedral Notre Dames-des Doms on the far left.
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A beach at Nice. The city is a major tourist center and a leading resort along the French Riviera.
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Farmers market in Nice.
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Approaching the fortified medieval town and artist's haven of Saint-Paul de Vence in Provence.
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Flowers drip from balconies in the town of Saint-Paul de Vence in Provence.
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A street market in Beaune, a town located in the heart of the Burgundy wine region.
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A street scene in Dijon, the capital of the Burgundy region. The city was first settled by the Romans and then became the domain of the Dukes of Burgundy, who ruled the area until the late 1400s. It is known for its many architectural styles and hosts the annual Dijon International and Gastronomic Fair.
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The Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy) in Dijon.
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A cafe on a canal in Colmar. The town, situated on the Alsatian Wine Route, was founded in the 9th century. In 1226, it became a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire. It was conquered by Louis XIV and the French in 1673 and over subsequent centuries alternated between German and French control. It reverted to France in 1945.
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Buildings along a canal in Colmar, an Alsatian town known as "Little Venice." Situated on the Lauch River, Colmar connects to the Rhine via a canal.
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Half timbered houses along a shopping street in old Colmar.
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A street scene in old Colmar. The picturesque town is a tourist magnet; it annually hosts the Alsatian Wine Fair.
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Street scene in the Alsatian town of Colmar.
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Colorful houses along a canal in Colmar, an Alsatian town with the sobriquet of "Little Venice."
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The Eglise Saint-Matthieu (Dominican Church of St. Matthew) in the Alsatian town of Colmar was built in the 13th century.
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Colorful house in the medieval Alsatian town of Riquewihr. The locale is renowned not only for its historic architecture, but also for the fine wines it produces.
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The road into Ingersheim on the Alsatian Wine Route.
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Vineyards along the Alsatian Wine Route.
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Vineyards along the Alsatian Wine Route.
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The main square in Equisheim with the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. This church, built in 1808, replaced one dating to medieval times.
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The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the Chapel of Saint-Leo IX, and the statue of Saint-Leo IX in Eguisheim.
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The Chapel of Saint-Leo IX stands in the main square of Eguisheim next to the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
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A statue of Saint-Leo IX stands in the main square of Eguisheim before the church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Saint-Leo IX was born in Eguisheim and became Pope in 1049.
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Street scene in Eguisheim along the Alsace Wine Trail.
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Old wine press along the streets of Eguisheim.
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Strolling through the streets of Eguisheim.
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Street scene along the flower-lined streets of Eguisheim.
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Strasbourg Cathedral was begun in 1176 and completed in 1439. Although it displays some elements of Romanesque style, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of high Gothic architecture. Inside is an unusually accurate clock that has been built and rebuilt three times over the centuries, and which indicates a variety of astronomical data. The animated figures still move to indicate the hours of the day.
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The famous west portal of the Strasbourg Cathedral is in the Gothic style and has hundreds of figures sculpted into it.
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Rose windows, such as this one in Strasbourg Cathedral, are a common feature of Gothic architecture.
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A half timbered house on Grande Ile (Big Island) in Strasbourg. Grande Ile is in the Ill River, which runs through Strasbourg. The entire island has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its buildings showing developing stages of architecture - beginning in the medieval period and working up to the classical period. Besides Strasbourg Cathedral there are four other venerable churches, as well as the Palais Rohan, a former residence of the prince-bishops of the area.
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The old custom's building (L'Ancienne Douane) on the Grande Ile in Strasbourg. Constructed in 1358, the structure housed the port and tax authorities, and was used to store and transform goods and merchandise going up and down the Rhine River. Today the building houses a restaurant.
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A sightseeing boat along the Ill River in Strasbourg.
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Walkway along the Ill River in Strasbourg.
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A view of the western side of Strasbourg Cathedral. Only one spire was ever completed.
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View of the Strasbourg Cathedral roof from its spire. Some of the flying buttresses supporting the cathedral walls can be clearly seen.
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Looking down on Strasbourg from the Cathedral. Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region and the Bas-Rhin department. It is the ninth largest city in France and is the home of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and Eurocorps (the European Union's military forces). It is an important center of manufacturing and engineering, and has a port on the Rhine River. The Celts first settled the site in about 1300 B.C. It became a part of the Roman Empire in 12 B.C. In A.D. 923 it became part of the Holy Roman Empire. The University of Strasbourg is the largest university in France.
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Place Stanislas (Stanislas Square) in the center of Nancy, formerly the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, now the capital of Meurthe-et-Moselle. The square, constructed between 1751 and 1755, was the brainchild of Stanislas Leszczynski, Duke of Lorraine and former King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Nancy became a French province on the death of Stanislas in 1766. In 2005, the heads of three countries - Germany, Poland, and France - met here to inaugurate the renovated Place Stanislas. A statue of Stanislas Leszczynski stands in front of the Town Hall.
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The Neptune Fountain is one of four waterworks erected by Barthelemy Guibal in Stanislas Square in Nancy; this one was completed in 1751.
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The Amphitrite Fountain in Stanislas Square in Nancy is one of four erected by Barthelemy Guibal; this one dates to 1750.
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The Graffe Gate is one of the oldest remaining parts of Nancy's fortifications. It was erected in the 14th century, and its towers were used as prisons for many years. Its bell also formerly tolled the curfew. The facade displays a distinctive Lorraine Cross, since the city was the former capital of the Duchy of Lorraine.
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The Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau was built on an island in the Indre River between 1515 and 1527 and is one of the earliest of French Renaissance chateaux.
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The Chateau d'Usse was rebuilt in the 15th century on a stronghold site dating back to the 11th century. By tradition, this is the castle Charles Perrault had in mind when he wrote the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.
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The mansion of Clos Luce in Amboise is connected to the nearby royal Chateau by an underground passageway. It served as the residence of Leonardo da Vinci for the last three years of his life (1516-1519). The mansion currently is the museum for the surrounding region and displays 40 models of machines developed by Leonardo.
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The Chateau de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley was built in the early 16th century. It is one of France's most popular tourist attractions.
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The royal Chateau d'Amboise in the Loire Valley was rebuilt in the late 15th century over a stronghold dating back to the 11th century.
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Statue of Dom Perignon (1638-1715) in the town of Epernay. The Benedictine monk made many important contributions to the production and quality of champagne wines.
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- Introduction :: France
- Background: This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.

