| Background |
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro in January 1999. Presently, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus. |
| Location |
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 |
| Area |
total: 547,030 sq km
land: 545,630 sq km
note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas administrative divisions
water: 1,400 sq km |
| Area - comparative |
slightly less than twice the size of Colorado |
| Climate |
generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral |
| Terrain |
mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east |
| Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m |
| Natural resources |
coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, potash, timber, fish |
| Land use |
arable land: 33%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 65% (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards |
flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean |
| Environment - current issues |
some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff |
| Geography - note |
largest West European nation |
| Population |
59,765,983 (July 2002 est.) |
| Age structure |
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 5,675,269; female 5,401,661)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 19,503,556; female 19,479,646)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 3,948,433; female 5,757,418) (2002 est.) |
| Population growth rate |
0.35% (2002 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate |
4.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth |
total population: 79.05 years
female: 83.14 years (2002 est.)
male: 75.17 years |
| Ethnic groups |
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities |
| Religions |
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4% |
| Languages |
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) |
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1980 est.) |
| Government type |
republic |
| Capital |
Paris |
| Independence |
486 (unified by Clovis) |
| Legal system |
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts |
| Suffrage |
18 years of age; universal |
| Flag description |
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the
design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags,
including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg,
and Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent
areas
|
| Economy - overview |
France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The Socialist-led government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers, but still retains large stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and remains dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. The current government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment, but has done little to reform an overly expensive pension system, rigid labor market, and restrictive bureaucracy that discourage hiring and make the tax burden one of the highest in Europe. In addition to the tax burden, the reduction of the workweek to 35 hours, which is to be extended to small firms in 2002, has drawn criticism for lowering the competitiveness of French businesses. The current economic slowdown has thrown the government's goal of balancing the budget by 2004 off track. |
| GDP - per capita |
purchasing power parity - $25,400 (2001 est.) |
| Population below poverty line |
NA% |
| Labor force |
26.6 million (2001 est.) |
| Unemployment rate |
8.9% (2001 est.) |
| Industries |
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism |
| Agriculture - products |
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish |
| Exports - commodities |
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages |
| Imports - commodities |
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals |
