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France Images
A view of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe. Mont Blanc stands 4,810 m (15,781 ft) tall and is located north of Chamonix, France, where the first Winter Olympics was held in 1924.
The Eiffel Tower is located in the heart of Paris and is the tallest structure in the city. Locally nicknamed "La dame de fer" (French for "Iron Lady"), it was constructed from 1887 to 1889 as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair. The wrought-iron lattice tower is named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. At 324 m (1,063 ft) tall, it is about the same height as an 81-story building, and measures 125 m (410 ft) on each side.
View of the Palais de Chaillot as seen from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The two curved buildings making up the Palais house a number of museums, including the National Museum of the Navy, the Museum of Man (ethnology), and the City of Architecture and Heritage.
The Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, is the largest square in the French capital. In the center of the Place stands a giant obelisk, transported from Egypt and erected in 1836.
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Elysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle. The Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
The Louvre in Paris, France, is the largest museum in the world. This view features the Paris Pyramid at the main entrance, designed by I.M. Pei and completed in 1988. Constructed of glass and metal, the structure stands 21.6 m (71 ft) tall and replicates the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Lisa del Giocondo, a young silk merchant’s wife, is traditionally known as the subject of the famous Mona Lisa painting. In the early 1500s, Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci revolutionized portrait painting with the Mona Lisa by zooming in on his subject on a large canvas. French King Francis I acquired the painting after da Vinci’s death, and it now hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where roughly eight million visitors view it each year.
The Venus de Milo is one of the three most famous female figures at the Louvre in Paris, France (along with the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace). The statue was named for the Greek island of Milos where she was discovered in 1820 and acquired by the French ambassador to Greece, who presented her to King Louis XVIII. The king donated the statue to the Louvre in 1821.
The Winged Victory of Samothrace -- a portrayal of Nike, the winged goddess who heralds victory -- was brought to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, in 1883 and adorns the top of the Daru staircase.
The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel is one of many triumphal arches in France. Located near the Louvre Museum, the Arc was built between 1806 and 1808 by Emperor Napoleon I to commemorate his diplomatic and military victories.
A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991, the current Notre-Dame, an icon of Gothic architecture, was built in the late 12th century on the ruins of two earlier basilicas. The cathedral was the coronation site for Napoleon I in 1804, the setting for Victor Hugo’s 1831 book The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and the funeral site of many French presidents.
The South Rose Window in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, was a gift from the French king Saint Louis IX in 1260. The stained glass window measures 12.9 m (42 ft) in diameter and contains 84 panes of glass. The themes are the New Testament and the Triumph of Christ reigning over heaven and surrounded by all his witnesses on earth.
This marble statue of Joan of Arc stands in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The statue dates from 1920-21 and was sculpted by Charles Jean Desvergnes. Canonized in 1920, Joan is one of the patron saints of France.
The Eglise du Dome is the church at Les Invalides in Paris. Containing a hospital and retirement home for war veterans, the site also consists of museums and monuments relating to the military history of France.
The Sorbonne is a public research university in Paris with a history that dates to 1257, when Sorbonne College was established by Robert de Sorbon. The Sorbonne is one of the world's most prestigious universities.
The Comédie Française, or Théâtre-Français, is one of the few state-run theaters in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theater company in the world. Shown is the entrance to the Salle Richelieu in Paris, the principal theater.
This gilded bronze statue of Joan of Arc is located in the middle of the street at the Place des Pyramides in Paris, France. Erected in 1874, the statue sits not far from the site where Joan was wounded trying to take back Paris from the invading British on 8 September 1429.
The massive courtyard at the Château de Versailles (Palace of Versailles) near Paris, France. Most of the construction at the sprawling site was carried out in four phases between 1664 and 1710, during the reign of Louis XIV.
The Palace of Versailles, built by King Louis XIV, is located 19 km (12 mi) west of Paris, France. The Hall of Mirrors, shown here, is the largest room in the Palace. Seventeen mirrored arches (each containing 21 mirrors, for a total of 357 mirrors in the hall) face 17 windows that overlook the palace gardens.