  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: This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.

  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: This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the centroid or center point of a country expressed in degrees and minutes; it is based on the locations provided in the Geographic Names Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names.

  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: This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. Note that boundary representations on these maps are not necessarily authoritative. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.

  metropolitan France: Europe;

  French Guiana: South America;

  Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean;

  Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean;

  Mayotte: Africa;

  Reunion: World

  Area: This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.
  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: This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
  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: This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries. When available, official lengths published by national statistical agencies are used. Because surveying methods may differ, country border lengths reported by contiguous countries may differ.
  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: This entry gives the total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
  4,853 km
  metropolitan France: 3,427 km
  Maritime claims: This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions: territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its . . . more
  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: This entry includes a brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.

  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: This entry contains a brief description of the topography.

  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: This entry includes both the mean elevation and the elevation extremes.
  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: This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance, such as rare earth elements (REEs). In general, products appear only if they make a significant contribution to the economy, or are likely to do so in the future.
  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: This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: agricultural land, forest, and other; agricultural land is further divided into arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest, permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and rubber that are not replanted after each harvest, and includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, and permane . . . more
  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: This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water.
  26,420 sq km 26,950 sq km (2012)
  metropolitan France: 26,000 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution: This entry provides a summary description of the population dispersion within a country. While it may suggest population density, it does not provide density figures.
  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: This entry lists potential natural disasters. For countries where volcanic activity is common, a volcanism subfield highlights historically active volcanoes.

