Introducing FRANCE

Currency

Euros

Languages

French

Time Zone

09/06/23
02:15 PM

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-7, 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.

Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain

total: 551,500 sq km land: 549,970 sq km water: 1,530 sq km

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 the mistral

68,305,148 (2022 est.)

All segments of the French economy are diverse. Numerous significant corporations, notably Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, have been partially or entirely privatized by the government. However, the government still has a significant presence in several industries, particularly those related to power, public transportation, and defense. With 89 million foreign visitors in 2017, France was the most visited country in the entire world. The French government is still devoted to capitalism, which they uphold through laws, taxation, and social spending that lessen economic disparity. The real GDP of France increased by 1.9% in 2017, up from 1.2% in 2016. From 7.8% in 2008 to 10.2% in 2015, the unemployment rate (including overseas territories) rose, then decreased to 9.0% in 2017. From 24.6% in the fourth quarter of 2014 to 20.6% in the fourth quarter of 2017, youth unemployment in metropolitan France fell. High spending and slow growth have historically put a strain on France's governmental finances. The budget deficit decreased to 2.7% of GDP in 2017, keeping it inside the EU-mandated 3

French

Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African (Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian), Indochinese, Basque minorities

4.98% (2019 est.) 5.19% (2018 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects, and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard); note - overseas departments: French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili dialect)

Roman Catholic 47%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 2%, Buddhists 2%, Orthodox 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 33%, unspecified 9%

0-14 years: 18.36% (male 6,368,767/female 6,085,318) 15-24 years: 11.88% (male 4,122,981/female 3,938,938) 25-54 years: 36.83% (male 12,619,649/female 12,366,120) 55-64 years: 12.47% (male 4,085,564/female 4,376,272) 65 years and over: 20.46% (2020 est.) (male 6,029,303/female 7,855,244)

flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in the south near the Mediterranean, hurricanes (cyclones); flooding

$2,832,170,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,082,300,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,036,490,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars country comparison to the world: 9

1.49% (2019 est.) 1.81% (2018 est.) 2.42% (2017 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

$42,000 (2020 est.) $45,800 (2019 est.) $45,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars country comparison to the world: 38

$2,715,574,000,000 (2019 est.)

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