The Latona Fountain, located in the center of the garden at the Palace de Versailles near Paris, France, is inspired by the myth of Latona, mother of Apollo and Diana, and her encounter with the peasants of Lycia.
The gardens of the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, were designed by André Le Nôtre, one of France’s most famous and influential landscape architects. This view is from the Grande Perspective, which is the east-west axis of the garden.
View of Gordes in Provence, France. The buildings are constructed of white stones and rise in tiers above the Imergue Valley on the edge of the Vaucluse Plateau.
A Roman bridge still in use in Provence near Roussillon, France.
Much of the architecture in Roussillon, France, is colored with earthen tones from a nearby ocher quarry.
The Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey) is a Romanesque church dedicated to St. Etienne (St. Stephen) in Caen, France. Built by order of William the Conqueror, the former Benedictine abbey was completed in 1063.
The tomb of William the Conqueror in the Church of St. Etienne in Caen, France.
The Wounded Soldier Memorial on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.
The memorial in the center of the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in Normandy, France. The Cross of Sacrifice is visible in the background. The cemetery contains the remains of 2,958 predominantly Canadian soldiers killed during the later stages of the Battle of Normandy in World War II.
On 6 June 1944, this beach was the site of the largest amphibious military operation in history, known as D-Day, that began the liberation of France from the Nazis. The Normandy landings took place across an 80 km (50 mi) stretch of beach divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.
The US Ranger attack on Pointe du Hoc, France, was one of the most challenging landings on D-Day. Even though the allies had heavily bombed the gun battery located here, the Rangers faced stiff resistance as they climbed the cliffs. Pointe Du Hoc is one of the few areas on the Normandy Coast where craters from WWII are still visible today.
Remnants of the artificial port at Arromanches-les-Bains, France, that the Allies constructed for the D-Day landings in 1944, visible today at low tide.
Allied soldiers killed during the World War II D-Day invasion and the following campaign were buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
The fortified island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel off the coast of Normandy, France. At one time the site was disconnected from the coast at high tide, but silting has since connected the island to the mainland. In 1874, Mont-Saint-Michel was declared a historic monument; in 1979, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Château fort de Lourdes, which overlooks the town of Lourdes, France, occupies a strategic position in the Pyrénées. Parts of the structure date back to Roman times.
Pilgrims and visitors in Lourdes, France. The Rosary Basilica in the foreground serves as an entrance to the larger Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Lourdes is the reputed site of 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. The town is one of the world's greatest pilgrimage sites, hosting some 5 million visitors annually.
Massive walls at the fortified town of Carcassonne, France. Restored in 1853, the fortress became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The ancient Roman arena in Nîmes, France, is still in use today. Built about A.D. 70, it was remodeled in 1863 and can seat some 16,300 spectators.
The Maison Carrée in Nîmes, France, one of the best preserved of the surviving Roman temples, dates to 16 B.C. In subsequent centuries, it served as a church, a meeting hall, a storehouse, and a stable. In 1823, it became a museum.
The Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct built in the mid-first century A.D., was part of a 50 km (30 mi) aqueduct system that brought water to the city of Nemausus (today's Nîmes). Built entirely without the use of mortar, its construction is thought to have taken about three years.
The city of Avignon in southeastern France is well known as the former seat of the papacy in the 14th century. Shown is the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) on the right and the Romanesque Cathedral Notre Dames-des-Doms on the far left.
A beach in Nice, France. The city is a major tourist center along the French Riviera.
A café on a canal in Colmar, France. The town, situated on the Alsatian Wine Route, was founded in the 9th century. In 1226, it became a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire. Louis XIV conquered it in 1673, and over subsequent centuries, the town alternated between German and French control. It reverted to France in 1945.
Colorful houses along a canal in Colmar, France, an Alsatian town with the nickname "Little Venice."
The Eglise Saint-Matthieu (Dominican Church of St. Matthew) in the Alsatian town of Colmar, France, was built in the 13th century.
