France

France

Introduction

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 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 exchange 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.

Geography

Location

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 half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Reunion:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates

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

Map references

metropolitan France: Europe
French Guiana:South America
Guadeloupe:Central America and the Caribbean
Martinique:Central America and the Caribbean
Mayotte:Africa
Reunion:World

Area

total: 643,801 sq km

551,500 sq km (metropolitan France)
country comparison to the world: 43 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

Area – comparative

slightly less than the size of Texas

Land boundaries

metropolitan France – total: 2,889 km
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
French Guiana – total:1,183 km
border countries:Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Coastline

total: 4,853 km
metropolitan France:3,427 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
continental shelf:200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

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)

Terrain

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point:Mont Blanc 4,807 m
note:in order 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

Natural resources

metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish
French Guiana:gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay

Land use

arable land: 33.46%
permanent crops:2.03%
other:64.51%
note:French Guiana – arable land 0.13%, permanent crops 0.04%, other 99.83% (90% forest, 10% other)

Guadeloupe – arable land 11.70%, permanent crops 2.92%, other 85.38%

Martinique – arable land 9.09%, permanent crops 10.0%, other 80.91%

Reunion – arable land 13.94%, permanent crops 1.59%, other 84.47% (2005)

Irrigated land

total: 26,950 sq km;
metropolitan France:26,700 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

189 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 33.16cu km/yr (16%/74%/10%)
per capita:548cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

metropolitan France: flooding

avalanches

midwinter windstorms

drought

forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
overseas departments:hurricanes (cyclones)

flooding

volcanic activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)

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

Geography – note

largest West European nation

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective:French

Ethnic groups

Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
overseas departments:black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian

Languages

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)

Religions

Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
overseas departments:Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, pagan

Population

65,312,249 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21 note:the above figure is for metropolitan France and five overseas regions

the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.5% (male 6,180,905/female 5,886,849)
15-64 years:64.7% (male 21,082,175/female 21,045,867)
65 years and over:16.8% (male 4,578,089/female 6,328,834) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 39.9 years
male:38.4 years
female:41.5 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.5% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Birth rate

12.29 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Death rate

8.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Net migration rate

1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Urbanization

urban population: 85% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

PARIS (capital) 10.41 million

Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 1.457 million

Lyon 1.456 million

Lille 1.028 million

Nice-Cannes 977,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.72 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 150

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 214 male:3.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female:2.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.19 years
country comparison to the world: 13 male:78.02 years
female:84.54 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.96 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Health expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 171

Physicians density

3.497 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 29

Hospital bed density

7.11 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 13

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

150,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

HIV/AIDS – deaths

1,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

16.9% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 26

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 38

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years
male:16 years
female:16 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 22.6%
country comparison to the world: 40 male:23.4%
female:21.7% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form:France
local long form:Republique francaise
local short form:France

Government type

republic

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

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)

Dependent areas

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

Independence

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)

National holiday

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)

Constitution

adopted by referendum 28 September 1958

effective 4 October 1958

amended many times
note:amended in 1962 concerning election of president

amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1997 Amsterdam Treaty, 2003 Treaty of Nice

amended in 1993 to tighten immigration laws

amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a five-year term

amended in 2005 to make the EU constitutional treaty compatible with the Constitution of France and to ensure that the decision to ratify EU accession treaties would be made by referendum

Legal system

civil law

review of administrative but not legislative acts

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)
head of government:Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May 2007)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 22 April and 6 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of 2012)

prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Nicolas SARKOZY elected

first round: percent of vote – Nicolas SARKOZY 31.2%, Segolene ROYAL 25.9%, Francois BAYROU 18.6%, Jean-Marie LE PEN 10.4%, others 13.9%

second round: SARKOZY 53.1%, ROYAL 46.9%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (348 seats

328 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 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 an electoral college to serve six-year terms

one third elected every three years)

note – between 2006 and 2011, 15 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 348 seats – 328 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 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

Mayotte’s previously held 2 seats as an overseas collectivity are now included in the total as an overseas department

starting in 2008, members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms with one-half elected every three years

and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats

555 for metropolitan France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for overseas dependencies

members elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-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 2007 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – PS/Greens 140, UMP 132, PCF/MRC 21, PRG 17, other 7

National Assembly – percent of vote by party – UMP 46.4%, PS 42.2%, miscellaneous left wing parties 2.5%, PCF 2.3%, NC 2.1%, PRG 1.6%, miscellaneous right wing parties 1.2%, the Greens 0.4%, other 1.2%

seats by party – UMP 313, PS 186, NC 22, miscellaneous left wing parties 15, PCF 16, miscellaneous right wing parties 9, PRG 7, the Greens 3, other 6

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

Political parties and leaders

Centrist Union or UDF [Nicolas ABOUT]

Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for French Democracy or UDF)

French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT]

Greens [Cecile DUFLOT]

Left Party or PG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON]

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 [Jean-Marie LE PEN]

New Anticapitalist Party or NPA [Olivier BESANCENOT]

New Center or NC [Herve MORIN]

Radical Party [Yvon COLLIN]

Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]

Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean-Luc LAURENT]

Socialist Party or PS [Martine AUBRY]

Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [Nicolas SARKOZY]

Worker’s Struggle or LO [Nathalie ARTHAUD]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation francaise democratique du travail or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with approximately 803,000 members

Confederation francaise de l’encadrement – Confederation generale des cadres or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000 members

Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens of CFTC, independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims 132,000 members

