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France

2015 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
a mix of both publicly operated and privately owned TV stations; state-owned France Televisions operates 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 (RFI), 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 [time series]
metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re
Internet users [time series]
total: 56.8 million | percent of population: 85.8% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: highly developed | domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive use of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system | 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 | overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe - 590; Martinique - 596; Mayotte - 262; Reunion - 262 (2011)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 38.81 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 64.9 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $1.507 trillion | expenditures: $1.631 trillion (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-4.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146
Central bank discount rate [time series]
0.05% (31 December 2014) | 0.25% (31 December 2013) | 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: 150
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
2.8% (31 December 2014 est.) | 2.84% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176
Current account balance [time series]
-$29.91 billion (2014 est.) | -$40.2 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Debt - external [time series]
$5.371 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) | $5.004 trillion (31 December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 5
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
30.1 (2013) | 30.5 (2012) | country comparison to the world: 114
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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. With more than 84 million foreign tourists per year, France is the most visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism. 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 increased by 0.4% in 2014. The unemployment rate (including overseas territories) increased from 7.8% in 2008 to 10.4% in the fourth quarter of 2014. Youth unemployment in metropolitan France decreased from a high of 25.4% in the fourth quarter of 2012 to 24.3% in the fourth quarter of 2014. Lower-than-expected growth and high spending have strained France's public finances. The budget deficit rose sharply from 3.3% of GDP in 2008 to 7.5% of GDP in 2009 before improving to 4% of GDP in 2014, while France's public debt rose from 68% of GDP to more than 95% in 2014, and may hit 100% by 2016. Elected on a conventionally leftist platform, President Francois HOLLANDE surprised and angered many supporters with a January 2014 speech announcing a sharp change in his economic policy, recasting himself as a liberalizing reformer. The government's budget for 2014 shifted the balance of fiscal consolidation from taxes to a total of $24 billion in spending cuts. In December 2014, HOLLANDE announced additional reforms, including a plan to extend commercial business hours, liberalize professional services, and sell off $6.2-12.4 billion in state owned assets. France’s tax burden remains well above the EU average and income tax cuts over the past decade are being partly reversed, particularly for higher earners. The top rate of income tax is 41%. The government is allowing a 75% payroll tax on salaries over $1.24 million to lapse.
Exchange rates [time series]
euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.7489 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.) | 0.7752 (2012 est.) | 0.7185 (2011 est.) | 0.755 (2010 est.)
Exports [time series]
$582.5 billion (2014 est.) | $580.8 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Exports - commodities [time series]
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners [time series]
Germany 16.9%, Belgium 7.5%, Italy 7.4%, Spain 7.3%, UK 7.2%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.1% (2014)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$2.847 trillion (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$2.581 trillion (2014 est.) | $2.571 trillion (2013 est.) | $2.564 trillion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 9
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 55.1% | government consumption: 24.3% | investment in fixed capital: 21.6% | investment in inventories: 0.1% | exports of goods and services: 28.3% | imports of goods and services: -29.3% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 1.7% | industry: 19.4% | services: 78.9% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$40,400 (2014 est.) | $40,200 (2013 est.) | $40,100 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 39
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
0.4% (2014 est.) | 0.3% (2013 est.) | 0.3% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197
Gross national saving [time series]
20.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | 20.6% of GDP (2013 est.) | 21.2% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 3.6% | highest 10%: 25.4% (2013)
Imports [time series]
$678.1 billion (2014 est.) | $681.6 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
Imports - partners [time series]
Germany 19.9%, Belgium 11.4%, Italy 7.8%, Netherlands 7.7%, Spain 6.7%, China 5%, UK 4.4% (2014)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
-2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184
Industries [time series]
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.6% (2014 est.) | 1% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47
Labor force [time series]
29.87 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 3% | industry: 21.3% | services: 75.7% (2013 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$1.762 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) | $1.538 trillion (31 December 2011) | $1.983 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8
Population below poverty line [time series]
8.1% (2012 est.)
