France

republicIndependence 486 (unified by Clovis)

France as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 128 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalParis
LocationWestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Spain and
1994

Every edition of France

Populationas each edition published it
57.84 million July 1994 est. · 56.36m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.47% 1994 est. · 0.48% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 38.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 78 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.8 children per woman 1994 est. · 1.8 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
6.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 6 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$18,200 1993 · $18,900 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
-0.7% 1993 · 1.1% in 1993

Geography

Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Spain and | Germany

25 fields
Coastline
3,427km
(mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km)
Land boundaries
2,892.4km
total · Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
Irrigated land
11,600sq km
(1989 est.)

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Germany

Map references

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

547,030 sq km

land area

545,630 sq km

comparative area

slightly more than twice the size of Colorado

note

includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions

contiguous zone

12-24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

International disputes

  • Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island;
  • Comoros claims Mayotte;
  • Mauritius claims Tromelin Island;
  • Seychelles claims Tromelin Island;
  • Suriname claims part of French Guiana;
  • Mexico claims Clipperton Island;
  • territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land);
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France

Climate

generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean

Terrain

mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash

arable land

32%

permanent crops

2%

meadows and pastures

23%

forest and woodland

27%

other

16%

current issues

  • some forest damage from acid rain;
  • air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
  • water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff

natural hazards

NA

international agreements

  • party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling;
  • signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Note

largest West European nation; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral

People

21 fields
Population
57,840,445
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 0.47% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
13.13Death
9.3Net migration
0.86

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%Protestant 2%Jewish 1%Muslim (North African workers) 1%unaffiliated 6%
Labor force
24.17million
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1980 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

78.19 years

male

74.27 years

female

82.3 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)

adjective

French

Ethnic divisions

Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities

Languages

French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)

total population

99%

male

NA%

female

NA%

by occupation

services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2% (1987)

Government

Republic

37 fields

Legislature, 577 seatsseats by party

RPR 247UDF 213PS 67PCF 24independents 26

conventional long form

French Republic

conventional short form

France

local long form

Republique Francaise

local short form

France

Type

republic

Capital

Paris

Administrative divisions

22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes

note

  • the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments;
  • see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Dependent areas

Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna

note

the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence

486 (unified by Clovis)

National holiday

National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Constitution

  • 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992;
  • amended to tighten immigration laws 1993

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

chief of state

  • President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
  • election last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held by May 1995);
  • results - Second Ballot Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46%

head of government

Prime Minister Edouard BALLADUR (since 29 March 1993)

cabinet

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament (Parlement)

Senate (Senat)

  • elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held September 1995 - nine-year term, elected by thirds every three years);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (321 total; 296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 142 (UREI 51, UC 68, RDE 23), PS 66, PCF 16, independents 2, other 4

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

  • elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24, independents 26

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle)

Political parties and leaders

  • Rally for the Republic (RPR), Jacques CHIRAC;
  • Union for French Democracy (UDF, federation of UREI, UC, RDE), Valery Giscard d'ESTAING;
  • Republican Party (PR), Gerard LONGUET;
  • Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Pierre MEHAIGNERIE;
  • Radical (RAD), Yves GALLAND;
  • Socialist Party (PS), Henri EMMAMUELLI, interim party leader;
  • Left Radical Movement (MRG), Jean-Francois HORY;
  • Communist Party (PCF), Robert HUE;
  • National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN;
  • Union of Republican and Independents (UREI);
  • Centrist Union (UC);
  • Democratic Assembly (RDE);
  • The Greens, Antoine WAECHTER, Jean-Louis VIDAL, Guy CAMBOT;
  • Generation Ecology (GE), Brice LALONDE

Other political or pressure groups

  • Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - CGT) nearly 2.4 million members (claimed);
  • Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members (est.);
  • independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members (est.);
  • independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed);
  • National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais - CNPF or Patronat)

Member of

ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, GATT, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

chief of mission

Ambassador Jacques ANDREANI

chancery

4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone

(202) 944-6000

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

chief of mission

Ambassador Pamela C. HARRIMAN

embassy

2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08

mailing address

Unit 21551, Paris; APO AE 09777

telephone

[33] (1) 4296-12-02 or 42-61-80-75

FAX

[33] (1) 4266-9783

consulate(s) general

Bordeaux, Marseille, Strasbourg

Flag

  • three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red;
  • known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor);
  • the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg;
  • the official flag for all French dependent areas

Economy

One of the world's most developed economies, France has substantial | agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern industrial | sector.

25 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$18,200
(1993)
Real growth rate
-0.7%
(1993)industrial production growth: growth rate -4.3% (1993)
Unemployment rate
12.2%
(May 1994)

Overview

One of the world's most developed economies, France has substantial agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe.

Largely self-sufficient in agricultural products, France is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy. Although French GDP contracted by 0.7% in 1993, the economy showed signs of life by yearend.

GDP growth, however, will remain sluggish in 1994 - perhaps reaching only 1.0%. Rapidly increasing unemployment will still pose a major problem for the government. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsche mark parity, which has kept French interest rates high despite France's low inflation.

Although the pace of economic integration within the European Community has slowed down, integration presumably will remain a major force shaping the fortunes of the various economic sectors.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.05 trillion (1993)

revenues

$220.5 billion

expenditures

$249.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $47 billion (1993 budget)

Exports

$270.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing

partners

Germany 18.6%, Italy 11.0%, Spain 11.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.1%, UK 8.8%, Netherlands 7.9%, US 6.4%, Japan 2.0%, former USSR 0.7% (1991 est.)

Imports

$250.2 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities

crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products

partners

Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.9%, US 9.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, Spain 8.8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8.5%, UK 7.5%, Japan 4.1%, former USSR 1.3% (1991 est.)

External debt

$300 billion (1993 est.)

capacity

110 million kW

production

426 billion kWh

consumption per capita

7,430 kWh (1992)

Industries

steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism

Agriculture

  • accounts for 4% of GDP (including fishing and forestry);
  • one of the world's top five wheat producers;
  • other principal products - beef, dairy products, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes;
  • self-sufficient for most temperate-zone foods;
  • shortages include fats and oils and tropical produce, but overall net exporter of farm products;
  • fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically

donor

ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

16 fields

Railroads

  • French National Railways (SNCF) operates 34,322 km 1,435-mm standard gauge;
  • 12,434 km electrified, 15,132 km double or multiple track;
  • 99 km of various gauges (1,000-mm), privately owned and operated

total

1,510,750 km

paved

747,750 km (including 7,450 km of controlled access divided highway)

unpaved

763,000 km

Inland waterways

14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled

Pipelines

  • crude oil 3,059 km;
  • petroleum products 4,487 km;
  • natural gas 24,746 km

Ports

coastal - Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Cherbourg, Dunkerque, Fos-Sur-Mer, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Sete, Toulon; inland - Rouen

Merchant marine

124 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,226,175 GRT/5,109,375 DWT, bulk 9, cargo 10, chemical tanker 8, container 21, liquefied gas 6, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 37, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 3

note

France also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and French Polynesia

total

472

usable

461

with permanent-surface runways

258

with runways over 3,659 m

3

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

37

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

136

Telecommunications

  • highly developed;
  • extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks;
  • large-scale introduction of optical-fiber systems;
  • satellite systems for domestic traffic;
  • 39,200,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 41 AM, 800 (mostly repeaters) FM, 846 (mostly repeaters) TV;
  • 24 submarine coaxial cables;
  • 2 INTELSAT earth stations (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for the Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 3 for the Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT);
  • HF radio communications with more than 20 countries;
  • INMARSAT service;
  • EUTELSAT TV service

Defense Forces

Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National Gendarmerie

4 fields

Branches

Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 14,717,461;
  • fit for military service 12,265,874;
  • reach military age (18) annually 376,485 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $33.0 billion, 3.3% of GDP (1993)

Affiliation

(overseas department of France)

Central Intelligence Agency. “France.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/france/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →