left-leaning labor union with approximately 803,000 members;
Confederation Generale des Cadres or CGC, independent white-collar
union with 196,000 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 or
KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General
Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for an Independent
Guadeloupe 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, 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, MINURCAT, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pierre VIMONT
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mark A.
PEKALA
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
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; the design and/or
colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of
Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands;
the official flag for all French dependent areas
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. The telecommunications sector is
gradually being opened to competition. 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. Widespread opposition to labor reform has in recent years
hampered the government's ability to revitalize the economy. During
2007-08, the government implemented several important labor reforms,
including a de facto extension of the 35-hour workweek by allowing
employees to work longer overtime hours. During 2009, the government
is expected to delay or even renounce other reform efforts due to
the on-going financial crisis. GDP growth dropped to 0.3% in 2008;
the French government plans to increase public investment and
continue injecting capital into the banking sector to alleviate the
negative effects of the crisis during 2009. As a result of lower
fiscal revenues and increased expenditures the general government
deficit is expected to exceed the euro-zone ceiling 3% of GDP.
France's tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe - at nearly
50% of GDP in 2005. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.133 trillion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$2.126 trillion (2007 est.)
$2.078 trillion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.867 trillion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
2.3% (2007 est.)
2.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,300 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$33,400 (2007 est.)
$32,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 20.4%
services: 77.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
27.97 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 24.3%
services: 71.8% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
7.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
7.9% (2007 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):
21.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Budget:
revenues: $1.407 trillion
expenditures: $1.506 trillion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
68.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
67.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
1.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
5% (31 December 2007)
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:
8.13% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$NA
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 and quasi
money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
$NA
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.102 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 6
$3.397 trillion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 6
$2.771 trillion (31 December 2007)
$2.429 trillion (31 December 2006)
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:
-1.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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:
70,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - consumption:
1.986 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Oil - exports:
554,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - imports:
2.346 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Oil - proved reserves:
103.3 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - production:
920 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - consumption:
49.27 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - exports:
1 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - imports:
49.35 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.937 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Current account balance:
-$52.91 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
-$31.25 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$601.9 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$546 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:
Germany 14.3%, Italy 8.7%, Spain 8.3%, UK 7.8%, Belgium 7.6%, US
5.8%, Netherlands 4.2% (2008)
Imports:
$692 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$600.9 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.9%, Belgium 11.7%, Italy 8.3%, Spain 6.9%, Netherlands
6.8%, UK 5.1%, US 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$102.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$115.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.935 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 4
$4.88 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.147 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$1.026 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.624 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$1.399 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007),
0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::France
Telephones - main lines in use:
35.909 million; 35.0 million (metropolitan France) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 8
Telephones - mobile cellular:
59.259 million; 57.972 million (metropolitan France) (2008)
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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes
many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp;
Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re
Internet hosts:
14.327 million; 14,341,000 (metropolitan France) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
Internet users:
42.912 million; 42.315 million (metropolitan France) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 9
Transportation ::France
Airports:
475 (2009)
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: 82
under 914 m: 77 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 178
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 70
under 914 m: 107 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 14,688 km; oil 3,036 km; refined products 5,080 km (2008)
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: 951,500 km
country comparison to the world: 7
paved: 951,500 km (metropolitan France; includes 10,950 km of
expressways)
note: there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments
(2006)
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: 138
country comparison to the world: 43
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 32, container 25,
liquefied gas 12, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 33, petroleum tanker
23, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 38 (Belgium 6, China 5, Denmark 2, Germany 1, Italy
2, Japan 1, NZ 1, Norway 5, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Sweden 9,
Switzerland 3)
registered in other countries: 127 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Australia
1, Bahamas 30, Belgium 2, Bermuda 1, Hong Kong 1, Indonesia 1, Isle
of Man 1, Italy 2, Liberia 5, Luxembourg 17, Malta 5, Morocco 14,
Netherlands 1, Norway 3, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
6, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UK 23, Wallis and Futuna 6) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris,
Rouen, Strasbourg
Military ::France
Military branches:
Army (Armee de Terre; includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light
Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale, includes Naval Air, Maritime
Gendarmerie (Coast Guard)), Air Force (Armee de l'Air, includes Air
Defense), National Gendarmerie (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary military service; no
conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat
military posts (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 14,646,427
females age 16-49: 14,379,630 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,087,606
females age 16-49: 11,811,260 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 391,480
female: 373,334 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Transnational Issues ::France
Disputes - international:
Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa
Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims
Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute
between Suriname and the French overseas department of French
Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie
Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of
New 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 November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@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:
15 00 S, 140 00 W
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:
NA
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:
287,032 (July 2009 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) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.1 years
male: 29.4 years
female: 28.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.391% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Birth rate:
15.91 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Death rate:
4.73 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Net migration rate:
2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 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: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.55 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 166
male: 8.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.71 years
country comparison to the world: 63
male: 74.26 years
female: 79.29 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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:
NA
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:
NA
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)
head of government: President of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU
(since 7 February 2009); President of the Territorial Assembly
Eduoard FRITCH (since 12 February 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers
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
are 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 are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 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: one seat was 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 - PS 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 or
Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or
Tribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU and Philip
SCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This Country is
Yours); Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini
Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile
VERNAUDON]; Our Home alliance; Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira)
[Gaston FLOSSE]; Union for Democracy alliance or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas lands of France)
Flag description:
two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered
on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern on
the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a
stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern
note: the flag of France is used for official occasions
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: