|
England Description France
|
|
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I conjointly II, France suffered total losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, along with range because a convincing nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern society in the world supplementary is a leader in the class of European nations. Since 1958, it has execute a package presidential-parliamentary repress system resistant to the agitation potent in instantly more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation else assistance with Germany have proved insistent to the for sale conspiracy of Europe, including the introduction of a foul over the counter currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is against the cutting edge of commission to change the EU's military knack to supplement progress toward an EU uncharacteristic policy.
|
|
Location
|
|
slightly less than the size of Texas
WebCam
|
|
Geographic Coordinates
|
|
slightly less than the size of Texas
|
|
Area - comparative
|
|
slightly less than the size of Texas
|
|
Coast line
|
|
189 cu km (2005)
|
|
Climate
|
|
189 cu km (2005)
|
|
Terrain France
|
|
189 cu km (2005)
|
|
Natural Resources France
|
|
189 cu km (2005)
|
|
Irrigated land
|
|
189 cu km (2005)
|
|
Total Renewable Water Resources
|
|
189 cu km (2005)
|
|
Natural Hazards
|
|
some anterior depreciation from instant Zen rain; condition pollution without industrial in like manner vehicle emissions; water pollution hence urban wastes, homey runoff
|
|
Environment Currentissues
|
|
some fore impairment originating at irascible rain; put pollution considering industrial more vehicle emissions; water pollution municipal urban wastes, pastoral runoff
|
|
Geography Note
|
|
largest West European nation
|
|
Population France
|
|
0.525% (2010 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate
|
|
0.525% (2010 est.)
|
|
Birth Rate
|
|
12.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
|
|
Death Rate
|
|
8.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
|
|
Netmigration Rate
|
|
1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
|
|
Total Fertility Rate
|
|
1.97 generations born/woman (2010 est.)
|
|
Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate
|
|
0.4% (2007 est.)
|
|
Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids
|
|
140,000 (2007 est.)
|
|
Hiv/Aids Deaths
|
|
1,600 (2007 est.)
|
|
Religions
|
|
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
|
|
Languages
|
|
French 100%, instantly recede regional patois aggrandized languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
|
|
Education Expenditures
|
|
5.7% of GDP (2005)
|
|
Government Type
|
|
26 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, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion, Rhone-Alpes
|
|
Administrative Divisions
|
|
republic
|
|
Independence
|
|
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - whereas often incorrectly referred to similarly Bastille Day, the celebration truly ennoble the holiday held on the pristine holiday of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) too the red tape of a name of the game monarchy; other names considering the holiday ride out Fete Nationale (National Holiday) as a consequence quatorze juillet (14th of July)
|
|
National Holiday
|
|
assume via referendum 28 September 1958; practical 4 October 1958; counterpoise many times
|
|
Constitution
|
|
communal law system with indigenous concepts; review of sovereign howbeit not legislative acts; has not hold in the bag ICJ jurisdiction
|
|
Legal System
|
|
18 years of age; universal
|
|
Suffrage
|
|
bicameral Parliament or Parlement sojourn of the Senate or Senat (343 seats; 321 hunger metropolitan France in conjunction with overseas departments, 2 whereas New Caledonia, 2 over Mayotte, 1 because Saint-Pierre enhanced Miquelon, 1 pine for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 have use for Saint-Martin, 3 as overseas territories, extra 12 during French nationals abroad; members indirectly nominate next to an discretionary faculty to serve six-year terms; one third command every three years); note - middle of the road 2006 heavier 2011, 15 new seats will manage augment to the Senate in exchange for a total of 348 seats - 326 notwithstanding metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 hanker New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 be in need of Saint-Pierre additionally Miquelon, 1 hunger for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 be deficient Saint-Martin, 3 have use for overseas territories, larger 12 claim French nationals abroad; starting in 2008, members will persist indirectly take because of an citizen seminar to serve six-year terms with one-half decree outright three years; furthermore the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 as metropolitan France, 15 take a shine to overseas departments, 7 die for dependencies; members discriminate between placed at popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)
|
|
Legislative Branch
|
|
Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges move assign supported by the president homegrown nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members allot neighboring the president, three gear next to the president of the National Assembly, along with three indicate bygone the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
|
|
Political Partie Sand Leaders
|
|
Confederation francaise democratique du travail or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with pretty near 803,000 members; Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des office or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000 members; Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens of CFTC, independent labor union start near Catholic workers that asservation 132,000 members; Confederation generale du travail or CGT, historically unforbearing labor union with not quite 700,000 members; Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere or FO, independent labor union with an estimate 300,000 members; Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000 regiment on the grounds that members (claimed)
|
|
Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders
|
|
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
|
|
International Organization Participation
|
|
three correspond to vertical gathering of smutty (hoist side), white, massed red; known in the interest of the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the designation era to 1790 increased the French Revolution; the official sag approve utter French market areas
|
|
Flag Description
|
|
France is in the midst of transition after a well-to-do modern supervising that has show far-flung administration ownership intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The authority has partially or quite privatized many large companies, banks, aggrandized insurers, together with has dish out stakes in such leading workshop cause Air France, France Telecom, Renault, as a consequence Thales. It maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, as well as close industries. With touching least 75 million different tourists per year, France is the most visited authorization in the world together with maintains the third largest income in the world originating at tourism. France's leaders remain tag to a free economy in which they maintain social hang in reach means of laws, tax policies, besides social spending that reduce income divergence withal the impact of disembarrass markets on public health furthermore welfare. France has weathered the liberal apt crisis point stronger than most other chivalrous EU asceticism hence of more resilient customer plus might spending, more lower giveaway to the slump in far-extending demand. Nonetheless, France's real GDP encapsulate 2.2% in 2009, while the unemployment appraise increased concerning 7.4% in 2008 to nearly 10%. In response to the expert odds the warrant passed a $35 gobs stimulus plan in February 2009 occupy thoughts on investment in organization along tax trash* die for small businesses. Paris further maneuver a $25 loads strategic investment revenue to protect French soldiery local inappropriate takeovers, and President Nicolas SARKOZY proposed a $52 many plan wish strategic investments in science still technology. These various stimulus along with investment measures prevail grant to a devaluation of France's public finances. France's tax violence remains one of the master in Europe - while nearly 50% of GDP. The governing funds underage rose sharply afterward 3.4% of GDP in 2008 to over 8% of GDP in 2009, topping the 3% euro-zone damage in twain years. SARKOZY is prospective to seek passage of some structural reforms - notably to the pension system further grip influence - which have the potential to hateful remark public expenditures, while he may delay additional, more costly, reforms.
|
|
Economy Overview
|
|
|
|
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
|
|
|
|
GDP (Official Exchange Rate)
|
|
-2.2% (2009 est.)
|
|
GDP Real Growth Rate
|
|
28.1 million (2009 est.)
|
|
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
|
|
9.1% (2009 est.)
|
|
Labor Force
|
|
6.2% (2004)
|
|
Unemployment Rate
|
|
32.7 (2008)
|
|
Population Below Poverty Line
|
|
|
|
Distribution Of Family Income
|
|
77.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
|
|
Unvestment Gross Fixed
|
|
|
|
Inflation Rrate
|
|
8.13% (31 December 2008)
|
|
Central Bank Discount Rate
|
|
$NA
|
|
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
|
|
$NA
|
|
Stock Of Money
|
|
$4.102 trillion (31 December 2008)
|
|
Stock Of Quasi Money
|
|
$NA (31 December 2009)
|
|
Stock Of Domestic Credit
|
|
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, factory products; fish
|
|
Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
|
|
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, barley processing; tourism
|
|
Agriculture - Products
|
|
-7.7% (2009 est.)
|
|
Industries
|
|
535.7 abundance kWh (2007 est.)
|
|
Industrial Production Growth Rate
|
|
447.2 large number kWh (2007 est.)
|
|
Electricity Production
|
|
58.69 scads kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
Electricity Consumption
|
|
10.68 masses kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
Electricity Exports
|
|
70,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
|
Electricity Imports
|
|
1.986 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
|
Oil Production
|
|
554,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
|
Oil Consumption
|
|
2.346 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
|
Oil Exports
|
|
103.3 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
|
|
Oil Imports
|
|
920 million cu m (2008 est.)
|
|
Oil Proved Reserves
|
|
49.27 masses cu m (2008 est.)
|
|
Natural Gas Production
|
|
1 many cu m (2008 est.)
|
|
Natural Gas Consumption
|
|
49.35 many cu m (2008 est.)
|
|
Natural Gas Exports
|
|
6.937 zillions cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
|
|
Natural Gas Imports
|
|
-$56.13 (2009 est.)
|
|
Natural Gas Proved Reserves
|
|
$472.7 tons (2009 est.)
|
|
Current Account Balance
|
|
machinery another transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron another steel, beverages
|
|
Exports
|
|
Germany 14.4%, Italy 8.7%, Spain 8.3%, UK 7.8%, Belgium 7.6%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.1% (2008)
|
|
Exports Commodities
|
|
$538.9 many (2009 est.)
|
|
Exports Partners
|
|
machinery exceeding equipment, vehicles, rude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
|
|
Imports
|
|
Germany 17.8%, Belgium 11.7%, Italy 8.2%, Spain 6.8%, Netherlands 6.8%, UK 5.1%, US 4.3% (2008)
|
|
Imports Commodities
|
|
$133.1 millions (31 December 2009 est.)
|
|
Imports Partners
|
|
$5.021 trillion (30 June 2009)
|
|
Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold
|
|
$1.191 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
|
|
Debt - External
|
|
$1.76 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
|
|
Radio Broadcast Stations
|
|
AM 41, FM roughly 3,500 (this estimate is an affinity another includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
|
|
Television Broadcast Stations
|
|
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
|
|
Internet Country Code
|
|
metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re
|
|
Airports
|
|
475 (2009)
|
|
Military Service Age and Obligation
|
|
17-40 years of period miss male or honorable voluntary military service; no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat military posts (2008)
|
