Natural resources:
metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish
French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay
Land use:
arable land: 33.46%
permanent crops: 2.03%
other: 64.51%
note: French Guiana - arable land 0.13%, permanent crops 0.04%, other 99.83% (90% forest, 10% other); Guadeloupe - arable land 11.70%, permanent crops 2.92%, other 85.38%; Martinique - arable land 9.09%, permanent crops 10.0%, other 80.91%; Reunion - arable land 13.94%, permanent crops 1.59%, other 84.47% (2005)
Irrigated land:
total: 26,190 sq km;
metropolitan France: 26,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
189 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 33.16 cu km/yr (16%/74%/10%)
per capita: 548 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding; volcanic activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)
Environment - current issues:
some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, 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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
largest West European nation
People ::France
Population:
64,768,389 country comparison to the world: 21 note: the above figure is for metropolitan France and its four overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233 (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,129,729/female 5,838,925)
15-64 years: 65% (male 20,963,124/female 20,929,280)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,403,248/female 6,155,767) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 41.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.525% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Birth rate:
12.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Death rate:
8.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Net migration rate:
1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Urbanization:
urban population: 77% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 215 male: 3.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.09 years country comparison to the world: 12 male: 77.91 years
female: 84.44 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups:
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese,Basque minorities
overseas 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 (official) 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 write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 42
Government ::France
Country name:
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique francaise
local short form: France
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Paris
geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: applies to metropolitan France only, not to its overseas departments, collectivities, or territories
Administrative divisions:
26 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy),Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica),Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie(Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin,Lorraine, Martinique, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de laLoire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur,Reunion, Rhone-Alpes
note: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 4 overseas regions (including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion) and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 4 overseas departments (which are the same as the overseas regions)
Dependent areas:
Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and AntarcticLands, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin,Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica; New Caledonia has been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since 1998, a unique status falling between that of an independent country and a French overseas department
Independence:
no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)
National holiday:
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)
Constitution:
adopted by referendum 28 September 1958; effective 4 October 1958; amended many times
note: amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1997 Amsterdam Treaty, 2003 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a five-year term; amended in 2005 to make the EU constitutional treaty compatible with the Constitution of France and to ensure that the decision to ratify EU accession treaties would be made by referendum
Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 22 April and 6 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of 2012); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicolas SARKOZY elected; first round: percent of vote - Nicolas SARKOZY 31.2%, Segolene ROYAL 25.9%, Francois BAYROU 18.6%, Jean-Marie LE PEN 10.4%, others 13.9%; second round: SARKOZY 53.1%, ROYAL 46.9%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (343 seats; 321 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms; one third elected every three years); note - between 2006 and 2011, 15 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 348 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; starting in 2008, members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms with one-half elected every three years; and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 for metropolitan France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for dependencies; members elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); National Assembly - last held on 10 and 17 June 2007 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 151, PS 102, PCF 22, MoDem 11, NC 11, Greens 5, PG 2, other 39; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - UMP 46.4%, PS 42.2%, miscellaneous left wing parties 2.5%, PCF 2.3%, NC 2.1%, PRG 1.6%, miscellaneous right wing parties 1.2%, the Greens 0.4%, other 1.2%; seats by party - UMP 313, PS 186, NC 22, miscellaneous left wing parties 15, PCF 16, miscellaneous right wing parties 9, PRG 7, the Greens 3, other 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union forFrench Democracy or UDF); French Communist Party or PCF [PierreLAURENT]; Greens [Cecile DUFLOT]; Left Party or PG [Jean-LucMELENCHON]; Left Radical Party or PRG [Jean-Michel BAYLET](previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left RadicalMovement or MRG); Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS];National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; New Anticapitalist Partyor NPA [Olivier BESANCENOT]; New Center or NC [Herve MORIN]; RadicalParty [Jean-Louis BORLOO]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA];Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT];Socialist Party or PS [Martine AUBRY]; Union for a Popular Movementor UMP [Jean-Francois COPE]; Worker's Struggle or LO [NathalieARTHAUD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation francaise democratique du travail or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with approximately 803,000 members; Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des cadres or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000 members; Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens of CFTC, independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims 132,000 members; Confederation generale du travail or CGT, historically communist labor union with approximately 700,000 members; Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere or FO, independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members; Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000 companies as members (claimed)
French Guiana: conservationists; gold mining pressure groups; hunting pressure groups
Guadeloupe: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe orKLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; GeneralUnion of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for an IndependentGuadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement
Martinique: Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
Reunion: NA
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. RIVKIN
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
consulate(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 of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the "ancient French color" of white was combined with the blue and red colors of the Parisian militia; the official flag for all French dependent areas
note: the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands
National anthem:
name: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
note: adopted 1795, restored 1870; originally known as "Chant de Guerre pour l'Armee du Rhin" (War Song for the Army of the Rhine), the National Guard of Marseille made the song famous by singing it while marching into Paris in 1792 during the French Revolutionary Wars
Economy ::France
Economy - overview:
France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers, and has ceded stakes in such leading firms as Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. It maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. With at least 75 million foreign tourists per year, France is the most visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. France has weathered the global economic crisis better than most other big EU economies because of the relative resilience of domestic consumer spending, a large public sector, and less exposure to the downturn in global demand than in some other countries. Nonetheless, France's real GDP contracted 2.5% in 2009, but recovered somewhat in 2010, while the unemployment rate increased from 7.4% in 2008 to 9.5% in 2010. The government pursuit of aggressive stimulus and investment measures in response to the economic crisis, however, are contributing to a deterioration of France's public finances. The government budget deficit rose sharply from 3.4% of GDP in 2008 to 7.8% of GDP in 2010, while France's public debt rose from 68% of GDP to 84% over the same period. Paris is terminating stimulus measures, eliminating tax credits, and freezing most government spending to bring the budget deficit under the 3% euro-zone ceiling by 2013, and to highlight France's commitment to fiscal discipline at a time of intense financial market scrutiny of euro zone debt levels. President SARKOZY - who secured passage of pension reform in 2010 - is expected to seek passage of some tax reforms in 2011, but he may delay additional, more costly, reforms until after the 2012 election.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.16 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $2.126 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.18 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.555 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 -2.5% (2009 est.)
0.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $33,000 (2009 est.)
$34,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 19.2%
services: 79% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
28.21 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 24.3%
services: 71.8% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 9.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
6.2% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 24.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.7 (2008) country comparison to the world: 98 32.7 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Public debt:
83.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 77.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 0.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 116 3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.46% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 8.13% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$858.6 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 8 $862.3 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$2.292 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $2.306 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.319 trillion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $4.121 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.972 trillion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 6 $1.492 trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.771 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - production:
535.7 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - consumption:
447.2 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - exports:
58.69 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
10.68 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
70,820 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - consumption:
1.875 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Oil - exports:
597,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Oil - imports:
2.386 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Oil - proved reserves:
101.2 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - production:
877 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - consumption:
44.84 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - exports:
1.931 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - imports:
45.85 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - proved reserves:
7.079 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Current account balance:
-$53.29 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 -$51.86 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$508.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $473.9 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:
Germany 15.88%, Italy 8.16%, Spain 7.8%, Belgium 7.44%, UK 7.04%, US 5.65%, Netherlands 3.99% (2009)
Imports:
$577.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $535.8 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 19.41%, Belgium 11.61%, Italy 7.97%, Netherlands 7.15%,Spain 6.68%, UK 4.9%, US 4.72%, China 4.44% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$133.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.698 trillion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 5 $4.935 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.207 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 $1.151 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.837 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 $1.711 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::France
Telephones - main lines in use:
36.431 million; 35.5 million (metropolitan France) (2009) country comparison to the world: 7
Telephones - mobile cellular:
60.95 million; 59.543 million (metropolitan France) (2009) country comparison to the world: 18
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive use of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: country code - 33; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe - 590; Martinique - 596; Reunion - 262
Broadcast media:
a mix of both publicly-operated and privately-owned TV stations; state-owned France Televisions operates 4 networks, one of which is a network of regional stations, and has part-interest in several thematic cable/satellite channels and international channels; a large number of privately-owned regional and local TV stations; multi-channel satellite and cable services provide a large number of channels; public broadcaster Radio France operates 7 national networks, a series of regional networks, and operates services for overseas territories and foreign audiences; Radio France Internationale (RFI), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a leading international broadcaster; a large number of commercial FM stations, with many of them consolidating into commercial networks (2008)
Internet country code:
metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re