Vineyards along the Alsatian Wine Route in France.
The main square in Eguisheim, France, with the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. This church, built in 1808, replaced one dating to medieval times.
The Chapel of Saint-Leo IX stands in the main square of Eguisheim, France, next to the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
Old wine press along the streets of Eguisheim, France.
The cathedral in Strasbourg, France, was begun in 1176 and completed in 1439. Although it displays some elements of Romanesque style, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of high Gothic architecture.
The famous west portal of the Strasbourg Cathedral in France is in the Gothic style and has hundreds of figures sculpted into it.
The old customs building (L'Ancienne Douane) on the Grande Ile in Strasbourg, France. Constructed in 1358, the structure housed the port and tax authorities, and it was used to store goods and merchandise going up and down the Rhine River. Today the building houses a restaurant.
Walkway along the Ill River in Strasbourg, France.
Place Stanislas (Stanislas Square) in the center of Nancy, France, was formerly the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine and is now the largest city in the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. The square, constructed between 1751 and 1755, was the brainchild of Stanislas Leszczynski, Duke of Lorraine and former King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A statue of Leszczynski stands in front of the town hall.
The Amphitrite Fountain in Stanislas Square in Nancy, France, is one of four erected by Barthelemy Guibal; this one dates to 1750.
The Graffe Gate is one of the oldest remaining parts of the fortifications in Nancy, France. It was erected in the 14th century, and its towers were used as prisons for many years. The façade displays the distinctive Lorraine Cross because the city was the former capital of the Duchy of Lorraine.
The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau was built on an island in the Indre River between 1515 and 1527 and is one of the earliest of the French Renaissance chateaux.
The Château d'Ussé in France's Loire Valley was built in the 15th century on a stronghold site dating back to the 11th century. According to tradition, Charles Perrault modeled his Sleeping Beauty fairy tale on this chateau.
The Château de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley was built in the early 16th century. It is one of France's most popular tourist attractions.
The royal Château d'Amboise in France's Loire Valley was built in the late 15th century over a stronghold site dating back to the 11th century.
The mansion of Clos Luce in Amboise, France, is connected to the nearby royal Château d'Amboise by an underground passageway. It served as the residence of Leonardo da Vinci for the last three years of his life (1516-1519) and is currently a museum.
Bust of Leonardo da Vinci in the castle park at Château d'Amboise, Loire Valley, France.
The studio of Leonardo da Vinci at the manor house Clos Lucé, near the king's residence at the royal Château d'Amboise in France's Loire Valley.
Tomb in the chapel of Saint Hubert at the Château d'Amboise in France's Loire Valley, containing the presumed remains of Leonardo da Vinci.
Champagne is the sparkling wine product of the Champagne region in northeastern France, and the hillsides, houses, and cellars where the wine is produced became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015. Dom Pérignon, a French Benedictine monk who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, made major improvements to the production and quality of champagne. A statue in his honor (pictured) stands outside the gate of the Abbey of Hautvillers in Epernay, where the monk lived. Moët & Chandon acquired the brand name Dom Pérignon in 1927.
The 110-m (360 ft) Chaban-Delmas Bridge over the River Garonne in Bordeaux, France, was opened in 2013. The center span can be raised to 77 m (253 ft) allowing tall ships to pass through. The bridge is named in honor of Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a former French prime minister and a former mayor of Bordeaux.
View of Bordeaux, France, the capital of the historic region of Aquitaine.
Fort Médoc in France's Bordeaux wine region was built between 1689 and 1721 on the orders of King Louis XIV to protect the seaward approaches to Bordeaux.
The Church of Saint Joan of Arc in Rouen, France, located where the saint was burned in 1431.
The site where Joan of Arc was executed is adjacent to the Saint Joan of Arc Church in Rouen, Normandy, France.
The façade of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Rouen, Normandy, France. The cathedral, built and rebuilt over a period of eight hundred and fifty years (groundbreaking in 1030, completion in 1880), has features ranging from Early Gothic to late Flamboyant and Renaissance architecture.
