Fun facts and information on France

General information on France:

Despite recent victories in both World Wars, France has lost its dominant nation-state status after the progressive dismantling of its former empire.

However, France nowadays is part of the most advanced countries in the world and especially in Europe mainly due to the cooperation with Germany.

France is seeking to build a more unified and capable European Union especially in terms of defense and security.

Geographical information on France:

Geographical Position: Western Europe, between Spain Belgium and Italy, along the Mediterranean Sea. Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 46 degrees 00’ North, 2 degrees 00’ East Total Land & Sea Area Total: 550,030 square kilometres land area: 545,000 square kilometres Sea Area1,500 square kilometres

Land boundaries: Total: 3000 kilometres Border countries: Andorra 55 kilometres , Belgium 600 kilometres , Germany 450 kilometres , Italy 490 kilometres , Equatorial-guinea 70 kilometres , Monaco 4 kilometres , Spain 620 kilometres , Switzerland 580 kilometres Coastal Length: 3,400 kilometres

Climatological information on France:

Cool winters and summers Country terrain: Mainly composed of flat plains in the northern and western areas; mountains in the Eastern and Southern regions.

Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Rhone River delta -3 meters highest point: Mont Blanc 4,808 meters

Natural resources: Coal and iron deposits, bauxite mining, zinc mining, potash, timber and lumber and lumber, angle. Land use: arable land area: 33 percent permanent crops: 2 percent other: 64.5 percent (1998 estimate.) Irrigated land area: 25,000 square kilometres (1998 estimate.)

Natural hazards: Some floods, and windstorms; drought in the southern regions;

Geopolitical information on France:

- Population: 60,180,500 (July 2003 estimate.) Age structure: Under 15: 18.5 percent From 15 to 65: 65 percent Over 65: 16 percent Median age: Total: 38 years male: 37 years female: 39 years (2002) Population growth rate: 0.4 percent (2003 estimate.) Birth rate: 12 births per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Death rate: 9 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Net migration rate: 0.7 migrant per thousand population (2003 estimate.)

Infant mortality rate: Total: 4.3 deaths per thousand live births female: 3.8 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate.) male: 4.9 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79 years male: 75 years female: 83 years (2003 estimate.) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2003 estimate.)

Nationality: Frenchman, Frenchwoman Ethnicities: Celtic and Latin, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Local minorities

Religious information on France: Roman Catholic 85 percent, Protestant 3 percent, Jewish 2 percent, Islam/Muslim faith 5 percent, unaffiliated 5 percent

Languages-information on France: French 100 percent, declining regional dialects Literacy: definition: age 15 and more can read and write total population: 99 percent male: 99 percent female: 99 percent (1980 estimate.) Government France French Republic France Government type: republic Capital city: Paris

Independence: 486 (gathered by Clovis) National holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958, Legal system: civil law system. Suffrage: All citizens eligible to vote from the age of 18 years

Executive branch: Head of State: President Head of government: Prime Minister cabinet: Council of Ministers Legislative branch: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the National Assembly

Economy: information on France:

General information on the Economy of France - overview: France is still hesitating between a free-market based economy and intervention.

At the end of the 90’s the government haas largely privatized many large companies in banking and insurance sector even if it they were sometimes partial: Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales.

Moreover Frnce remains dominant worldwide particularly in power, public transport or defense sectors.

France's economic strategy is a capitalism in which they maintain social equity through means of laws that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare.

Nowadays the government has to cope with high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility due to the 35-hour work-week and with the growing problem of pensions.

In addition the current economic recession pushed the deficit above the EU's 3 percent debt limit. Business investment remains at a low level while the debt is at a high level.

GDP - Gross Domestic Product: - $USD1.500 trillion (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - growth rate: 1 percent (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - per capita: - $USD25,000 (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector: agriculture: 2 percent industry: 25 percent services: 73 percent (2002 estimate.) Population below poverty line: 6 percent (1999) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2 percent (2002 estimate.) Labor force: 25 million (2001 estimate.) Labor force - by occupation: services 73 percent, industry 25 percent, agriculture 2 percent (1997) rate of unemployment: 9 percent (2002 estimate.)

Budget information on France: incomes: $USD285 billion spending: $USD350 billion, Industries: Plant, chemicals, cars, aircraft and aerospace, electronic equipments; food processing; tourism activity. Industrial production growth rate: -0.5 percent (2002)

Agriculture - products:

Corn, cereals, sugar cane beets, potatoes,grapes; cattle, dairy products; angle Exports: $USD308 billion (2002)

Exports - commodities: Plant, transportation equipment, planes, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel deposits, bevy. Exports - partners: Germany 16 percent, UK 10 percent, Spain 9 percent, Italy 9 percent, US 8 percent, Belgium 7 percent (2002) Imports: $USD303 billion (2002 estimate.)

Imports - commodities: Plant, motor vehicles, hydrocarbons, planes, plastics, chemicals Imports - partners: Germany 19 percent, Belgium 10 percent, Italy 9 percent, UK 7 percent, Netherlands 7 percent, US 7 percent, Spain 6 percent (2002)

Currency: euro (EUR) Currency code: EUR

Communications-information on France:

Telephones: 35 million Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 41, Frequency Modulation about 3,500, SW 2 (1998) Television stations: 585 Internet country code: .fr

Travel information on France France:

Railroad networks: Total: 32,700 kilometres Roading System: Total: 894,000 kilometres Pipelines: gas 14,000 kilometres ; oil 3,000 kilometres ; refined products 4,900 kilometres (2003) Airports: 480 (2002)

Military information on France:

Military branches: Army , Navy, Air Force , National Gendarmerie Military spending: $USD46 billion (2000) Military spending: - percent of GDP - Gross Domestic Product: 2.5 percent (2002)

International Issues Disputes - international: Disputes with Madagascar about small islands in the Indian Ocean with Comoros for Mayotte with Mauritius for Tromelin Island and with Vanuatu for Matthew and Hunter Islands and east of New Caledonia. Territorial dispute between Suriname and French Guiana; Territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land)

Now you know all about the information on France you can check out the history.

More information on France
History of French speaking countries | Flag-of-France | Map-of-France | Learn French in France |

Information on France
Learn French Help – A Resource for the those Learning to speak French
32 Alverton, Great Linford, Milton Keynes, MK14 5EF, United Kingdom

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