People France
Population: total: 62,752,136 note: 60,876,136 in metropolitan France (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.3% (male 5,704,152/female 5,427,213)15-64 years: 65.3% (male 19,886,228/female 19,860,506)65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,103,883/female 5,894,154) (2006est.)
Median age: total: 39.1 years male: 37.6 years female: 40.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.35% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:11.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.71 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.73 yearsmale: 76.1 yearsfemale: 83.54 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.84 children born/woman (2006 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 minoritiesoverseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese,Amerindian
Religions:Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%,unaffiliated 4%overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim,Buddhist, pagan
Languages:French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages(Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)overseas departments: French, Creole patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government France
Country name:conventional long form: French Republicconventional short form: Francelocal long form: Republique francaiselocal short form: France
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Parisgeographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:26 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne, 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, Reunion, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais,Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Coted'Azur, Rhone-Alpesnote: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 4 overseasregions and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 4overseas departments
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; New Caledoniahas been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since1999, a unique status falling between that of an independent countryand a French overseas deparment
Independence:486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday:Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although oftenincorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actuallycommemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of thestorming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment ofa constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are FeteNationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)
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; amended in 2005 to make the EU constitutional treatycompatible with the Constitution of France and to ensure that thedecision to ratify EU accession treaties would be made by referendum
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 22 April 2007,second round 6 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(331 seats - 305 for metropolitan France, 9 for overseasdepartments, 5 for dependencies, 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 2006 and 2010, 15 new seats will be added to the Senate fora total 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; starting in 2008, members will be indirectlyelected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms, withone-half the seats being renewed every three years; and the NationalAssembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats - 555 for metropolitanFrance, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for dependencies; members areelected by popular vote under a single-member majority system toserve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be heldSeptember 2008); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (nextto be held on 10 and 17 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, Left 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 MRC [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]; Greens [YannWEHRLING, national secretary]; Left Radical Party or PRG (previouslyRadical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)[Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DEVILLIERS]; National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Rally forFrance or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Socialist Party or PS [FrancoisHOLLANDE]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Francois BAYROU];Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [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)French Guiana: NAGuadeloupe: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe orKLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; GeneralUnion of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement of IndependentGuadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal MovementMartinique: Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Unionfor Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAPReunion: NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, AustraliaGroup, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IFTU,IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA,MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF,OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), SPC,UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO,UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETONembassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 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 in 2006 focused on introducing measures thatattempt to boost employment through increased labor marketflexibility; however, the population has remained opposed to laborreforms, hampering the government's ability to revitalize theeconomy. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (nearly50% of GDP in 2005). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexiblebudget items probably pushed the budget deficit above the eurozone's3%-of-GDP limit in 2006; unemployment hovers near 9%.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.871 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.154 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$30,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 20.6% services: 77.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 27.88 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.1% industry: 24.4% services: 71.5% (1999)
Unemployment rate:9.1% (2006 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% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.15 trillionexpenditures: $1.211 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:64.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairyproducts; fish
Industries:machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft,electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:1.5% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:540.6 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.2% hydro: 14% nuclear: 77.1% other: 0.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:440.6 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:68.6 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:6.5 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:77,690 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.977 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:409,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:2.281 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:144.3 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.4 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:45.41 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:770 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:44.78 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:12.77 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-35.36 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$490 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:Germany 14.7%, Spain 9.7%, Italy 8.7%, UK 8.3%, Belgium 7.1%, US7.1% (2005)
