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.
France Map