Public debt [time series]
95.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | 92.2% of GDP (2013 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and includes 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 intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental 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: 16
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$143.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $144.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18
Stock of broad money [time series]
$2.541 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.771 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$1.51 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.496 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$1.108 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.102 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$3.484 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.774 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$1.081 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.14 trillion (31 December 2013 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: 7
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
51.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11
Unemployment rate [time series]
10.2% (2014 est.) | 10.3% (2013 est.) | note: includes overseas territories | country comparison to the world: 110
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
385.6 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Crude oil - imports [time series]
1.697 million bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9
Crude oil - production [time series]
16,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
89.57 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - consumption [time series]
462.9 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - exports [time series]
59.95 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
24.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
14.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
51.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
9.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36
Electricity - imports [time series]
11.95 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
130.4 million kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - production [time series]
568 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
42.8 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas - exports [time series]
1.8 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - imports [time series]
39.2 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - production [time series]
339 million cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
9.656 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
1.767 million bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
464,300 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
915,400 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
1.321 million bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 643,801 sq km; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France) | land: 640,427 sq km; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France) | water: 3,374 sq km; 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: 43
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas
Climate [time series]
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)
Coastline [time series]
total: 4,853 km | metropolitan France: 3,427 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m | highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m | 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
Environment - current issues [time series]
some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
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
Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]
total: 31.62 cu km/yr (19%/71%/10%) | per capita: 512.1 cu m/yr (2009)
Geographic coordinates [time series]
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
Geography - note [time series]
largest West European nation
Irrigated land [time series]
total: 26,420 sq km 26,950 sq km | metropolitan France: 27,230 sq km (2007)
Land boundaries [time series]
metropolitan France - total: 2,751 km | 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 | French Guiana - total: 1,205 km | border countries (2): Brazil 649 km, Suriname 556 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 52.7% | arable land 33.4%; permanent crops 1.8%; permanent pasture 17.5% | forest: 29.2% | other: 18.1% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
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
Map references [time series]
metropolitan France: Europe | French Guiana: South America | Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean | Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean | Mayotte: Africa | Reunion: World
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea) | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Natural hazards [time series]
metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean | overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding; volcanic activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)
Natural resources [time series]
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
Terrain [time series]
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
Total renewable water resources [time series]
211 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
27 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy), Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica), Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Martinique, Mayotte, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion, Rhone-Alpes | note: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the "territorial 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)
Capital [time series]
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, not to its overseas departments, collectivities, or territories
Constitution [time series]
many previous; latest adopted 4 October 1958; amended many times, last in 2008 (2014)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: French Republic | conventional short form: France | local long form: Republique francaise | local short form: France
Dependent areas [time series]
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 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
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Jane D. HARTLEY (since 31 October 2014); 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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Gerard 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
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012) | head of government: Prime Minister Manuel VALLS (since 1 April 2014) | 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 22 April and 6 May 2012 (next to be held in the spring of 2017); prime minister appointed by the president | election results: Francois HOLLANDE elected president; percent of vote in first round - Francois HOLLANDE (PS) 28.6%, Nicolas SARKOZY (UMP) 27.2%, Marine LE PEN (FN) 17.9%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (PG) 11.1%, Francois BAYROU (moDem) 9.1%, other 6.1%; percent of vote in second round - HOLLANDE 51.6%, SARKOZY 48.4%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
republic
Independence [time series]
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)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
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, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): 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 by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judge term of appointment NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 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
Legal system [time series]
civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Legislative branch [time series]
description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the 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 two 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) and the 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 two rounds if needed to serve 5-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held on 25 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2014); National Assembly - last held on 10 and 17 June 2012 (next to be held in June 2017) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS/Greens 140, UMP 132, UDF 31, PCF/MRC 21, PRG 17, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PS 48.5%, UMP 33.6%, miscellaneous left wing parties 3.8%, Greens 3.0%, miscellaneous right wing parties 2.6%, NC 2.1%, PRG 2.1%, FDG 1.7%, other 2.6%; seats by party - PS 280, UMP 194, miscellaneous left wing parties 22, Greens 17, miscellaneous right wing parties 15, NC 12, PRG 12, FDG 10, other 15
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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
National holiday [time series]
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)
National symbol(s) [time series]
Gallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne (female personification); national colors: blue, white, red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Europe Ecology - The Greens or EELV [Emmanuelle COSSE] | French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT] | Left Front Coalition or FDG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON] | Left Party or PG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON and Martine BILLARD] | Left Radical Party or PRG [Jean-Michel BAYLET] (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) | Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS] | National Front or FN [Marine LE PEN] | New Anticapitalist Party or NPA [collective leadership; main spokesperson Christine POUPIN] | New Center or NC [Herve MORIN] | Radical Party [Jean-Louis BORLOO] | Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA] | Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean-Luc LAURENT] | Socialist Party or PS [Haerlem DESIR] | The Republicans (formerly Union for a Popular Movement or UMP) [Nicolas SARKOZY] | Union des Democrates et Independants or UDI [Jean-Louis BORLOO] and Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for French Democracy or UDF); together known as UDI-Modem | United Republic or RS [Dominique DE VILLEPIN] | Worker's Struggle (Lutte Ouvriere) or LO [collective leadership; spokespersons Nathalie ARTHAUD and Arlette LAQUILLER]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des cadres (French Confederation of Management - General Confederation of Executives) or CFE-CGC [Carole COUVERT, president] (independent white-collar union with 140,000 members) | Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail (French Democratic Confederation of Labor) or CFDT [Laurent BERGER, secretary general] (left-leaning labor union with approximately 875,000 members) | Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens (French Confederation of Christian Workers) or CFTC [Philippe LOUIS, president] (independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims 142,000 members) | Confederation generale du travail (General Confederation of Labor) or CGT [Bernard THIBAULT, secretary general] (historically communist labor union with approximately 710,000 members) | Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere (General Confederation of Labor - Worker's Force) or FO [Jean-Claude MAILLY, secretary general] (independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members) | Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF [Pierre GATTAZ, president] (employers' union with claimed 750,000 companies as members) | conservationists; gold mining pressure groups; hunting pressure groups | Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG | General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G | General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG | Movement for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI | The Socialist Renewal Movement | Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC | Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM | Frantz Fanon Circle | League of Workers and Peasants | Proletarian Action Group or GAP | NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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-8, 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.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 14,563,662 | females age 16-49: 14,238,434 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 12,025,341 | females age 16-49: 11,721,827 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 396,050 | female: 377,839 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
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 expenditures [time series]
1.8% of GDP (2014) | 1.9% of GDP (2013) | 1.9% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 47
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; 1-year service obligation; women serve in noncombat posts (2013)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 18.66% (male 6,350,008/female 6,066,407) | 15-24 years: 11.82% (male 4,025,283/female 3,842,989) | 25-54 years: 38.31% (male 12,823,675/female 12,671,013) | 55-64 years: 12.48% (male 4,008,672/female 4,294,218) | 65 years and over: 18.74% (male 5,360,078/female 7,111,423) (2015 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
12.38 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
76.4% | note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2008)
Death rate [time series]
9.16 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 60.3% | youth dependency ratio: 29.6% | elderly dependency ratio: 30.6% | potential support ratio: 3.3% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
5.9% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 43
Ethnic groups [time series]
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities | overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
1,500 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
11.7% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 9
Hospital bed density [time series]
6.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 3.28 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 2.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213
Languages [time series]
French (official) 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) | overseas departments: French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili dialect)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 81.75 years | male: 78.65 years | female: 85.01 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19
Major urban areas - population [time series]
PARIS (capital) 10.843 million; Lyon 1.609 million; Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 1.605 million; Lille 1.027 million; Nice-Cannes 967,000; Toulouse 938,000 (2015)
Median age [time series]
total: 41.1 years | male: 39.4 years | female: 42.6 years (2015 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) | adjective: French
Net migration rate [time series]
1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
25.7% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 108
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
3.19 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Population [time series]
66,553,766 | note: the above figure is for metropolitan France and five overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22
Population growth rate [time series]
0.43% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Religions [time series]
Christian (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic) 63-66%, Muslim 7-9%, Jewish .5-.75%, Buddhist .5-.75%, other .5-1.0%, none 23-28% | 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 (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 98.6% of population | rural: 98.9% of population | total: 98.7% of population | urban: 1.4% of population | rural: 1.1% of population | total: 1.3% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 16 years | male: 16 years | female: 16 years (2012)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female | total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.08 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 23.8% | male: 23.9% | female: 23.7% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 79.5% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Madagascar claims the French territories of 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
Illicit drugs [time series]
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 23,966 (Sri Lanka); 13,727 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 13,644 (Russia); 12,003 (Cambodia); 12,119 (Serbia and Kosovo); 10,699 (Turkey); 8,281 (Vietnam); 7,036 (Laos); 5,201 (Guinea); 5,058 (Mauritania) (2014) | stateless persons: 1,288 (2014)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
464 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 17
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 294 | over 3,047 m: 14 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 97 | 914 to 1,523 m: 83 | under 914 m: 75 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 170 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 64 | 105 (2013)
Heliports [time series]
1 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 162 | by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 7, chemical tanker 34, container 27, liquefied gas 12, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 41, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11 | foreign-owned: 50 (Belgium 7, Bermuda 5, Denmark 11, French Polynesia 11, Germany 1, New Caledonia 3, Singapore 3, Sweden 4, Switzerland 5) | registered in other countries: 151 (Bahamas 15, Belgium 7, Bermuda 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 16, Egypt 1, Hong Kong 4, Indonesia 1, Ireland 2, Italy 2, Luxembourg 15, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 7, Mexico 1, Morocco 3, Netherlands 2, Norway 5, Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 3, South Korea 2, Taiwan 2, UK 39, US 4, unknown 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 36
Pipelines [time series]
gas 15,322 km; oil 2,939 km; refined products 5,084 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Brest, Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, | river port(s): Paris, Rouen (Seine); Strasbourg (Rhine); Bordeaux (Garronne) | container port(s): Le Havre (2,215,262)(2011) | cruise/ferry port(s): Calais, Cherbourg, Le Havre | LNG terminal(s) (import): Fos Cavaou, Fos Tonkin, Montoir de Bretagne
Railways [time series]
total: 29,640 km | standard gauge: 29,473 km 1.435-m gauge (15,561 km electrified) | narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (63 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 9
Roadways [time series]
total: 1,028,446 km (metropolitan France; includes 11,416 km of expressways) | note: not included are 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments (2010) | country comparison to the world: 8
Waterways [time series]
metropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km navigable by craft up to 3,000 metric tons) (2010)