Imports:$529.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics,chemicals
Imports - partners:Germany 18.9%, Belgium 10.7%, Italy 8.3%, Spain 7%, Netherlands6.6%, UK 5.9%, US 5.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$39.98 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:$3.461 trillion (30 June 2006)
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 - 0.7967 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications France
Telephones - main lines in use:38.433 million; 35.7 million (metropolitan France) (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:49,369,800; 48.058 million (metropolitan France) (2005)
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 countriesoverseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe- 590; Martinique - 596; Reunion - 262
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:metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp;Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re
Internet hosts:3,149,008; 3,148,379 (metropolitan France) (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):62 (2000)
Internet users:29.945 million; 29.521 million (metropolitan France) (2006)
Transportation France
Airports: total: 501 metropolitan France: 477 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 292 (metropolitan France) 15 (overseas departments) over 3,047 m: 13 (metropolitan France) 3 (overseas departments) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 (metropolitan France) 1 (overseas departments) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 96 (metropolitan France) 914 to 1,523 m: 81 (metropolitan France) 5 (overseas departments) under 914 m: 74 (metropolitan France) 6 (overseas departments) (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 185 (metropolitan France) 9 (overseas departments) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (metropolitan France) 914 to 1,523 m: 73 (metropolitan France) 2 (overseas departments) under 914 m: 108 (metropolitan France) 7 (overseas departments) (2006)
Heliports:3 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 14,588 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2006)
Railways:total: 29,085 kmstandard gauge: 28,918 km 1.435-m gauge (14,481 km electrified)narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 956,303 km (including 5,083 km of roads in the overseasdepartments)paved: 951,220 km (metropolitan France; including 10,490 km ofexpressways) (2004)
Waterways:metropolitan France: 8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of3,000 metric tons)French Guiana: 3,760 km (460 km navigable by small oceangoingvessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft)(2000)
Merchant marine:total: 61 ships (1000 GRT or over) 875,777 GRT/1,318,605 DWTby type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, container 5, liquefied gas 6,passenger 3, passenger/cargo 32, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/rolloff 1foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 1, Hong Kong 1, Italy 2, Monaco 1, Norway1, NZ 1, Singapore 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 2)registered in other countries: 154 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Australia3, Bahamas 37, Bermuda 1, Cameroon 1, French Polynesia 1, FrenchSouthern and Antarctic Lands 36, Gibraltar 1, Indonesia 1, Isle ofMan 2, Italy 1, South Korea 12, Liberia 3, Luxembourg 14, Malta 6,Mexico 1, Morocco 1, Panama 15, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8,UK 4, Wallis and Futuna 5)note: Reunion owns one ship registered in the Bahamas (2006)
Ports and terminals:Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), Bordeaux, Calais, Degrad de Cannes(French Guiana), Dunkerque, Fort-de-France (Martinique), Gustavia(Guadeloupe), La Pallice, La Trinite (Martinique), Le Havre, Le Port(Reunion), Marin (Martinique), Marseille, Nantes, Paris,Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Rouen, Strasbourg
Military France
Military branches:Army (includes marines, Foreign Legion, light aviation), Navy(includes naval air), Air Force (includes air defense), NationalGendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription endedin the 1990s; women serve in non-combat military posts (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 13,676,509females age 17-49: 13,504,539 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 11,262,661females age 17-49: 11,079,472 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 17-49: 389,204females age 17-49: 372,719 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$45 billion FY06 (2005)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% FY06 (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues France
Disputes - international:Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, EuropaIsland, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claimsMayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial disputebetween Suriname and the French overseas department of FrenchGuiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (AdelieLand); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east ofNew Caledonia
Illicit drugs:metropolitan France: transshipment point for and consumer of SouthAmerican cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European syntheticsFrench Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for localconsumption; minor transshipment point to EuropeMartinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound forthe US and Europe
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@French Polynesia
Introduction French Polynesia
Background:The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19thcentury. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests byresuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-yearmoratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. In recentyears, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
Geography French Polynesia
Location:Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about one-half ofthe way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates:15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)land: 3,660 sq kmwater: 507 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:2,525 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical, but moderate
Terrain:mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 0.75% permanent crops: 5.5% other: 93.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea inFrench Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands inthe Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribatiand Nauru
People French Polynesia
Population:274,578 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.1% (male 36,541/female 34,999)15-64 years: 67.9% (male 96,769/female 89,593)65 years and over: 6.1% (male 8,428/female 8,248) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27.9 yearsmale: 28.2 yearsfemale: 27.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.48% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:16.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.69 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.1 yearsmale: 73.69 yearsfemale: 78.63 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.01 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: French Polynesian(s)adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups:Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions:Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Languages:French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asianlanguages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)
Literacy:definition: age 14 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 98% (1977 est.)
Government French Polynesia
Country name:conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesiaconventional short form: French Polynesialocal long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaiselocal short form: Polynesie Francaiseformer: French Colony of Oceania
Dependency status:overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from1946-2004
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Papeetegeographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 Wtime difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises,Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, IlesSous-le-Ventnote: Clipperton Island is administered by France from FrenchPolynesia
Independence:none (overseas lands of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:based on French system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Anne BOQUET(since September 2005)head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston TONG SANG(since 14 December 2006); President of the Territorial AssemblyAntony GEROS (since 9 May 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of membersof the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve asministerselections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; high commissioner appointed by the French president on theadvice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of theterritorial government and the president of the Territorial Assemblyare elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (noterm limits)
Legislative branch:unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats- changed from 49 seats for May 2004 election; members are electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Union for Democracy27, New Star 1, This Country is Yours 1; after by-elections of 13February 2005 seating was as follows: People's Rally for theRepublic 27, Union for Democracy 27, and Alliance for a NewDemocracy 3note: 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; two seats were elected to the FrenchNational Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007);results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1,UMP 1
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance orTribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law orTribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU and PhilipSCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This Country isYours); Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (TaviniHuiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [EmileVERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR(Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; Union for Democracy or UPD[Oscar TEMARU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:FZ, ITUC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas lands of France)
Flag description:two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centeredon the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on thelower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; astylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; theFrench flag is used for official occasions
Government - note:under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquiredautonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice,monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense andforeign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned afterthose of the French prime minister
Economy French Polynesia
Economy - overview:Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region,French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economyto one in which a high proportion of the work force is eitheremployed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With thehalt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution tothe economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth ofGDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sourcesof income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. Thesmall manufacturing sector primarily processes agriculturalproducts. The territory benefits substantially from developmentagreements with France aimed principally at creating new businessesand strengthening social services.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.58 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$17,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 19% services: 76.9% (2005)
Labor force: 65,870 (December 2005)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2002)
Unemployment rate:11.8%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.1% (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $865 millionexpenditures: $644.1 million; including capital expenditures of $185million (1999)
Agriculture - products: fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products
Industries:tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:477 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.7% hydro: 39.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:443.6 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:$211 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, sharkmeat
Exports - partners:France 46.3%, Japan 20.8%, Niger 12.8%, US 12.5% (2005)
Imports:$1.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners:France 52.7%, Singapore 14.9%, NZ 6.8%, US 6.6% (2005)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$580 million (2004)
Currency (code):Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code:XPF
Exchange rates:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.01(2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002)note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications French Polynesia
Telephones - main lines in use:53,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:87,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:128,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:40,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.pf
Internet hosts:14,047 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:55,000 (2005)
Transportation French Polynesia
Airports: 51 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 39 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Heliports: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,684 GRT/17,291 DWTby type: cargo 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo1, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 1 (France 1)registered in other countries: 2 (Wallis and Futuna 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Papeete
Military French Polynesia
Military branches:no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 69,679 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 55,305 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 2,747 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Polynesia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Introduction French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Background:The Southern Lands consist of two archipelagos, Iles Crozet andIles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile Amsterdam and IleSaint-Paul. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visitedonly by researchers studying the native fauna. The Antarctic portionconsists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continentdiscovered and claimed by the French in 1840.
Geography French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Location:southeast of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, aboutequidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - FrenchSouthern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul,Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, alongwith the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the USdoes not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"
Geographic coordinates:43 00 S, 67 00 E
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 7,829 sq kmland: 7,829 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and IlesKerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km inAntarctica that is not recognized by the US
Area - comparative:slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,232 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen (does notinclude the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
Climate:antarctic
Terrain:volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural resources: fish, crayfish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:islands component is widely scattered across remote locations inthe southern Indian Ocean
People French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary fromwinter (July) to summer (January) (July 2006 est.)
Government French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern andAntarctic Landsconventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Landslocal long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et AntarctiquesFrancaiseslocal short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaisesabbreviation: TAAF
Dependency status:overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris byAdministrateur Superieur Michel CHAMPON (since 20 December 2004),assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare three districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, IlesSaint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in Antarcticathat is not recognized by the US
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Senior Administrator Michel CHAMPON
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological andgeophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets.The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships areexported to France and Reunion.
Communications French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Internet country code:.tf
Internet hosts:38 (2006)
Transportation French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Merchant marine:total: 77 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,432,833 GRT/5,345,291 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, chemical tanker 27, container 18, liquefiedgas 5, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 4foreign-owned: 76 (Belgium 6, Denmark 2, France 36, Germany 2, HongKong 2, Japan 4, Norway 12, Saudi Arabia 1, Sweden 9, Switzerland 1,UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:none; offshore anchorage only
Military French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Disputes - international: French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@Gabon
Introduction Gabon
Background:Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independencefrom France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj OmarBONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in theworld - has dominated the country's political scene for almost fourdecades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system anda new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations ofelectoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and thepresidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formalpolitical structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remainsweak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime.Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant naturalresources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabonone of the more prosperous and stable African countries.
Geography Gabon
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator,between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates:1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 267,667 sq kmland: 257,667 sq kmwater: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 2,551 kmborder countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline:885 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold,timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1.21% permanent crops: 0.64% other: 98.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:70 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabonbecome one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, thesecircumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve itspristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
People Gabon
Population:1,424,906note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.1% (male 300,914/female 299,141)15-64 years: 53.9% (male 383,137/female 384,876)65 years and over: 4% (male 23,576/female 33,262) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.6 yearsmale: 18.4 yearsfemale: 18.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.13% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:36.16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 54.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 63.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 45.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 54.49 yearsmale: 53.21 yearsfemale: 55.81 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:8.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:48,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria (2007)
Nationality:noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups:Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang,Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000,including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Religions:Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Languages:French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 63.2%male: 73.7%female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Government Gabon
Country name:conventional long form: Gabonese Republicconventional short form: Gabonlocal long form: Republique gabonaiselocal short form: Gabon
Government type:republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:name: Librevillegeographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)
Constitution:adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial reviewof legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2December 1967)head of government: Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe NDONG (since 20January 2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister inconsultation with the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(no term limits); election last held 27 November 2005 (next to beheld in 2012); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected;percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, PierreMAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; memberselected by members of municipal councils and departmental assembliesto serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (nextto be held by January 2009); National Assembly - last held 17 and 24December 2006 (next to be held December 2011)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party- PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2,independents 4, others 5
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers -Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courtsof Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Political parties and leaders:Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE];Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide BourdesOGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE[Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG[Simplice Nguedet MANZELA] (former sole party); Gabonese Party forProgress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE]; Gabonese Union forDemocracy and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rallyof Woodcutters or RNB; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabonor RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's UnityParty or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progressor RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [PierreClaver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and SocialIntegration or UDIS; Union of Gabonese Patriots or UPG [PierreMAMBOUNDOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJAchancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEYembassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Librevillemailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Librevilletelephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
Economy Gabon
Economy - overview:Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most ofsub-Saharan African nations. This has supported a sharp decline inextreme poverty; yet, because of high income inequality, a largeproportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timberand manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s.The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to facefluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports.Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal managementhobbles the economy. Devaluation of its currency by 50% in January1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate droppedto 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at nearcommercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119million in October 2000. Those agreements mandated progress inprivatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additionalfinancial support in January 1997 after Gabon met IMF targets formid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the governmentfor overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the centralbank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization andadministrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999-2000 helpedgrowth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizingpotential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement withthe Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-upbilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December2001. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF inMay 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year.Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscaland other adjustments in line with IMF policies.