Economic 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. in 2007, the government launched divisive labor reform efforts that will continue into 2008. france's tax burden remains one of the highest in europe (nearly 50% of gdp in 2005). france brought the budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-gdp limit for the first time in 2007 and has reduced unemployment to roughly 8%. 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.

Environmental Issues

Some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff

Government Type

Republic

Population

Total: 64,057,792 note: 62,150,775 in metropolitan france (july 2008 est.)

Location

Metropolitan france: western europe, bordering the bay of biscay and english channel, between belgium and spain, southeast of the uk; bordering the mediterranean sea, between italy and spain 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 reunion: southern africa, island in the indian ocean, east of madagascar

Area

Total: 643,427 sq km; 547,030 sq km (metropolitan france) land: 640,053 sq km; 545,630 sq km (metropolitan france) water: 3,374 sq km; 1,400 sq km (metropolitan france) note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of french guiana, guadeloupe, martinique, and reunion

Slightly less than the size of texas

Country Aliases

Conventional long form: french republic conventional short form: france local long form: republique francaise local short form: france

Capital

Name: paris 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 note: applies to metropolitan france only, not to its overseas departments, collectivities, or territories

Military Service

17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary military service); no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat military posts (2005)

International Disputes

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