Internet hosts:
15.182 million; 15.161 million (metropolitan France) (2010) country comparison to the world: 7
Internet users:
45.262 million; 44.625 million (metropolitan France) (2009) country comparison to the world: 8
Transportation ::France
Airports:
474 (2010) country comparison to the world: 16
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 297
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 97
914 to 1,523 m: 83
under 914 m: 76 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 177
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 108 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 14,688 km; oil 2,943 km; refined products 5,080 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 29,213 km country comparison to the world: 9 standard gauge: 29,046 km 1.435-m gauge (15,164 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 1,027,183 km (metropolitan France; includes 10,958 km of expressways) country comparison to the world: 7 note: there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments (2007)
Waterways:
metropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) country comparison to the world: 16 French Guiana: 3,760 km (460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 167 country comparison to the world: 38 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 8, chemical tanker 36, container 25, liquefied gas 12, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 44, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11
foreign-owned: 57 (Belgium 7, China 5, Denmark 12, French Polynesia 12, Germany 1, New Caledonia 3, Norway 1, NZ 1, Singapore 3, Spain 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 5)
registered in other countries: 146 (Bahamas 19, Belgium 5, Bermuda 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 16, Egypt 1, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Italy 2, Luxembourg 16, Malta 13, Morocco 4, Netherlands 2, Norway 4, Panama 13, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 3, South Korea 1, Taiwan 1, UK 33, US 4, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen
Military ::France
Military branches:
Army (Armee de Terre; includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army LightAviation), Navy (Marine Nationale, includes Naval Air, MaritimeGendarmerie (Coast Guard)), Air Force (Armee de l'Air (AdlA),includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat military posts (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 14,591,656
females age 16-49: 14,285,551 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,053,912
females age 16-49: 11,763,951 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 389,956
female: 372,312 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
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 South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe
page last updated on January 20, 2011
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@French Polynesia (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::French Polynesia
Background:
The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
Geography ::French Polynesia
Location:
Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) country comparison to the world: 174 land: 3,827 sq km
water: 340 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:
Geography - note:
includes five archipelagoes (four volcanic, one coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
People ::French Polynesia
Population:
291,000 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.3% (male 35,631/female 34,097)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 102,537/female 95,317)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 9,821/female 9,629) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.5 years
male: 29.8 years
female: 29.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.355% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Birth rate:
15.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Death rate:
4.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Net migration rate:
2.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.41 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 165 male: 8.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.91 years country comparison to the world: 64 male: 74.44 years
female: 79.5 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)
Education expenditures:
Government ::French Polynesia
Country name:
conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
former: French Colony of Oceania
Dependency status:
overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004
Government type:
Capital:
name: Papeete
geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent
Independence:
none (overseas lands of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Adolphe COLRAT (since 7 July 2008); note - will be replaced in 2011 by Richard DIDIER
head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston Tong SANG (since 24 November 2009); President of the Territorial Assembly Oscar TEMARU (since 10 April 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 January 2008 (first round) and 10 February 2008 (second round) (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Our Home alliance 45.2%, Union for Democracy alliance 37.2%, Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) 17.2% other 0.5%; seats by party - Our Home alliance 27, Union for Democracy alliance 20, Popular Rally 10
note: two seats were elected to the French Senate on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1, independent 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 10-17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2
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(includes the parties The NewStar and This Country is Yours); New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api);Our Home alliance; People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira);Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira); Union for Democracy alliance orUPD
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas lands of France)
Flag description:
two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the ship has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors
note: similar to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest of the islands in French Polynesia, which has no emblem in the white band; the flag of France is used for official occasions
National anthem:
name: "Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" (Long Live Tahiti Nui)
lyrics/music: Maeva BOUGES, Irmine TEHEI, Angele TEROROTUA, Johanna NOUVEAU, Patrick AMARU, Louis MAMATUI and Jean-Pierre CELESTIN
note: adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Government - note:
under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those 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 economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.718 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $4.58 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.1 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 134 5.1% (2002)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$18,000 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $17,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 20.4%
services: 76.1% (2005)
Labor force:
116,000 (2007) country comparison to the world: 180
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
services: 68% (2002)
Unemployment rate:
11.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 125
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 22 1.1% (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products
Industries:
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
650 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - consumption:
604.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 155