A view of the pond in the Japanese water garden at the home of Claude Monet in Giverny, France.
A view of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe. Mont Blanc stands 4,810 m (15,781 ft) tall and is located north of Chamonix, France, where the first Winter Olympics was held in 1924.
The Eiffel Tower is located in the heart of Paris and is the tallest structure in the city. Locally nicknamed "La dame de fer" (French for "Iron Lady"), it was constructed from 1887 to 1889 as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair. The wrought-iron lattice tower is named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. At 324 m (1,063 ft) tall, it is about the same height as an 81-story building, and measures 125 m (410 ft) on each side.
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France Factbook Data
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: 2 avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris
mailing address: 9200 Paris Place, Washington DC 20521-9200
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22, [33] (1) 42-66-97-83
FAX: [33] (1) 42-66-97-83
email address and website:
Citizeninfo@state.gov
https://fr.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
consulate(s): Bordeaux, Lyon, Rennes
Age structure
15-64 years: 60.7% (male 20,875,861/female 20,615,847)
65 years and over: 22% (2024 est.) (male 6,621,146/female 8,408,845)
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.
Geographic coordinates
French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Mayotte: 12 50 S, 45 10 E
Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Natural hazards
overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding
volcanism: Montagne Pelée (1,394 m) on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc, although it last erupted in 1932; a catastrophic eruption in 1902 destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing an estimated 30,000 people; La Soufrière (1,467 m) on the island of Guadeloupe has also had explosive eruptions in recent years
Area - comparative
slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas
Military service age and obligation
note 1: in 2023, women comprised more than 16% of the uniformed armed forces
note 2: French citizens can also volunteer for the Voluntary Military Service (VMS), which allows unemployed youth aged 18-25 to learn a trade or gain work experience while receiving basic military training and sports activities; VMS terms are 3-12 months; French citizens may also join the military operational reserve up to age 72
note 3: men between the ages of 17.5 and 39.5 years of age, of any nationality, may join the French Foreign Legion; those volunteers selected for service sign five-year contracts
Background
Environmental issues
International environmental agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Military expenditures
1.9% of GDP (2023)
1.9% of GDP (2022)
1.9% of GDP (2021)
2% of GDP (2020)
Population below poverty line
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Exports - commodities
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Administrative divisions
note: France is divided into 13 metropolitan regions (including the "collectivity" of Corse, or Corsica) and 5 overseas regions (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion) and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 5 overseas departments (which are the same as the overseas regions)
Agricultural products
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Military and security forces
note 1: under the direction of the Ministry of the Interior, the civilian National Police and the National Gendarmerie maintain internal security; the National Gendarmerie is a paramilitary police force that is a branch of the Armed Forces and therefore part of the Ministry of Defense but under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior; it also has additional duties to the Ministry of Justice
note 2: the French Foreign Legion, established in 1831, is a military force that is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French military for service in France and abroad; the Foreign Legion is an integrated part of the French Army; its combat units are a mix of armored cavalry and airborne, light, mechanized, and motorized infantry regiments
Budget
expenditures: $1.362 trillion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Capital
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
time zone note: applies to metropolitan France only; for its overseas regions the time difference is UTC-4 for Guadeloupe and Martinique, UTC-3 for French Guiana, UTC+3 for Mayotte, and UTC+4 for Reunion
etymology: name derives from the Parisii, a Celtic tribe that inhabited the area from the 3rd century B.C.; the Celtic settlement became the Roman town of Lutetia Parisiorum (Lutetia of the Parisii); over subsequent centuries it became Parisium and then Paris
Imports - commodities
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Climate
French 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)
Coastline
metropolitan France: 3,427 km
Constitution
amendment 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
Dependent areas
note: the US Government 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
Exchange rates
Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
Executive branch
head of government: François BAYROU (since 13 December 2024)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister
election/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 president
most recent election date: 10 April 2022, with a runoff held on 24 April 2022
election 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
Flag description
note: for the first four years of the flag's use, 1790-94, the order of colors was reversed (red-white-blue); the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands
Independence
Industries
Judicial branch
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 years
subordinate courts: appellate courts or cours d'appel; regional courts or tribunaux judiciaires; first instance courts or tribunaux de proximité; administrative courts
Land boundaries
border countries (8): Andorra 55 km; Belgium 556 km; Germany 418 km; Italy 476 km; Luxembourg 69 km; Monaco 6 km; Spain 646 km; Switzerland 525 km
metropolitan France - total: 2751 km
French Guiana - total: 1205 km
Land use
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.)
