Introduction

TOP of PAGE

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 presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of the euro in January 2002. At present, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus.

Geography

TOP of PAGE

Location:	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
Geographic coordinates:	46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references:	Europe
Area:	total: 547,030 sq km [211,209 sq mi] land: 545,630 sq km [210,669 sq mi] note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas administrative divisions water: 1,400 sq km [541 sq mi]
Area - comparative:	slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:	total: 2,889 km [1,795 mi] 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
Coastline:	3,427 km [2,129 mi]
Maritime claims:	contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
Climate:	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
Terrain:	mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Rhône River delta -2 m (-6.6 ft) highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m (15,771 ft)
Natural resources:	coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorospar, gypsum, timber, fish
Land use:	arable land: 33.53% permanent crops: 2.07% other: 64.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:	20,000 sq km [7,720 sq mi] (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
Environment - current issues:	some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); 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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, 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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:	largest West European nation

People

TOP of PAGE

Population:	60,424,213 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:	0-14 years: 18.5% (male 5,724,185; female 5,446,716) 15-64 years: 65.1% (male 19,698,497; female 19,663,776) 65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,049,970; female 5,841,069) (2004 est.)
Median age:	total: 38.6 years male: 37 years female: 40.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:	0.39% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:	12.34 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:	9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:	0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:	total: 4.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:	total population: 79.44 years male: 75.8 years female: 83.27 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:	1.85 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:	0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:	120,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:	less than 1,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:	noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French
Ethnic groups:	Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions:	Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
Languages:	French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1980 est.)

Go to Page 2 (Government, Economy)