2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.4% (male 5,717,761/female 5,440,060) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 19,784,749/female 19,752,432) 65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,084,193/female 5,876,983) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

478 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

283 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 95 914 to 1,523 m: 82 under 914 m: 65 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

195 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 120 (2004 est.)

Area

land

545,630 sq km

total

547,030 sq km

water

1,400 sq km note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas administrative divisions

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Colorado

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 introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy. Geography France

Birth rate

12.15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.08 trillion, including capital expenditures of $23 billion (2004 est.)

revenues

$1.005 trillion

Capital

Paris

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

Coastline

3,427 km

Constitution

adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October 1958; amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty, 2000 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a five-year term

Country name

conventional long form

French Republic

conventional short form

France

local long form

Republique Francaise

local short form

France

Currency (code)

euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$-305 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

Dependent areas

Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Howard H. LEACH

consulate(s) general

Marseille, Strasbourg

embassy

2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris Cedex 08

FAX

[33] (1) 42 66 97 83

mailing address

PSC 116, APO AE 09777

telephone

[33] (1) 43-12-22-22

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTE

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 944-6166

telephone

[1] (202) 944-6000

Disputes - international

Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.7 (1995)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $5.4 billion (2002)

Economy - overview

France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers. It retains controlling stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and is 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 government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment and reform the pension system. In addition, it is focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (43.8% of GDP in 2003). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficit above the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit. Finance Minister Herve GAYMARD has promised that the 2005 deficit will fall below 3%.

Electricity - consumption

414.7 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

79.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

528.6 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

8.2%

hydro

14%

nuclear

77.1%

other

0.7% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Blanc 4,807 m

lowest point

Rhone River delta -2 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister

chief of state

President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)

election results

Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN (FN) 18.04%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held 21 April and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round April 2007, second round May 2007); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Dominique DE VILLEPIN (since 31 May 2005)

Exports

$419 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 15%, Spain 9.5%, UK 9.3%, Italy 9%, Belgium 7.2%, US 6.7% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications France

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; 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 France

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.7%

industry

24.3%

services

73% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $28,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.1% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.737 trillion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 2 00 E

Geography - note

largest West European nation People France

Government type

republic

Heliports

3 (2004 est.) Military France

Highways

paved

893,100 km (including 12,000 km of expressways)

total

893,100 km

unpaved

0 km (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 1,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

120,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$419.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 19.2%, Belgium 9.9%, Italy 8.8%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7%, Netherlands 6.7%, US 5.1% (2004)

Independence

486 (unified by Clovis)

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

4.76 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.fr

Internet hosts

2,396,761 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

62 (2000)

Internet users

21.9 million (2003) Transportation France

Investment (gross fixed)

19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

20,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat

Labor force

27.7 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 4.1%, industry 24.4%, services 71.5% (1999)

Land boundaries

border countries

Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km

total

2,889 km

Land use

arable land

33.53%

other

64.4% (2001)

permanent crops

2.07%

Languages

French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)

Legal system

civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years); note - between now and 2010, 25 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 346 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms, with one-half the seats being renewed every three years; and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 355, PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22

elections

Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held September 2007); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (next to be held not later than June 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.42 years (2005 est.)

male

75.96 years

total population

79.6 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (1980 est.) Government France

male

99%

total population

99%

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 17-49: 13,676,509 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 17-49: 11,262,661 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

389,204 (2005 est.)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

40.39 years (2005 est.)

male

37.3 years

total

38.85 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 4, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 4, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

6 (Sweden 5, Switzerland 1)

registered in other countries

139 (2005)

total

56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 703,639 GRT/889,705 DWT

Military branches

Army (includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$45,238.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.6% (2003) Transnational Issues France

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age with consent for voluntary military service (2001)

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Nationality

adjective

French

noun

Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)

Natural gas - consumption

42.01 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

1.725 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

40.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.898 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

12.86 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorospar, gypsum, timber, fish

Net migration rate

0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

2.026 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

409,600 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

2.281 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

34,920 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

144.3 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

gas 14,232 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Citizen and Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; Democratic and European Social Rally or RDSE (mainly Radical Republican and Socialist Parties, and PRG) [Jacques PELLETIER]; French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET]; Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or NF [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Greens [Yann WEHRLING, national secretary]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Francois BAYROU]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and a part of UDF) [Nicolas SARKOZY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed); left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, approximately 889,000 members (claimed); independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed); employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed)

Population

60,656,178 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

6.5% (2000)

Population growth rate

0.37% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg

Public debt

67.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

55.3 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

167 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

standard gauge

29,352 km 1.435-m gauge (14,481 km electrified)

total

29,519 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$70.76 billion (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system

general assessment

highly developed

international

country code - 33; satellite earth stations - 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

Telephones - main lines in use

33,905,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

41,683,100 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

34.8 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east

Total fertility rate

1.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.1% (2004 est.)

Waterways

8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2000)