  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: This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain). Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxi . . . more
  some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
  Environment - international agreements: This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name.
  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: This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.
  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: This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: Starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account t . . . more
  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: This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.
  noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
  adjective: French
  Ethnic groups: This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.
  Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities

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

  Languages: This entry provides a listing of languages spoken in each country and specifies any that are official national or regional languages. When data is available, the languages spoken in each country are broken down according to the percent of the total population speaking each language as a first language. For those countries without available data, languages are listed in rank order based on prevalence, starting with the most-spoken language.
  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: This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's major religions are described below. Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace m . . . more
  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: This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age. Information is included by sex and age group as follows: 0-14 years (children), 15-24 years (early working age), 25-54 years (prime working age), 55-64 years (mature working age), 65 years and over (elderly). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older population . . . more
  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: Dependency ratios are a measure of the age structure of a population. They relate the number of individuals that are likely to be economically "dependent" on the support of others. Dependency ratios contrast the ratio of youths (ages 0-14) and the elderly (ages 65+) to the number of those in the working-age group (ages 15-64). Changes in the dependency ratio provide an indication of potential social support requirements resulting from changes in population age structures. As fertility lev . . . more
  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: This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. Currently, the median age ranges from a low of about 15 in Niger and Uganda to 40 or more in several European countries and Japan. See the entry for "Age structure" for the importance of a young versus an older age structure and, by implication, a low versus a high . . . more
  total: 41.5 years
  male: 39.7 years
  female: 43.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as . . . more
  0.37% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Birth rate: This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.
  12.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Death rate: This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining . . . more
  9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Net migration rate: This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population chan . . . more
  1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Population distribution: This entry provides a summary description of the population dispersion within a country. While it may suggest population density, it does not provide density figures.
  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: This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country. The second, rate of urbanization, describes the projected average rate of change of the size of the urban population over the given period of time. Additionally, the World entry includes a list of the ten largest urban agglomerations. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising th . . . more
  urban population: 80.4% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.72% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population: This entry provides the population of the capital and up to six major cities defined as urban agglomerations with populations of at least 750,000 people. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the suburban fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent to, the boundaries of the city. For smaller countries, lacking urban centers of 750,000 or more, only the population of the capital is presented.
  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: This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertilit . . . more
  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: This entry provides the mean (average) age of mothers at the birth of their first child. It is a useful indicator for gauging the success of family planning programs aiming to reduce maternal mortality, increase contraceptive use – particularly among married and unmarried adolescents – delay age at first marriage, and improve the health of newborns.
  28.1 years (2010 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate: The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes). The MMR includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, for a specified year.
  8 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Infant mortality rate: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
  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: This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.
  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: This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replaceme . . . more
  2.06 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Contraceptive prevalence rate: This field gives the percent of women of reproductive age (15-49) who are married or in union and are using, or whose sexual partner is using, a method of contraception according to the date of the most recent available data. The contraceptive prevalence rate is an indicator of health services, development, and women’s empowerment. It is also useful in understanding, past, present, and future fertility trends, especially in developing countries.
  78.4% (2010/11)
  Health expenditures: This entry provides the total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP. Health expenditures are broadly defined as activities performed either by institutions or individuals through the application of medical, paramedical, and/or nursing knowledge and technology, the primary purpose of which is to promote, restore, or maintain health.
  11.5% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Physicians density: This entry gives the number of medical doctors (physicians), including generalist and specialist medical practitioners, per 1,000 of the population. Medical doctors are defined as doctors that study, diagnose, treat, and prevent illness, disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans through the application of modern medicine. They also plan, supervise, and evaluate care and treatment plans by other health care providers. The World Health Organization estimates that f . . . more
  3.24 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
  Hospital bed density: This entry provides the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people; it serves as a general measure of inpatient service availability. Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases, beds for both acute and chronic care are included. Because the level of inpatient services required for individual countries depends on several factors - such as demographic issues and the burden of disease - there is . . . more
  6.5 beds/1,000 population (2013)
  Drinking water source: This entry provides information about access to improved or unimproved drinking water sources available to segments of the population of a country. Improved drinking water - use of any of the following sources: piped water into dwelling, yard, or plot; public tap or standpipe; tubewell or borehole; protected dug well; protected spring; or rainwater collection. Unimproved drinking water - use of any of the following sources: unprotected dug well; unprotected spring; cart with small tank or . . . more
  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: This entry provides information about access to improved or unimproved sanitation facilities available to segments of the population of a country. Improved sanitation - use of any of the following facilities: flush or pour-flush to a piped sewer system, septic tank or pit latrine; ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine; pit latrine with slab; or a composting toilet. Unimproved sanitation - use of any of the following facilities: flush or pour-flush not piped to a sewer system, septic tank . . . more
  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: This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.
  0.5% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS.
  200,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  HIV/AIDS - deaths: This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who died of AIDS during a given calendar year.
  <500 (2017 est.)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate: This entry gives the percent of a country's population considered to be obese. Obesity is defined as an adult having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater to or equal to 30.0. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kg and dividing it by the person's squared height in meters.
  21.6% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Education expenditures: This entry provides the public expenditure on education as a percent of GDP.
  5.5% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): School life expectancy (SLE) is the total number of years of schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive, assuming that the probability of his or her being enrolled in school at any particular future age is equal to the current enrollment ratio at that age. Caution must be maintained when utilizing this indicator in international comparisons. For example, a year or grade completed in one country is not necessarily the same in terms of educational content or qualit . . . more
  total: 16 years (2014)
  male: 16 years (2014)
  female: 17 years (2014)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: This entry gives the percent of the total labor force ages 15-24 unemployed during a specified year.
  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: This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  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: This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.): Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition. Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority. Authoritarian - a form of government in whic . . . more
  semi-presidential republic
  Capital: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  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: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by the BGN are noted. Geographic names conform to spellings approved by the BGN with the exception of the omission of diacritical marks and special characters.
  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: This entry contains an alphabetical listing of all nonindependent entities associated in some way with a particular independent state.
  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: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood . . . more
  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: This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.
  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: This entry provides information on a country’s constitution and includes two subfields. The history subfield includes the dates of previous constitutions and the main steps and dates in formulating and implementing the latest constitution. For countries with 1-3 previous constitutions, the years are listed; for those with 4-9 previous, the entry is listed as “several previous,” and for those with 10 or more, the entry is “many previous.” The amendments subfield summarizes the process of am . . . more
  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: This entry provides the description of a country's legal system. A statement on judicial review of legislative acts is also included for a number of countries. The legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic law). An addition . . . more
  civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts
  International law organization participation: This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 59 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 122 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship: This entry provides information related to the acquisition and exercise of citizenship; it includes four subfields: citizenship by birth describes the acquisition of citizenship based on place of birth, known as Jus soli, regardless of the citizenship of parents. citizenship by descent only describes the acquisition of citizenship based on the principle of Jus sanguinis, or by descent, where at least one parent is a citizen of the state and being born within the territorial limits of the . . . more
  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: This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch: This entry includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing j . . . more
  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: This entry includes five subentries: chief of state; head of government; cabinet; elections/appointments; election results. Chief of state includes the name, title, and beginning date in office of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name, title of the top executive designated to manage the executive branch of the government, a . . . more
  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: This entry has three subfields. The description subfield provides the legislative structure (unicameral – single house; bicameral – an upper and a lower house); formal name(s); number of member seats; types of constituencies or voting districts (single seat, multi-seat, nationwide); electoral voting system(s); and member term of office. The elections subfield includes the dates of the last election and next election. The election results subfield lists percent of vote by party/coalition an . . . more
  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: This entry includes a listing of significant political parties, coalitions, and electoral lists as of each country's last legislative election, unless otherwise noted.
  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: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  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: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery address, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations. The use of the annotated title Appointed Ambassador refers to a new ambassador who has presented his/her credentials to the secretary of state but not the US president. Such ambassadors fulfill all diplomatic functions except meeting with or appearing at functions attended by the president until such time as they formally present their credentials at a White Hou . . . more
  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: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  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: This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  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): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
  Gallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne (female personification); national colors: blue, white, red
  National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
  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: This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.

  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): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States in the year noted. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measur . . . more
  $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): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at official exchange rates (OER) is the home-currency-denominated annual GDP figure divided by the bilateral average US exchange rate with that country in that year. The measure is simple to compute and gives a precise measure of the value of output. Many economists prefer this measure when gauging the economic power an economy maintains vis- . . . more
  $2.588 trillion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate: This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent. The growth rates are year-over-year, and not compounded.
  2.3% (2017 est.)
  1.1% (2016 est.)
  1% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  GDP - per capita (PPP): This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.
  $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: Gross national saving is derived by deducting final consumption expenditure (household plus government) from Gross national disposable income, and consists of personal saving, plus business saving (the sum of the capital consumption allowance and retained business profits), plus government saving (the excess of tax revenues over expenditures), but excludes foreign saving (the excess of imports of goods and services over exports). The figures are presented as a percent of GDP. A negative . . . more
  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: This entry shows who does the spending in an economy: consumers, businesses, government, and foreigners. The distribution gives the percentage contribution to total GDP of household consumption, government consumption, investment in fixed capital, investment in inventories, exports of goods and services, and imports of goods and services, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. household consumption consists of expenditures by resident households, and by nonprofit insti . . . more
  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: This entry shows where production takes place in an economy. The distribution gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other private economic activities that do not prod . . . more
  agriculture: 1.7% (2017 est.)
  industry: 19.5% (2017 est.)
  services: 78.8% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products: This entry is an ordered listing of major crops and products starting with the most important.
  wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
  Industries: This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output.
  machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
  Industrial production growth rate: This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).
  2% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Labor force: This entry contains the total labor force figure.
  30.68 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Labor force - by occupation: This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by sector of occupation. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other economic activities that do not produce material goods. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete and may range from 99-101 percent due to rounding. more
  agriculture: 2.8% (2016 est.)
  industry: 20% (2016 est.)
  services: 77.2% (2016 est.)
  Unemployment rate: This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
  9.4% (2017 est.)
  10.1% (2016 est.)

  note: includes overseas territories

  country comparison to the world: 136
  Population below poverty line: National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.
  14.2% (2015 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share: Data on household income or consumption come from household surveys, the results adjusted for household size. Nations use different standards and procedures in collecting and adjusting the data. Surveys based on income will normally show a more unequal distribution than surveys based on consumption. The quality of surveys is improving with time, yet caution is still necessary in making inter-country comparisons.
  lowest 10%: 25.4% (2013)
  highest 10%: 25.4% (2013)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index: This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its . . . more
  29.3 (2016)
  29.2 (2015)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Budget: This entry includes revenues, expenditures, and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  revenues: 1.392 trillion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 1.459 trillion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues: This entry records total taxes and other revenues received by the national government during the time period indicated, expressed as a percent of GDP. Taxes include personal and corporate income taxes, value added taxes, excise taxes, and tariffs. Other revenues include social contributions - such as payments for social security and hospital insurance - grants, and net revenues from public enterprises. Normalizing the data, by dividing total revenues by GDP, enables easy comparisons acr . . . more
  53.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): This entry records the difference between national government revenues and expenditures, expressed as a percent of GDP. A positive (+) number indicates that revenues exceeded expenditures (a budget surplus), while a negative (-) number indicates the reverse (a budget deficit). Normalizing the data, by dividing the budget balance by GDP, enables easy comparisons across countries and indicates whether a national government saves or borrows money. Countries with high budget deficits (relat . . . more
  -2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Public debt: This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
  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: This entry identifies the beginning and ending months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices): This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.
  1.2% (2017 est.)
  0.3% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Central bank discount rate: This entry provides the annualized interest rate a country's central bank charges commercial, depository banks for loans to meet temporary shortages of funds.
  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: This entry provides a simple average of annualized interest rates commercial banks charge on new loans, denominated in the national currency, to their most credit-worthy customers.
  1.29% (31 December 2017 est.)
  1.6% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Stock of narrow money: This entry, also known as "M1," comprises the total quantity of currency in circulation (notes and coins) plus demand deposits denominated in the national currency held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy, measured at a specific point in time. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate for the date of the information. Because of exchange rate moveme . . . more
  $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: This entry covers all of "Narrow money," plus the total quantity of time and savings deposits, credit union deposits, institutional money market funds, short-term repurchase agreements between the central bank and commercial deposit banks, and other large liquid assets held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange r . . . more
  $1.465 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.139 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Stock of domestic credit: This entry is the total quantity of credit, denominated in the domestic currency, provided by financial institutions to the central bank, state and local governments, public non-financial corporations, and the private sector. The national currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on the date of the information.
  $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: This entry gives the value of shares issued by publicly traded companies at a price determined in the national stock markets on the final day of the period indicated. It is simply the latest price per share multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares, cumulated over all companies listed on the particular exchange.
  $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: This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  -$14.83 billion (2017 est.)
  -$18.55 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Exports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $549.9 billion (2017 est.)
  $507 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Exports - partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  Germany 14.8%, Spain 7.7%, Italy 7.5%, US 7.2%, Belgium 7%, UK 6.7% (2017)
  Exports - commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued exported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
  Imports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $601.7 billion (2017 est.)
  $536.7 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Imports - commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued imported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
  Imports - partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  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: This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold, but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.
  $156.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $138.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Debt - external: This entry gives the total public and private debt owed to nonresidents repayable in internationally accepted currencies, goods, or services. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $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: This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in the home country made directly by residents - primarily companies - of other countries as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
  $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: This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in foreign countries made directly by residents - primarily companies - of the home country, as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
  $1.429 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.259 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Exchange rates: This entry provides the average annual price of a country's monetary unit for the time period specified, expressed in units of local currency per US dollar, as determined by international market forces or by official fiat. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for the national medium of exchange is presented in parenthesis. Closing daily exchange rates are not presented in The World Factbook, but are used to convert stock values - e.g., the . . . more
  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: This entry provides information on access to electricity. Electrification data – collected from industry reports, national surveys, and international sources – consists of four subfields. Population without electricity provides an estimate of the number of citizens that do not have access to electricity. Electrification – total population is the percent of a country’s total population with access to electricity, electrification – urban areas is the percent of a country’s urban population w . . . more
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
  Electricity - production: This entry is the annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
  529.1 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Electricity - consumption: This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
  450.8 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Electricity - exports: This entry is the total exported electricity in kilowatt-hours.
  61.41 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Electricity - imports: This entry is the total imported electricity in kilowatt-hours.
  19.9 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Electricity - installed generating capacity: This entry is the total capacity of currently installed generators, expressed in kilowatts (kW), to produce electricity. A 10-kilowatt (kW) generator will produce 10 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, if it runs continuously for one hour.
  130.8 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Electricity - from fossil fuels: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels (such as coal, petroleum products, and natural gas), expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  17% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity through radioactive decay of nuclear fuel, expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  50% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by water-driven turbines, expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Electricity - from other renewable sources: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by using renewable energy sources other than hydroelectric (including, for example, wind, waves, solar, and geothermal), expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Crude oil - production: This entry is the total amount of crude oil produced, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  15,170 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Crude oil - exports: This entry is the total amount of crude oil exported, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Crude oil - imports: This entry is the total amount of crude oil imported, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  1.147 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Crude oil - proved reserves: This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil, in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
