African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim
(North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique Francaise
local short form: France
Data code: FR
Type of government: republic
Capital: Paris
Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular - region);
Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne,
Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie,
Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine,
Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie,
Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and are subdivided
into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas
departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the
territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa
Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin
Island, Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of
president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC
Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993
Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) was
elected for a seven-year term by direct universal suffrage; election
last held 17 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); results -
Second Ballot Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%
head of government: Prime Minister Alain JUPPE (since 18 May 1995)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: the Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
the suggestion of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
Senate (Senat): elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be
held September 1998; nine-year term, elected by thirds every three
years); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (321 total;
296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and
territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 132, PS
75, PCF 16, other 7
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 21 and
28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24,
independents 26; note - seating as of 24 September 1995: RPR 247,
UDF 208, PS 71, PCF 24, independents 27
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals (Cour de Cassation),
judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High
Council of the Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain
JUPPE, president; Union for French Democracy (UDF - coalition of PR,
FD, RAD, PSD), Francois LEOTARD; Republican Party (PR), Francois
LEOTARD; Democratic Force (FD), Francois BAYROU; Radical (RAD),
Andre ROSSINOT; Socialist Party (PS), Lionel JOSPIN; Left Radical
Movement (MRG); Communist Party (PCF), Robert HUE; National Front
(FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; The Greens, Dominique VOYNET; Generation
Ecology (GE), Brice LALONDE; Citizens Movement (MDC), Jean Pierre
CHEVENEMENT
Other political or pressure groups: Communist-controlled labor
union (Confederation Generale du Travail - CGT) nearly 2.4 million
members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation
Francaise Democratique du Travail - CFDT) about 800,000 members
(est.); independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members
(est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des
Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French
Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais - CNPF or Patronat)
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG
(observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB
(non-regional), CE, CERN, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR,
NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN
Security Council, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francois BUJON DE L'ESTANG
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San
Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela C. HARRIMAN
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: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and
red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and
colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of
Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official
flag for all French dependent areas
Economy
-------
Economic overview: One of the four West European trillion-dollar
economies, the French economy features considerable - albeit
diminishing - state control over its capitalistic market system. In
running important industrial segments (railways, airlines,
electricity, telecommunications), administrating an exceptionally
generous social welfare system, and staffing an enormous
bureaucracy, the state spends about 55% of GDP. France has
substantial agricultural resources and a diversified modern
industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of
modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the
leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Largely
self-sufficient in agricultural products, France is a major exporter
of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about
one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become
crucial to the economy. Following stagnation and recession in
1991-93, French GDP expanded 2.4% in 1994 and in 1995. Persistently
high unemployment still poses a major problem for the government, as
will the need to cut back on welfare benefits and bureaucratic
budgets. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsche
mark parity, which has kept French interest rates high at the
expense of jobs. Although the pace of economic and financial
integration within the European Union has slowed down, integration
will remain a major force in France, shaping the fortunes of the
various economic sectors over the next few years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.173 trillion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $20,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 26.5%
services: 71.1% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1995)
Labor force: 24.17 million
by occupation: services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2%
(1987)
note: includes Corsica
Unemployment rate: 11.7% (yearend 1995)
Budget:
revenues: $220.5 billion
expenditures: $249.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $47
billion (1993 budget)
Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy,
aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 105,250,000 kW
production: 447 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 6,149 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes;
beef, dairy products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among
world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American cocaine and
Southwest Asian heroin
Exports: $235.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles
and clothing
partners: Germany 17.1%, Italy 9.3%, Spain 7.1%, Belgium-Luxembourg
8.7%, UK 9.9%, Netherlands 4.6%, US 7.0%, Japan 2.0%, Russia 0.5%
Imports: $229.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural
products, chemicals, iron and steel products
partners: Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.1%, US 8.5%, Netherlands 4.9%,
Spain 8.8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.1%, UK 7.9%, Japan 3.7%, Russia 1.2%
External debt: $300 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $7.915 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January
1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992),
5.6421 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 33,891 km
standard gauge: 33,524 km 1.435-m gauge; 32,275 km are operated by
French National Railways (SNCF); 13,741 km of SNCF routes are
electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked
narrow gauge: 367 km 1.000-m gauge
note: includes Corsica; does not include 33 tourist railroads,
totalling 469 km, many being of very narrow gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 1,511,200 km
paved: 811,200 km (including 7,700 km of expressways)
unpaved: 700,000 km (1992 est.)
