France
French RepublicRepublique Francaise
republicIndependence 486 (unified by Clovis)
France as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 127 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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
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
18 fieldsLand useshare of 547,030 sq km
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
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
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
People
19 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2003 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 18.6% (male 5,725,170; female 5,449,991)
- 15-64 years:
- 65.1% (male 19,619,994; female 19,583,850)
- 65 years and over:
- 16.3% (male 4,006,857; female 5,794,667) (2003 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 (2003 est.)
Languages
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Government
Republic; President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995); Prime Minister Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN (since 7 May 2002)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Senate, 577 seats, elected 23 September 2001seats by party
Country name
- conventional long form:
- French Republic
- conventional short form:
- France
- local long form:
- Republique Francaise
- local short form:
- France
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: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas 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
Constitution
- 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty, 2000 Treaty of Nice;
- amended to tighten immigration laws 1993
Legal system
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN (since 7 May 2002)
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (changed from seven-year term in 2001);
- election last held 21 April and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round NA April 2007, second round NA May 2007);
- prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president
- election results:
- Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN (FN) 18.04%
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms)
- election results:
- Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
- seats by party - RPR 83, PS 68, UDF 37, DL 35, RDES 16, PCF 16, other 66;
- National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
- seats by party - UMP 355, PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22
- elections:
- Senate - last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2004); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007)
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary);
- Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate);
- Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Political parties and leaders
- Citizen and Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT];
- Democratic and European Social Rally or RDSE (mainly RAD and PRG) [leader NA];
- French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET];
- Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET];
- Liberal Democracy or DL (originally Republican Party or PR; now merged into the UMP) [Alain MADELIN];
- Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS];
- Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA];
- Rally for the Republic or RPR (merged into UMP) [Serge LEPELTIER];
- Socialist Party or PS [Francois HOLLANDE];
- Greens [Martine BILLARD, Denis BAUPIN, Stephane POCRAIN, Maryse ARDITI];
- Union for French Democracy or UDF (coalition of DL, CDS, UDF, RP, and other parties) [Francois BAYROU];
- Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and a part of UDF) [Alain JUPPE]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed);
- left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, approximately 865,000 members (claimed, of which 810,000 are actively employed);
- independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.);
- independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed);
- employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed)
International organization participation
ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTE
- chancery:
- 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 944-6166
- consulate(s) general:
- Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 944-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Howard H. LEACH
- embassy:
- 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
- mailing address:
- PSC 116, APO AE 09777
- telephone:
- [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
- FAX:
- [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
- consulate(s) general:
- Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag description
- three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red;
- known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor);
- the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands;
- the official flag for all French dependent areas
Economy
France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms.
43 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2002 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The Socialist-led government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers, but still retains controlling stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and remains dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries.
The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare.
The current government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment. At the end of 2002 the government was focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The government was also pushing for pension reforms and simplification of administrative procedures.
The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe. The current economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit. Business investment remains listless because of low rates of capital utilization, high debt, and the steep cost of capital.
Industries
- machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics;
- textiles, food processing;
- tourism
Agriculture - products
- wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes;
- beef, dairy products;
- fish
Exports - commodities
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Currency
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries;
on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- highly developed
- domestic:
- extensive cable and microwave radio relay;
- extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable;
- domestic satellite system
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region);
- HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
Radio broadcast stations
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Transportation
10 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 32,682 km
- standard gauge:
- 32,515 km 1.435-m gauge (14,104 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Ports and harbors
Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nates, Paris, Rouen, Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
Merchant marine
- total:
- 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 749,570 GRT/939,134 DWT
- ships by type:
- cargo 4, chemical tanker 9, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 4
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: French Polynesia 2, Greece 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Sweden 9 (2002 est.)
Military
Army (includes marines), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
7 fieldsMilitary branches
Army (includes marines), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island;
- Comoros claims Mayotte;
- Mauritius claims Tromelin Island;
- territorial dispute between Suriname and French Guiana;
- territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land);
- Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia, claimed by France and Vanuatu
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “France.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/france/2003.