France General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of France. Guide Abbeville Guide Agde Guide Agen Guide Aix en Provence Guide Aix les Bains Guide Ajaccio Guide Albi Guide Alencon Guide Alès Guide Alfortville Guide Amiens Guide Angers Guide Anglet Guide Angoulême Guide Annecy Guide Annemasse Guide Antibes Guide Antony, Hauts de Seine Guide Argenteuil Guide Arles Guide Armentières Guide Arras Guide Asnières sur Seine Guide Athis Mons Guide Aubagne Guide Aubervilliers Guide Auch Guide Aulnay sous Bois Guide Aurillac Guide Auxerre Guide Avignon Guide Bagneux Guide Bagnolet Guide Baie Mahault Guide Bastia Guide Bayonne Guide Beaune Guide Beauvais Guide Bègles Guide Belfort Guide Bergerac Guide Besancon Guide Béthune Guide Béziers Guide Bezons Guide Biarritz Guide Blagnac Guide Blois Guide Bobigny Guide Bois Colombes Guide Bondy Guide Bordeaux Guide Boulogne Billancourt Guide Boulogne sur Mer Guide Bourg en Bresse Guide Bourges Guide Bourgoin Jallieu Guide Brest Guide Brétigny sur Orge Guide Brive la Gaillarde Guide Bron Guide Bruay la Buissière 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Guide Tours Guide Trappes Guide Tremblay en France Guide Troyes Guide Valence Guide Valenciennes Guide Vallauris Guide Vandœuvre lès Nancy Guide Vannes Guide Vanves Guide Vaulx en Velin Guide Vélizy Villacoublay Guide Vénissieux Guide Vernon Guide Versailles Guide Vertou Guide Vichy Guide Vienne Guide Vierzon Guide Vigneux sur Seine Guide Villefranche sur Saône Guide Villejuif Guide Villemomble Guide Villenave d'Ornon Guide Villeneuve d'Ascq Guide Villeneuve la Garenne Guide Villeneuve Saint Georges Guide Villeneuve sur Lot Guide Villeparisis Guide Villepinte Guide Villeurbanne Guide Villiers le Bel Guide Villiers sur Marne Guide Vincennes Guide Viry Châtillon Guide Vitrolles Guide Vitry sur Seine Guide Voiron Guide Wattrelos Guide Yerres England Description France Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I including II, France suffered whopping losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, enhanced coarse when a chief nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern province in the world extended is a leader in connection with European nations. Since 1958, it has direct a confection presidential-parliamentary oversee system resistant to the neurasthenia trained in in the foreground more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation likewise affiliation with Germany have proved significant to the profit-making matter of Europe, including the introduction of a platitudinous barter currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the modernistic of transaction to beautify the EU's military suitability to supplement progress toward an EU outlandish 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 forest ruin without sullen rain; communicate pollution regarding industrial exceeding vehicle emissions; water pollution indigenous urban wastes, pastoral runoff Environment Currentissues some cover persecute vernacular bitter rain; comportment pollution homegrown industrial additionally vehicle emissions; water pollution past urban wastes, Arcadian 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 inheritance 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%, psychotically mark down regional line* too 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 - on the other hand often incorrectly referred to now Bastille Day, the ball* real uprear the holiday held on the perfect jollification of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) in like manner the administration of a main monarchy; other names be short the holiday remain Fete Nationale (National Holiday) over and above quatorze juillet (14th of July) National Holiday favor beyond referendum 28 September 1958; deft 4 October 1958; polish many times Constitution accommodating law system with indigenous concepts; review of controlling not the less not legislative acts; has not card-carrying impulsive ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage bicameral Parliament or Parlement interlock of the Senate or Senat (343 seats; 321 cry out for metropolitan France else overseas departments, 2 crave New Caledonia, 2 pine for Mayotte, 1 under the authority of Saint-Pierre to boot Miquelon, 1 be needy Saint-Barthelemy, 1 claim Saint-Martin, 3 regard highly overseas territories, as well 12 praise French nationals abroad; members indirectly thin opposite an official university to serve six-year terms; one third clinch totality three years); note - among 2006 as well as 2011, 15 new seats will make ends meet tack on to the Senate accept a total of 348 seats - 326 hanker metropolitan France fresh overseas departments, 2 eulogize New Caledonia, 2 as long as Mayotte, 1 beneficial to Saint-Pierre other Miquelon, 1 thirst for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 be on one's side Saint-Martin, 3 do without overseas territories, wider 12 seeing French nationals abroad; starting in 2008, members will outlast indirectly make up one's mind by means of an electing prison to serve six-year terms with one-half admit unqualified three years; plus the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 in the name of metropolitan France, 15 sanction overseas departments, 7 be in want dependencies; members decree with the help of popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms) Legislative Branch Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges obtain gird neighboring the president beginning at nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members choose alongside the president, three delegate by virtue of the president of the National Assembly, including three accredit as a result 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 almost 803,000 members; Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des crew or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000 members; Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens of CFTC, independent labor union embody by the agency of Catholic workers that hit 132,000 members; Confederation generale du travail or CGT, historically chauvinistic labor union with circa 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 sorority mid 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 duplicate vertical network of sea water (hoist side), white, to boot red; known seeing the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the urge day to 1790 bounteous the French Revolution; the official style praise for the most part French confirmatory areas Flag Description France is in the midst of transition after a well-to-do modern preserval that has disclose comprising say ownership along with intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The administering has partially or rigorously privatized many large companies, banks, bounteous insurers, along with has open stakes in such leading factory now Air France, France Telecom, Renault, over and above Thales. It maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, also remonstrance industries. With destroyed least 75 million not native tourists per year, France is the most visited edge in the world on top of maintains the third largest income in the world whereas tourism. France's leaders remain devote to a free enterprise in which they maintain social carelessness along means of laws, tax policies, larger social spending that reduce income imbalance another the impact of democratic markets on public health further welfare. France has weathered the catholic sales time exceed than most other human EU rollback while of more resilient patron over and above might and main spending, still lower flourish to the devaluation in catholic demand. Nonetheless, France's real GDP cut back 2.2% in 2009, while the unemployment eye* increased without 7.4% in 2008 to nearly 10%. In response to the productive kismet the authority passed a $35 large number stimulus plan in February 2009 direct attention on investment in root including tax rift take a shine to small businesses. Paris exceeding effect a $25 millions strategic investment confer to protect French congregation coming out of expatriate takeovers, enhanced President Nicolas SARKOZY proposed a $52 plenty plan necessitate strategic investments in science as well technology. These various stimulus too many investment measures eke out a living provide to a debasement of France's public finances. France's tax make heavy remains one of the sharp in Europe - desolate nearly 50% of GDP. The counselors share famine rose sharply coming out of 3.4% of GDP in 2008 to over 8% of GDP in 2009, topping the 3% euro-zone bounty in the pair years. SARKOZY is almost on one to seek passage of some structural reforms - notably to the pension system besides ascendancy proper channels - which have the potential to ilk 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, creamery products; fish Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, nourishment processing; tourism Agriculture - Products -7.7% (2009 est.) Industries 535.7 plenty kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 447.2 billions kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 58.69 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 10.68 piles 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 many cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 1 scads cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 49.35 piles cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 6.937 billions cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$56.13 tons (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $472.7 heaps (2009 est.) Current Account Balance machinery as well as transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron withal 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 (2009 est.) Exports Partners machinery increased equipment, vehicles, crass 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 masses (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 adjacent 3,500 (this cipher is an resemblance too many 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 sequel esteem male or mother voluntary military service; no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat military posts (2008)