Exports:$609 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:US 24%, Australia 19%, UK 12.6%, Samoa 6.5%, Japan 4.1% (2004)
Imports:$835 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleumproducts, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:Australia 25.9%, Singapore 23.1%, New Zealand 21.1% (2004)
Debt - external:$188.1 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$40.3 million (1995)
Currency (code):Fijian dollar (FJD)
Currency code:FJD
Exchange rates:Fijian dollars per US dollar - 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869(2002), 2.2766 (2001), 2.1286 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:102,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:109,900 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communicationscenterdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 679; access to important cable linksbetween US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:541,476 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:88,110 (1999)
Internet country code:.fj
Internet hosts:493 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:55,000 (2003)
Transportation Fiji
Railways:total: 597 kmnarrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gaugenote: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; usedto haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2003)
Highways:total: 3,440 kmpaved: 1,692 kmunpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:203 kmnote: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges(2004)
Ports and harbors:Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,372 GRT/7,453 DWTby type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2005)
Airports:28 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)
Military Fiji
Military branches:Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, NavalDivision (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 215,104 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 163,960 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 9,266 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$36 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Fiji
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Finland
Introduction Finland
Background:Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russiaafter 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During WorldWar II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resistinvasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory.In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkabletransformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modernindustrial economy; per capita income is now on par with WesternEurope. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the onlyNordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January1999.
Geography Finland
Location:Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, andGulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates:64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 338,145 sq kmland: 304,473 sq kmwater: 33,672 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 2,681 km border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 km
Coastline:1,250 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundarywith Sweden
Climate:cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mildbecause of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and lowhills
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 mhighest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources:timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold,silver, limestone
Land use: arable land: 7.19% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 92.78% (2001)
Irrigated land:640 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing toacid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agriculturalchemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost nationalcapital on European continent; population concentrated on smallsouthwestern coastal plain
People Finland
Population:5,223,442 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.3% (male 460,977/female 443,859)15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,764,874/female 1,723,385)65 years and over: 15.9% (male 328,952/female 501,395) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 40.97 yearsmale: 39.43 yearsfemale: 42.52 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.16% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:10.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:9.79 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.35 yearsmale: 74.82 yearsfemale: 82.02 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.73 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Finn(s)adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups:Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%,Sami 0.1%
Religions:Lutheran National Church 84.2%, Greek Orthodox in Finland 1.1%,other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 13.5% (2003)
Languages:Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.6% (official), other 2.4% (smallSami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2003)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100% (2000 est.)male: 100%female: 100%
Government Finland
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Finlandconventional short form: Finlandlocal long form: Suomen Tasavaltalocal short form: Suomi
Government type:republic
Capital:Helsinki
Administrative divisions:6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani,Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani
Independence:6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution:1 March 2000
Legal system:civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may requestthe Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September2005)cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by thepresident, responsible to parliamentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to beheld February 2006); the president appoints the prime minister anddeputy prime minister from the majority party or the majoritycoalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament mustapprove the appointmentelection results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote -Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4%note: government coalition - Kesk, SDP, and SFP
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are electedby popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%,Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party -Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD[Paivi RASANEN]; Green League or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; LeftAlliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League andDemocratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition(conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social DemocraticParty or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP[Jan-Erik ENESTAM]
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARIchancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Earle I. MACKembassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinkimailing address: APO AE 09723telephone: [358] (9) 616250FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800
Flag description:white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; thevertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the styleof the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Finland
Economy - overview:Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy,with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, andItaly. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally thewood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronicsindustries. Trade is important, with exports equaling two-fifths ofGDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones.Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on importsof raw materials, energy, and some components for manufacturedgoods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limitedto maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, animportant export earner, provides a secondary occupation for therural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe- Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economicand Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture overthe next several years. Growth in 2003 was held back by the globalslowdown but picked up in 2004. High unemployment remains apersistent problem.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$151.2 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 30.2% services: 66.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 2.66 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%
Unemployment rate:8.9% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:25.6 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.7% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $96.43 billionexpenditures: $91.95 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:46.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
Industries:metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientificinstruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals,textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:71.59 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 39% hydro: 18.7% nuclear: 30.4% other: 11.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:78.58 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:1.5 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:13.5 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:211,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:101,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:318,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$11.39 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$61.04 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp(1999)
Exports - partners:Sweden 11.1%, Germany 10.7%, Russia 8.9%, UK 7%, US 6.4%,Netherlands 5.1% (2004)
Imports:$45.17 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transportequipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,grains (1999)
Imports - partners:Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.3%, Russia 12.8%, Netherlands 6.3%,Denmark 5.2%, UK 4.6%, France 4.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$11.17 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$30 billion (December 1993)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $379 million (2001)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.81 (2004), 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12(2001), 1.09 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Finland
Telephones - main lines in use:2.548 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4.7 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system with excellent servicedomestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensivecellular network provide domestic needsinternational: country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (FinlandEstonia Connection); satellite earth stations - access to Intelsattransmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland sharesthe Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:7.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:3.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:.fi
Internet hosts:1,219,173 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2002)
Internet users:2.65 million (2002)
Transportation Finland
Railways: total: 5,851 km broad gauge: 5,851 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 78,197 kmpaved: 50,539 km (including 794 km of expressways)unpaved: 27,658 km (2004)
Waterways:7,842 kmnote: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leasedfrom Russia (2004)
Pipelines:gas 694 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvou, Raahe,Rauma, Turku
Merchant marine:total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,152,175 GRT/1,053,906 DWTby type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 27, chemical tanker 6, container 1,passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/rolloff 25foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 1, United States 1)registered in other countries: 42 (2005)
Airports:148 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 75 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 69 (2004 est.)