  65.97 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Refined petroleum products - production: This entry is the country's total output of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
  1.311 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Refined petroleum products - consumption: This entry is the country's total consumption of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
  1.705 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Refined petroleum products - exports: This entry is the country's total exports of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  440,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Refined petroleum products - imports: This entry is the country's total imports of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  886,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Natural gas - production: This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
  16.99 million cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Natural gas - consumption: This entry is the total natural gas consumed in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
  41.88 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Natural gas - exports: This entry is the total natural gas exported in cubic meters (cu m).
  6.031 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Natural gas - imports: This entry is the total natural gas imported in cubic meters (cu m).
  48.59 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Natural gas - proved reserves: This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
  8.41 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: This entry is the total amount of carbon dioxide, measured in metric tons, released by burning fossil fuels in the process of producing and consuming energy.
  341.2 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
- Communications :: France
- Telephones - fixed lines: This entry gives the total number of fixed telephone lines in use, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.
  total subscriptions: 38.687 million (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Telephones - mobile cellular: This entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephone subscribers, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Note that because of the ubiquity of mobile phone use in developed countries, the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants can exceed 100.
  total subscriptions: 69.017 million (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Telephone system: This entry includes a brief general assessment of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (US Department of Defense). CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications. Cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its o . . . more
  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: This entry provides information on the approximate number of public and private TV and radio stations in a country, as well as basic information on the availability of satellite and cable TV services.
  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: This entry includes the two-letter codes maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).
  metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re
  Internet users: This entry gives the total number of individuals within a country who can access the Internet at home, via any device type (computer or mobile) and connection. The percent of population with Internet access (i.e., the penetration rate) helps gauge how widespread Internet use is within a country. Statistics vary from country to country and may include users who access the Internet at least several times a week to those who access it only once within a period of several months.
  total: 57,226,585 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 85.6% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions: This entry gives the total number of fixed-broadband subscriptions, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Fixed broadband is a physical wired connection to the Internet (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber) at speeds equal to or greater than 256 kilobits/second (256 kbit/s).
  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: This entry includes four subfields describing the air transport system of a given country in terms of both structure and performance. The first subfield, number of registered air carriers, indicates the total number of air carriers registered with the country’s national aviation authority and issued an air operator certificate as required by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The second subfield, inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers, lists the total number . . . more
  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: This entry provides the one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating the nationality of civil aircraft. Article 20 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), signed in 1944, requires that all aircraft engaged in international air navigation bear appropriate nationality marks. The aircraft registration number consists of two parts: a prefix consisting of a one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating nationality and a registration suffix of one to fi . . . more
  F (2016)
  Airports: This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) and may include closed or abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no longer recognizable (overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included. Note that not all airports have accommodations for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
  464 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Airports - with paved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all . . . more
  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: This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listin . . . more
  total: 170 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 64 (2013)
  under 914 m: 105 (2013)
  Heliports: This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings and takeoffs.
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines: This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.
  15322 km gas, 2939 km oil, 5084 km refined products (2013)
  Railways: This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of its component parts by gauge, which is the measure of the distance between the inner sides of the load-bearing rails. The four typical types of gauges are: broad, standard, narrow, and dual. Other gauges are listed under note. Some 60% of the world's railways use the standard gauge of 1.4 m (4.7 ft). Gauges vary by country and sometimes within countries. The choice of gauge during initial construction was mainly in resp . . . more
  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: This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the length of the paved and unpaved portions.
  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: This entry gives the total length of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.
  metropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km navigable by craft up to 3,000 metric tons) (2010)
  Merchant marine: Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type, foreign-owned, and registered in other countries. Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage is the total weight of ca . . . more
  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: This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the basis of the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship visits were also considered. Most ports service multiple classes of vessels including bulk carriers (dry and liquid), break bulk cargoes (goods loaded individually in bags, boxes, crates, or drums; sometimes palletized), containers, roll-on/roll-off, and passenger ships. The listing le . . . more
  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: This entry gives spending on defense programs for the most recent year available as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP); the GDP is calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). For countries with no military forces, this figure can include expenditures on public security and police.
  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: This entry lists the service branches subordinate to defense ministries or the equivalent (typically ground, naval, air, and marine forces).
  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: This entry gives the required ages for voluntary or conscript military service and the length of service 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: This entry provides information on the US State Department's designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations operating in countries other than where a particular group is headquartered. Details on each organization's aim(s) and area(s) of operation are provided.
  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: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute . . . more
  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: This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), or stateless persons. Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a UN Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a . . . more
  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: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydroca . . . more

  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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