Confederation generale du travail or CGT, historically communist labor union with approximately 700,000 members

Confederation generale du travail – Force ouvriere or FO, independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members

Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers’ union with 750,000 companies as members (claimed)
French Guiana:conservationists

gold mining pressure groups

hunting pressure groups
Guadeloupe: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
Martinique: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
Reunion:NA

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, 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, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Francois M. DELATTRE
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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. RIVKIN
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

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 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

National symbol(s)

Gallic rooster

National anthem

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

Economy

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, and has ceded stakes in such leading firms as Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. It maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. With at least 75 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 reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. France has weathered the global economic crisis better than most other big EU economies because of the relative resilience of domestic consumer spending, a large public sector, and less exposure to the downturn in global demand than in some other countries. Nonetheless, France’s real GDP contracted 2.5% in 2009, but recovered somewhat in 2010, while the unemployment rate increased from 7.4% in 2008 to 9.5% in 2010. The government pursuit of aggressive stimulus and investment measures in response to the economic crisis, however, are contributing to a deterioration of France’s public finances. The government budget deficit rose sharply from 3.4% of GDP in 2008 to 6.9% of GDP in 2010, while France’s public debt rose from 68% of GDP to 82% over the same period. Paris is terminating stimulus measures, eliminating tax credits, and freezing most government spending to bring the budget deficit under the 3% euro-zone ceiling by 2013, and to highlight France’s commitment to fiscal discipline at a time of intense financial market scrutiny of euro zone debt levels. President SARKOZY – who secured passage of pension reform in 2010 – is expected to seek passage of some tax reforms in 2011, but he may delay additional, more costly, reforms until after the 2012 election.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.145 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10 $2.114 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.169 trillion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.583 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159 -2.5% (2009 est.)
0.1% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$33,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39 $32,800 (2009 est.)
$33,900 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 1.7%
industry:18.6%
services:79.7% (2010 est.)

Labor force

29.32 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 3.8%
industry:24.3%
services:71.8% (2005)

Unemployment rate

9.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104 9.1% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

6.2% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%:24.8% (2004)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

32.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 102 32.7 (1995)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Budget

revenues: $1.26 trillion
expenditures:$1.44 trillion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

48.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Public debt

82.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 79% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55 0.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 116 1.75% (31 December 2009)
note:this is the European Central Bank’s rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.373% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173 4.249% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$887.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7 $886.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 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

Stock of broad money

$2.336 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8 $2.372 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$4.319 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7 $4.121 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.926 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 7 $1.972 trillion (31 December 2009)
$1.492 trillion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes

beef, dairy products

fish

Industries

machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics

textiles, food processing

tourism

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity – production

510 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Electricity – consumption

460.9 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Electricity – exports

44.91 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

25.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

84,820 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Oil – consumption

1.861 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Oil – exports

487,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Oil – imports

2.22 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Oil – proved reserves

91.63 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas – production

721 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas – consumption

49.78 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Natural gas – exports

2.945 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Natural gas – imports

46.2 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Natural gas – proved reserves

6.796 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Current account balance

-$54.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193 -$39.87 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$517.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6 $475.9 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

Germany 16.4%, Italy 8.2%, Belgium 7.7%, Spain 7.6%, UK 6.8%, US 5.1%, Netherlands 4.2% (2010)

Imports

$588.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6 $535.8 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

Germany 19.3%, Belgium 11.4%, Italy 8%, Netherlands 7.5%, Spain 6.8%, China 5.1%, UK 5% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$166.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14 $133.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$5.633 trillion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 4 $4.698 trillion (30 June 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$1.161 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 $1.128 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$1.746 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 $1.662 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

475 (2010)
country comparison to the world:16

Airports – with paved runways

total: 297
over 3,047 m:14
2,438 to 3,047 m:27
1,524 to 2,437 m:98
914 to 1,523 m:83
under 914 m:76 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 177
914 to 1,523 m:69
under 914 m:108 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 15,276 km

oil 2,939 km

refined products 5,084 km (2010)

Railways

total: 29,640 km
country comparison to the world: 9 standard gauge:29,473 km 1.435-m gauge (15,361 km electrified)
narrow gauge:167 km 1.000-m gauge (63 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 951,200 km (metropolitan France

includes 11,100 km of expressways)
country comparison to the world: 8 note:there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments (2008)

Waterways

metropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 16

Merchant marine

total: 167
country comparison to the world: 38 by type:bulk carrier 2, cargo 8, chemical tanker 36, container 25, liquefied gas 12, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 44, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11
foreign-owned:57 (Belgium 7, China 5, Denmark 12, French Polynesia 12, Germany 1, New Caledonia 3, Norway 1, NZ 1, Singapore 3, Spain 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 5)
registered in other countries:146 (Bahamas 19, Belgium 5, Bermuda 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 16, Egypt 1, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Italy 2, Luxembourg 16, Malta 13, Morocco 4, Netherlands 2, Norway 4, Panama 13, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 3, South Korea 1, Taiwan 1, UK 33, US 4, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen

Military

Military branches

Army (Armee de Terre

includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale

includes Naval Air, Maritime Gendarmerie (Coast Guard)), Air Force (Armee de l’Air (AdlA)

includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie (2011)

Military service age and obligation

17-40 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (with parental consent)

no conscription

12-month service obligation

women serve in noncombat posts (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 14,563,662
females age 16-49:14,238,434 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 12,025,341
females age 16-49:11,721,827 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 396,050
female:377,839 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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

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