France

Location

• metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and SpainFrench Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and SurinameGuadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto RicoMartinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and TobagoMayotte: Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about halfway between northern Madagascar and northern MozambiqueReunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
• largest Western European nation; most major French rivers -- the Meuse, Seine, Loire, Charente, Dordogne, and Garonne -- flow northward or westward into the Atlantic Ocean, only the Rhone flows southward into the Mediterranean Sea

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Paris	2,138,551	Capital
Marseille	870,731
Lyon	522,969
Toulouse	493,465
Nice	342,669
Nantes	318,808
Marne La Vallée	318,325
Strasbourg	274,845
Bordeaux	260,958
Montpellier	248,252

Size

• 211,208 square miles
• 547,030 square kilometers
• slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas

History

France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-7, the G-20, the EU, and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing then President Charles DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to withdraw French forces from NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities -- French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion -- became French regions and were made part of France proper.

Climate

metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistralFrench Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average Mayotte: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November) Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)

Terrain

metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in eastFrench Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountainsGuadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in originMartinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcanoMayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaksReunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Languages

French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects and languages (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard)major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.note: overseas departments - French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili dialect)

Religions

Roman Catholic 47%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 2%, Buddhist 2%, Orthodox 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 33%, unspecified 9% (2021 est.)note: France maintains a tradition of secularism and has not officially collected data on religious affiliation since the 1872 national census, which complicates assessments of France's religious composition; an 1872 law prohibiting state authorities from collecting data on individuals' ethnicity or religious beliefs was reaffirmed by a 1978 law emphasizing the prohibition of the collection or exploitation of personal data revealing an individual's race, ethnicity, or political, philosophical, or religious opinions; a 1905 law codified France's separation of church and state

Government

semi-presidential republic

• Constitution: history: many previous; latest effective 4 October 1958amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic (upon recommendation of the prime minister and Parliament) or by Parliament; proposals submitted by Parliament members require passage by both houses followed by approval in a referendum; passage of proposals submitted by the government can bypass a referendum if submitted by the president to Parliament and passed by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament’s National Assembly
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017)head of government: Sébastien LECORNU (since 10 September 2025)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime ministerelection/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the presidentmost recent election date: 10 April 2022, with a runoff held on 24 April 2022election results: 2022: Emmanuel MACRON reelected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (LREM) 27.8%, Marine LE PEN (RN) 23.2%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (LFI) 22%, Eric ZEMMOUR (Reconquête) 7.1%, Valerie PECRESSE (LR) 4.8%, Yannick JADOT (EELV) 4.6%, other 10.6%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 58.5%, LE PEN 41.5%2017: Emmanuel MACRON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (EM) 24%, Marine LE PEN (FN) 21.3%, Francois FILLON (LR) 20%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (FI) 19.6%, Benoit HAMON (PS) 6.4%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 66.1%, LE PEN 33.9%expected date of next election: April 2027
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of the court president, 6 divisional presiding judges, 120 trial judges, and 70 deputy judges organized into 6 divisions -- 3 civil, 1 commercial, 1 labor, and 1 criminal); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members)judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the president of the republic from nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council has 3 members appointed by the president of the republic and 3 each by the National Assembly and Senate presidents; members serve 9-year, non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 yearssubordinate courts: appellate courts or cours d'appel; regional courts or tribunaux judiciaires; first instance courts or tribunaux de proximité; administrative courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)legislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• high-income, advanced EU economy and eurozone member; strong tourism, aircraft manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and industrial sectors; high public debt; ongoing pension reform efforts; transitioning to a green economy via "France 2030" strategy
• Budget: revenues: $1.29 trillion (2023 est.)expenditures: $1.447 trillion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish; French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay
• Industries: machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food processing, tourism
• Agricultural Products: wheat, sugar beets, milk, maize, barley, potatoes, grapes, rapeseed, pork, sunflower seeds (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 51.7% (2022 est.)arable land: 34.1% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 1.9% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 15.7% (2022 est.)forest: 31.8% (2022 est.)other: 16.5% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: cars, natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, garments (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Germany 15%, Belgium 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, Italy 8% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: aircraft, cars, packaged medicine, gas turbines, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Germany 11%, Italy 9%, USA 8%, Belgium 8%, Spain 7% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports