France Guide

January 31, 2021 findjobdescriptions

France – country information

Country name	France
Official name	The French Republic
Capital	Paris
Continent	Europe
Area	551,500 km²
Population	65,844,000 (2014)
Foundation of a state	1/1/0486
The highest mountains	Mont Blanc 4807 m (Alps), Vignemale 3298 m (Pyrenees), Monte Cinto 2710 m (Corsica)
Longest rivers	Loire 1020 km, Rhone 812 (548) km, Seine 776 km, Garonne 647 km
State system	a presidential-type pluralistic republic with a bicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Paris (capital) 9,180,000, Lyon 1,290,000, Marseille 1,255,000
Official language	French
Ethnicity/National Composition	French 93.5%, Portuguese 1.3%, Algerian 1.1%, Spanish 0.4%, Italian 0.4%, other 2.2%
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholics 78%, other Christians 4%, Muslims 3.5%, no religion and other 14.5%
Currency	1 euro = 100 cents
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$35,295 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	79.73 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture, forestry and fishing 5.5%, mining and industry 20.5%, construction 5.5%, services 68.5%

France – neighboring countries

State	Capital	Area	Population
Andorra	Andorra la Vella	468 km²	76,098
Belgium	Brussels	32,545 km²	11,132,269
Brazil	Brasília	8,514,880 km²	201 032 714
Italy	Rome	301,318 km²	59,943,933
Luxembourg	Luxembourg	2,586 km²	537,000
Monaco	Monaco	2 km²	36 136
Germany	Berlin	357,022 km²	80,619,000
Suriname	Paramaribo	163,820 km²	534 189
Spain	Madrid	505,992 km²	46,609,700
Switzerland	Bern	41,284 km²	8,112,200

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, France is the largest country in Western Europe by area. In many ways, but especially in culture, it influenced the entire continent, and thanks to its position as a colonial power, also almost the entire world.

Population

The mixed origin of the French population is manifested anthropologically and culturally, especially in the differences between the north and the south, in addition to the regional dialects of ethnic minorities. Standard French dominates the center and north of the country, southerners are distinguished by distinctive nasals. The Provençal dialect is a continuation of the medieval speech of the region, which has also been preserved in written form. The most pronounced linguistic differences are manifested in peripheral areas: Catalan is spoken in the eastern Pyrenees, a dialect of Italian in Corsica, Celtic Breton in Brittany, a strong Germanic dialect survives in Alsace, and Flemish is also found on the border with Belgium. The Basque language, which stretches from northern Spain to the western Pyrenees, is linguistically unique among European languages.

The French Academy – founded in 1635, among other things, to take care of the purity and level of the French language and literature, insists on the exclusive use of expressions with a French basis even in the case of newly used words and terms that are mainly of English origin. So, for example, instead of “le computer” – computer, “1’ordinateur” – binder is used.

Culture and religion

French culture has consistently enriched the world since the time of Charlemagne. Dramatists, painters and sculptors, philosophers, writers, music composers and film directors are included in the long list of outstanding cultural figures of world stature. However, perhaps the most lasting contribution that France is famous for is its cuisine. From traditional country dishes to fashionable “nouvelle” or “haute cuisine”, it has won a dominant position on the boards of the whole world.

France does not have a state religion. The majority of the population adheres to the Roman Catholic Church. There are significant Protestant and Jewish minorities and a significant number of Muslims among immigrant communities from North Africa.

Country data

Location: Europe

Time zone: CET

Total area: 551,500 km²

Land area: 549,970 km²

Water area: 1,530 km²

Length of the state border: 2,751 km

Bordering countries:
Andorra: 55 km
Belgium: 556 km
Germany: 418 km
Italy: 476 km
Luxembourg: 69 km
Monaco: 6 km
Switzerland: 525 km
Spain: 646 km

Coastline: 3,427 km

Capital: Paris

Provinces: 22
Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Center, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardy, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d Azur, Rhone-Alpes

Electric current: 230 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 33 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Population

Population: approx. 66.3 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.4% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 120

Life expectancy: 79 (male), 85 (female)

Official language: French

Religions:

85% Roman Catholic
2% Protestants
13% other

Climate

In the prevailing European climate, the winter months are constantly cold and the summer months are mild. The climate on the Mediterranean coast is more moderate.

The average temperature in summer is 27 ° C and in winter 13 ° C.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: € / Euro (EUR)

Division: 1 € = 100 cents

ATMs: Available in many cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250 g tobacco
1 liter of alcoholic beverages
small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

After the attacks in Paris in November 2015, checks on people and luggage at train stations and airports were tightened again.

Long waiting times must therefore be expected. Any luggage carried must be marked with name and address. This also applies if you are traveling by train.