France Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

France, State of Western Europe; 551,700 km², 67 million residents (2019).France has a long coast towards the Atlantic, the English Channel and the Mediterranean, as well as land borders with Spain and Andorra in the south, Italy, Switzerland and Germany in the east, and Belgium and Luxembourg in the northeast. The island of Corsica in the Mediterranean also forms part of the country. France also has a number of possessions around the world with a total population of about 2 million people. The capital is Paris (2.2 million residents, 2016).

Country facts

Republic of France / Republic of France
Country abbreviation: FR (F)
Area: 551 700 km²
Population (2019): 67 million residents
Capital: Paris
Main language: French
State: Republic
Head of State: Emmanuel Macron (President)
Head of Government: Édouard Philippe
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 41,464
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 41,080
Currency unit: euro
Currency code: EUR
Country number (telephony): 33
Internet domain name: fr
Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
National Day: July 14 (Bastiljen stormas, 1789)

Nature

Land use: forest (29%), agricultural land (53%), other (18%)
Highest mountain: Mont Blanc (4 807 m asl)
Longest river: Loire (1 012 km)

Population

Population density (2019): 121 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 0.2%; birth number 11 ‰, death number 9 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (18%), 15-64 (62%), 65- (20%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 80 years, women 85 years
Infant mortality (2019): 4 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 72 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.901 (place 24 of 188)
Urbanization rate (2019): 70%
Most populous cities (2016): Paris (2.2 million residents), Marseille (862,000), Lyon (515,700)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (2%), industry (19%), service (79%)
Exports (2017): US $ 549 900 million
Main export products: machinery, means of transport, plastic products
Main exporting countries: Germany, Spain, Italy
Imports (2017): US $ 601,700 million
Main import products: machinery, vehicles, oil
Main importing countries: Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands
Railway network (2014): 29,640 km

France consists of lowlands in the north and west, while central and eastern France is mountainous. The Alps extend into eastern and southeastern France. To the south, the Pyrenees mountain range forms a border with Spain. France has no large lakes but many large rivers. The most important are Seine in the west and Rhone in the south.

The country’s state of affairs is parliamentary with strong presidential power. Parliament consists of two chambers, the directly elected National Assembly, which is elected for five years, and the Senate elected by local parliaments. The president is elected for five years.

France is one of the world’s leading industrialized countries with a very varied production. The most important industries are the food industry, the electrical industry and the transport industry. However, industrial employment has never had the same significance as it has, for example. Great Britain and Germany. It is also one of the world’s largest tourist countries, and compared to most of Western Europe, retail and hotel and restaurant operations are very significant.