Legal system
Legislative branch
legislative structure: bicameral
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea)
continental shelf: 200m depth or to the depth of exploitation
International organization participation
National holiday
note: often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789 and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are la Fête nationale (National Holiday) and le Quatorze Juillet (14th of July)
Nationality
adjective: French
Natural resources
Geography - note
Economic overview
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
Political parties
Debout la France or DLF
Democratic Movement or MoDem
Ensemble or ENS (electoral coalition including RE, MoDem, Horizons, PRV, UDI)
The Ecologists - the Greens or EELV
French Communist Party or PCF
Horizons
La France Insoumise or FI
Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories or LIOT
Movement of Progressives or MDP
National Rally or RN (formerly National Front or FN)
New Democrats or LND (formerly Ecology Democracy Solidarity or EDS)
New Popular Front or NFP (electoral coalition including FI, EELV, PS, PCF)
Radical Party of the Left or PRV
Reconquete or REC
Renaissance or RE
Résistons!
Socialist Party or PS
The Republicans or LR
Union of Democrats and Independents or UDI
Union of Far Right or UXD (electoral coalition of LR, RN)
Railways
narrow gauge: -5 km
Suffrage
Terrain
French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Government type
Country name
conventional short form: France
local long form: République française
local short form: France
etymology: derives from the Latin name Francia, meaning "Land of the Franks"; the Franks were a group of Germanic tribes located along the middle and lower Rhine River in the 3rd century A.D.; the origin of the tribal name is unclear but may come from the Old German word franka, meaning "brave," or from a personal name such as Francio or Francus
Location
French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Mayotte: Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about halfway between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Map references
French Guiana: South America
Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean
Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean
Mayotte: Africa
Reunion: World
Irrigated land
Diplomatic representation in the US
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166
email address and website:
info@ambafrance-us.org
https://franceintheus.org/
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
Internet users
Internet country code
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 3,633 (2022)
GDP (official exchange rate)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Total renewable water resources
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 16 years (2022 est.)
female: 17 years (2022 est.)
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Broadcast media
Drinking water source
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
history: adopted 1795, restored 1870; originally known as "Le Chant de Guerre pour l’Armée 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
Major urban areas - population
International law organization participation
Physician density
Hospital bed density
National symbol(s)
Mother's mean age at first birth
Contraceptive prevalence rate
GDP - composition, by end use
government consumption: 23.1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 34.3% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -36.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 28.6 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 36.2 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 2.8 (2024 est.)
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of France
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Population distribution
Electricity access
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Sanitation facility access
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Ethnic groups
note: overseas departments: Black, White, Mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Indigenous
Religions
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
Languages
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)
Imports - partners
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Elevation
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
mean elevation: 375 m
note: to assess the possible effects of climate change on the ice and snow cap of Mont Blanc, its surface and peak have been extensively measured in recent years; these new peak measurements have exceeded the traditional height of 4,807 m and have varied between 4,808 m and 4,811 m; the actual rock summit is 4,792 m and is 40 m away from the ice-covered summit
Transportation - note
Health expenditure
15.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Military - note
in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, including high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
note: two major future acquisition programs for the French military included the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System, or FCAS (known in France as the système combat aérien du futur, or SCAF) and a next-generation tank development project with Germany known as the Main Ground Combat System, or MGCS
Military deployments
other non-permanent deployments include military missions under NATO, the EU, and the UN, as well as some unilateral operations, in such places as Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and adjacent waters (2025)
Terrorist group(s)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Total water withdrawal
industrial: 17.78 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 3.18 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 7,434,617 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.3% (2015 est.)
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Air pollutants
methane emissions: 55.99 megatons (2020 est.)
Major aquifers
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Major lakes (area sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Chartres Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Versailles (c); Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (c); Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley (c); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay (c); Paris, Banks of the Seine (c); The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes (c); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) (c); Amiens Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Fontainebleau (c); Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne (c); The Maison Carrée of Nîmes (c); Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve (Corsica) (n)
Coal
consumption: 12.57 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 64,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 10.347 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 160 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
nuclear: 63.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 10.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
tide and wave: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 33.238 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 13.584 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 46.909 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 7.787 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 1.536 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 61.719 million barrels (2021 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
Remittances
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Nuclear energy
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 61.37GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 64.8% (2023 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 14 (2025)
Space program overview
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Space launch site(s)
Space agency/agencies
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks: Armorique; Beaujolais; Causses du Quersey; Chablais; Haute-Provence; Luberon; Massif des Bauges; Monts d'Ardèche; Normandie-Maine (2024)
Ports
large: 6
medium: 12
small: 22
very small: 26
ports with oil terminals: 31
key ports: Bayonne, Bordeaux, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dunkerque Port Est, Dunkerque Port Ouest, La Pallice, La Rochelle, Les Sables d'Olonne, Lorient, Montoir, Nantes, Le Havre, Rouen, Rade de Brest, Rade de Cherbourg, Rochefort, St. Nazaire, Toulon
Legislative branch - lower chamber
number of seats: 577 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 6/30/2024 to 7/7/2024
parties elected and seats per party: New Popular Front (NFP)/UG (178); Ensemble (presidential majority) (150); National Rally (RN) (125); The Republicans (LR) (39); Other (85)
percentage of women in chamber: 36.2%
expected date of next election: June 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber
number of seats: 348 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 6 years
most recent election date: 9/24/2023
percentage of women in chamber: 37.1%
expected date of next election: September 2026
note 1: of the 348 Senate seats, 328 seats are for metropolitan France, overseas departments, and regions of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion, and Mayotte; the remainder of the seats include 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for French Polynesia, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 1 for Wallis and Futuna, and 12 for French nationals abroad
note 2: Senate members are indirectly elected by departmental electoral colleges, using absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed for departments with 1-3 members, and proportional representation vote in departments with 4 or more members
National color(s)
Labor force
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 17.1% (2024 est.)
female: 16% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Net migration rate
Median age
male: 41 years
female: 44.2 years
Maternal mortality ratio
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$240.792 billion (2023 est.)
$242.416 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Public debt
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Total fertility rate
Unemployment rate
7.4% (2023 est.)
7.4% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
Population
male: 33,557,094
female: 34,817,497
Carbon dioxide emissions
from coal and metallurgical coke: 25.355 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 209.4 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 69.025 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Area
land: 640,427 sq km ; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France)
water: 3,374 sq km ; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France)
note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion
Taxes and other revenues
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$3.689 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.655 trillion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
Airports
note: Includes 29 airports in French overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion)
Infant mortality rate
male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.9% (2023 est.)
5.2% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Current account balance
-$30.334 billion (2023 est.)
-$33.069 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Real GDP per capita
$54,000 (2023 est.)
$53,700 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 30.7% (2025 est.)
female: 27.3% (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
Energy consumption per capita
Death rate
Birth rate
Electricity
consumption: 415.542 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 76.207 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 25.107 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 35.282 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Merchant marine
by type: container ship 32, general cargo 48, oil tanker 25, other 448
note: includes Monaco
Imports
$1.094 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.092 trillion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports
$1.05 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.021 trillion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Heliports
note: Includes 11 heliports in French overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion)
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2023 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 6.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
male: 79.8 years
female: 85.5 years
Real GDP growth rate
0.9% (2023 est.)
2.6% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Industrial production growth rate
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 17.5% (2024 est.)
services: 70.4% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Education expenditure
8.9% national budget (2021 est.)