note: includes Corsica
Waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled
Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km;
natural gas 24,746 km
Ports: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La
Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen,
Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
Merchant marine:
total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,203,086 GRT/1,779,263
DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 5, chemical tanker 5, container 7,
liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 6, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1
note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned
ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 460
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 13
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 26
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 91
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 73
with paved runways under 914 m: 179
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 75 (1995 est.)
note: includes Corsica
Heliports: 3 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 35 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive
introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: satellite earth stations - 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
Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 800 (mostly repeaters),
shortwave 0
Radios: 49 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 846 (mostly repeaters)
note: Eutelsat receive-only TV service
Televisions: 29.3 million (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force and Air
Defense, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 14,782,577
males fit for military service: 12,299,651
males reach military age (18) annually: 383,252 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $47.7 billion,
2.5% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@French Guiana
-------------
(overseas department of France)
Map
---
Location: 4 00 N, 53 00 W -- Northern South America, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Flag
----
Description: the flag of France is used
Geography
---------
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total area: 91,000 sq km
land area: 89,150 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline: 378 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere
Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered),
cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use:
arable land: NEGL%
permanent crops: NEGL%
meadows and pastures: NEGL%
forest and woodland: 88%
other: 12% (1992)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe
thunderstorms; flooding
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: mostly an unsettled wilderness
People
------
Population: 151,187 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 24,447; female 23,378)
15-64 years: 63% (male 52,061; female 43,726)
65 years and over: 5% (male 3,784; female 3,791) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.86% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 24.68 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.59 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 18.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.13 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.79 years
male: 72.55 years
female: 79.19 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective: French Guianese
Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian,
Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
total population: 83%
male: 84%
female: 82%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Department of Guiana
conventional short form: French Guiana
local long form: none
local short form: Guyane
Data code: FG
Type of government: overseas department of France
Capital: Cayenne
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995); represented by Prefect Pierre DARTOUT who was appointed by
the French Ministry of Interior
head of government: President of the General Council Stephan
PHINERA-HORTH (since March 1994)
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
Regional Council
General Council: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total) PSG
8, RPR 2, UDF 1, other right 1, other 7
Regional Council: elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held
NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (31 total) PSG
16, FDG 10, RPR 2, independents 3
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(1 total) PSG 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
(next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (2 total) RPR 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (highest local court based in
Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French
Guiana)
Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party (PSG),
Raymond TRACY; Conservative Union for the Republic (UPR), Leon
BERTRAND; Rally for the Center Right (URC); Rally for the Republic
(RPR); Guyana Democratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY; Walwari
Committee, Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON; Socialist Party (PS), Jean
BART; Union for French Democracy (UDF), R. CHOW-CHINE
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of
France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France
through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at
Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic
activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp)
accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1992. The large
reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an
expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export.
Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the
population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily
dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious
problem, particularly among younger workers.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $800 million (1993 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1992)
Labor force: 36,597 (1993)
by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry
21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
Unemployment rate: 24.1% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $133 million
expenditures: $284 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1992 est.)
Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products,
rum, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 180,000 kW
production: 450 million kWh
consumption per capita: 3,149 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, corn, manioc, cocoa, vegetables, bananas,
sugar; cattle, pigs, poultry
Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local
consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Exports: $110 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence
partners: France 52%, Spain 15%, US 5% (1992)
Imports: $719 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities: food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods,
producer goods, petroleum
partners: France 77%, Germany 11%, US 5% (1992)
External debt: $1.2 billion (1988)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January
1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992),
5.6421 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km (1995)
Highways:
total: 1,817 km (national 432 km, departmental 385 km, community
1,000 km)
paved: 727 km
unpaved: 1,090 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river
and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
Ports: Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 10
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 4
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 31,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fair open wire and microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0
Radios: 79,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9
Televisions: 22,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 43,412
males fit for military service: 28,171 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@French Polynesia
----------------
(overseas territory of France)
Map
---
Location: 15 00 S, 140 00 W -- Oceania, archipelago in the South
Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to
Australia
Flag
----
Description: two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white
band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave
pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the
upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave
pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
land area: 3,660 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of
Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,525 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Orohena 2,241 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 19%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 31%
other: 44%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: includes five archipelagoes; 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
------
Population: 224,911 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 40,450; female 39,038)
15-64 years: 61% (male 70,506; female 65,620)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,636; female 4,661) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.19% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 27.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.94 years
male: 68.49 years
female: 73.5 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%,
metropolitan French 4%
Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official)