Military Finland
Military branches:Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes Coastal DefenseForces), Air Force (2003)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service(October 2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,121,275 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 913,617 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 32,040 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.8 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues Finland
Disputes - international:various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and otherareas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government assertsno territorial demands
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@France
Introduction France
Background:Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, Francesuffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rankas a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of themost modern countries in the world and is a leader among Europeannations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracyresistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentarydemocracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperationwith Germany have proved central to the economic integration ofEurope, including the introduction of a common exchange currency,the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront ofefforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplementprogress toward an EU foreign policy.
Geography France
Location:Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel,between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering theMediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Geographic coordinates:46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 547,030 sq kmland: 545,630 sq kmwater: 1,400 sq kmnote: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseasadministrative divisions
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 2,889 kmborder 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
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hotsummers 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: Rhone River delta -2 mhighest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
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 (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest firesin south near the Mediterranean
Environment - current issues:some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrialand vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes,agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:largest West European nation
People France
Population:60,656,178 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.4% (male 5,717,761/female 5,440,060)15-64 years: 65.2% (male 19,784,749/female 19,752,432)65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,084,193/female 5,876,983) (2005est.)
Median age: total: 38.85 years male: 37.3 years female: 40.39 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.37% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:12.15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.6 yearsmale: 75.96 yearsfemale: 83.42 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.85 children born/woman (2005 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(Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (1980 est.)
Government France
Country name:conventional long form: French Republicconventional short form: Francelocal long form: Republique Francaiselocal short form: France
Government 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-Alpesnote: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdividedinto 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseasdepartments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and theoverseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre andMiquelon)
Dependent areas:Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, FrenchPolynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands,Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis andFutunanote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October 1958;amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to complywith provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty,2000 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993;amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to afive-year term
Legal system:civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrativebut not legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)head of government: Prime Minister Dominique DE VILLEPIN (since 31May 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on thesuggestion of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held21 April and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round April 2007,second round May 2007); prime minister nominated by the NationalAssembly majority and appointed by the presidentelection results: Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent ofvote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN(FN) 18.04%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat(321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseasdepartments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad;members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to servenine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years); note -between now and 2010, 25 new seats will be added to the Senate for atotal of 346 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseasdepartments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierreand Miquelon, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for Frenchnationals abroad; members will be indirectly elected by an electoralcollege to serve six-year terms, with one-half the seats beingrenewed every three years; and the National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under asingle-member majority system to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be heldSeptember 2007); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (nextto be held not later than June 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other 7; NationalAssembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 355,PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointedby the president from nominations of the High Council of theJudiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (threemembers appointed by the president, three appointed by the presidentof the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president ofthe 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 RadicalRepublican and Socialist Parties, and PRG) [Jacques PELLETIER];French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET]; Left RadicalParty or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the LeftRadical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Movement for Franceor MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or NF [Jean-Marie LEPEN]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Socialist Party orPS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Greens [Yann WEHRLING, national secretary];Union for French Democracy or UDF [Francois BAYROU]; Union for aPopular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and a part of UDF)[Nicolas SARKOZY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale duTravail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed);left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique duTravail) or CFDT, approximately 889,000 members (claimed);independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - ForceOuvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.); independent white-collarunion (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members(claimed); employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) orMEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed)
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC(observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FZ, 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, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO,NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNSecurity Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR,UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB(nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTEchancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LosAngeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. LEACHembassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris Cedex 08mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red;known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin ofthe flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the design and/orcolors are similar to a number of other flags, including those ofBelgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands;the official flag for all French dependent areas
Economy France
Economy - overview:France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do moderneconomy that has featured extensive government ownership andintervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. Thegovernment has partially or fully privatized many large companies,banks, and insurers. It retains controlling stakes in severalleading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, andThales, and is dominant in some sectors, particularly power, publictransport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector isgradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remaincommitted to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity bymeans of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce incomedisparity and the impact of free markets on public health andwelfare. The government has lowered income taxes and introducedmeasures to boost employment and reform the pension system. Inaddition, it is focusing on the problems of the high cost of laborand labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweekand restrictions on lay-offs. The tax burden remains one of thehighest in Europe (43.8% of GDP in 2003). The lingering economicslowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficitabove the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit. Finance Minister Herve GAYMARDhas promised that the 2005 deficit will fall below 3%.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.737 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 24.3% services: 73% (2004 est.)
