
France Guide
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.
Economy
Agriculture is one of the largest branches of industry alongside tourism. France is particularly known for exporting its various types of wine.
Industries: automotive, chemical, aircraft, agriculture, mechanical engineering, textiles, tourism
Natural resources: iron ore, fish, wood, coal
Land use:
- Usable land: 33%
- Grain cultivation: 2%
- Pasture area: 20%
- Forests: 27%
- other: 18%
Plants
Almost all types of plants and trees that exist in Europe can be found in France.
Beech, oak, spruce, pine and fir are just as much a part of it as the various types of grass and moss.
Animals
Foxes, chamois, deer, roe deer and wild boar live in the higher regions of the country.
In the forests and plains of the lowlands there are mainly small animal species and many insects.