General Facts

Official Name: French Republic

Capital: Paris

Government: Republic

Currency: Euro

Languages: French 100%

Size: 547, 030

Population: 60,876,136

Other Facts

Recent History
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.

People & Demographics
People:
0-14 years: 18.3%
15-64 years: 65.3%
65 years: 16.4%

median age:
total: 39.1 years
male: 37.6 years
female: 40.7 years

population growth rate: .35%

birth rate: 11.99 births/1000 population

death rate: 9.14 deaths/1000 population

nationality: French

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

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

Geography
Climate: France enjoys generally cool winters and mild summers. But along the Mediterranean, winters are mild and summers are hot.

Terrain: Most of France consists of flat plains and gently rolling hills in the north and west. The remaining part of France is very mountainous which is most prevalent in the Pyrenees in the south.

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

Highest Point: Mont Blanc - 4,807 m

Lowest Point: Rhone River delta - 2 m

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

Geography note: Largest West European nation

Government

administrative divisions: 22 regions
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

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

National Holiday: Bastille Day July 14 (1789)

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

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 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 (nearly 50% of GDP in 2005). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficit above the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit; unemployment stands at 10%

Unemployment Rate: 10%

Inflation Rate: 1.9%

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