Labor force:27.7 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 4.1%, industry 24.4%, services 71.5% (1999)
Unemployment rate:10.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:6.5% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.005 trillionexpenditures: $1.08 trillion, including capital expenditures of $23billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:67.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairyproducts; fish
Industries:machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft,electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:1.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:528.6 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.2% hydro: 14% nuclear: 77.1% other: 0.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:414.7 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:79.9 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:3 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:34,920 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.026 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:409,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:2.281 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:144.3 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.898 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:42.01 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:1.725 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:40.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:12.86 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-305 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$419 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:Germany 15%, Spain 9.5%, UK 9.3%, Italy 9%, Belgium 7.2%, US 6.7%(2004)
Imports:$419.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics,chemicals
Imports - partners:Germany 19.2%, Belgium 9.9%, Italy 8.8%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7%,Netherlands 6.7%, US 5.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$70.76 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $5.4 billion (2002)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications France
Telephones - main lines in use:33,905,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:41,683,100 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developeddomestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensiveintroduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite systeminternational: country code - 33; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 forAtlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HFradiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
Radio broadcast stations:AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includesmany repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:55.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:34.8 million (1997)
Internet country code:.fr
Internet hosts:2,396,761 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):62 (2000)
Internet users:21.9 million (2003)
Transportation France
Railways:total: 29,519 kmstandard gauge: 29,352 km 1.435-m gauge (14,481 km electrified)narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 893,100 kmpaved: 893,100 km (including 12,000 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2000)
Pipelines:gas 14,232 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Marseille,Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg
Merchant marine:total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 703,639 GRT/889,705 DWTby type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 4, passenger 3,passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 6 (Sweden 5, Switzerland 1)registered in other countries: 139 (2005)
Airports:478 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 283 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 95 914 to 1,523 m: 82 under 914 m: 65 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 195 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 120 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 3 (2004 est.)
Military France
Military branches:Army (includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy(includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), NationalGendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age with consent for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 13,676,509 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 11,262,661 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 389,204 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$45,238.1 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues France
Disputes - international:Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands,and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claimsTromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the Frenchoverseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorialclaim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthewand Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine,Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@French Guiana
Introduction French Guiana
Background:First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site ofnotorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agencylaunches its communication satellites from Kourou.
Geography French Guiana
Location:Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenBrazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates:4 00 N, 53 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 91,000 sq kmland: 89,150 sq kmwater: 1,850 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline: 378 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Natural resources:bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), petroleum, kaolin, fish,niobium, tantalum, clay
Land use: arable land: 0.14% permanent crops: 0.05% other: 99.81% (90% forest, 10% other) (2001)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion ofthe South American continent
People French Guiana
Population:195,506 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.3% (male 29,262/female 27,947)15-64 years: 64.7% (male 67,895/female 58,534)65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,038/female 5,830) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 28.45 yearsmale: 29.49 yearsfemale: 27.31 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.1% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:20.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.09 yearsmale: 73.77 yearsfemale: 80.58 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.01 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)adjective: French Guianese
Ethnic groups:black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian12%, other 10%
Religions:Roman Catholic
Languages:French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83%male: 84%female: 82% (1982 est.)
Government French Guiana
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Guianaconventional short form: French Guianalocal long form: nonelocal short form: Guyane
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Cayenne
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France)
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French legal system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Ange MANCINI (since 31 July 2002)head of government: President of the General Council JosephHO-TEN-YOU (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional CouncilAntoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)cabinet: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and RegionalCouncils are appointed by the members of those councils
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and aunicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to beheld NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next tobe held NA 2004)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7,other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%,various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, WalwariCommittee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6,independents 3, Walwari Committee 2note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998(next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party- NA%; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the FrenchNational Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007);results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR1, Walwari Committee 1
Judicial branch:Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based inMartinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and FrenchGuiana)
Political parties and leaders:Guyanese Democratic Action or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; GuyaneseSocialist Party or PSG [Marie-Claude VERDAN]; Guyana DemocraticForces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Popular National Guyanese Party orPNPG [Jose DORCY]; Socialist Party or PS [Paul DEBRIETTE]; Union fora Popular Movement or UMP (includes RPR) [Muriel ICARE]; WalwariCommittee (aligned with the PRG in France) [ChristineTAUBIRA-DELANON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:UPU, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy French Guiana
Economy - overview:The economy is tied closely to the much larger French economythrough subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center atKourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are themost important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% ofthe country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fullyexploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawnlogs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastalarea, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and maniocare the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on importsof food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularlyamong younger workers.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.551 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 58,800 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 18.2%, industry 21.2%, services, government, and commerce 60.6% (1980)
Unemployment rate:22% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $225 millionexpenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105million (1996)
Agriculture - products: corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry