The France , officially the French Republic , is a country of Western Europe.

Its metropolitan territory is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by the Manche (which separates it from the the United Kingdom) and the the North Sea in north, by the Belgium, the Luxembourg, the Germany, the Suisse and the Italy in the east, and by the Mediterranean, the Andorre, Monaco and the Spain in the south. The France of overseas, is also bordered by the Brésil and the Suriname via the Guyana as well as the Kingdom of the Netherlands via the island of Saint Martin's day, but also by the Pacific Ocean via the French Polynésie, Wallis-and-Futuna, the New Caledonia and the Île Clipperton; the Indian Ocean via the Meeting and Mayotte; the Antarctic Ocean via the southern and antarctic Lands French and the Caribbean Sea via the Guadeloupe, the Martinique, the island Saint Martin's day and the island St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.

France is, among all large the State S Europeans, made up in the past, around a royal Domaine initially centered on the Île-de-France, its capital being Paris. The country has a surface of 675.417 km ² and a population of approximately 64 million inhabitants. The French is the Official language of the République and one counts 77 regional languages there. France is the sixth world economic power. Its economy is of capitalist type with a considerable official intervention since the end of the Second world war. Nevertheless, since about thirty years, successive reforms involved a progressive disengagement of the State from several state enterprises.

The values which it defends and to which it is very attached are based on the Démocratie and the human rights and of the citizen of 1789, of which it is the fatherland of origin. During the “Great century”, France was worked by the Art S and the Philosophie. Cradle of the “Lights”, it influenced the revolutions American S, then the French revolution insufflated the dash and the democratic example in the whole world, developing values of Liberté, equality and Laïcité. Because of the explorations of the Rebirth, France diffused its culture and its language with many people, with the Canada, in Africa, but also in some areas of the Moyen the East, Asia and the Pacifique.

Member of the the Council of Europe, it is one of the countries founders of the European Union, the Euro area and the space Schengen. It is one of the five permanent members of the Safety advice of the United Nations and belonged to the Groupe of the eight (G8), the economic Cooperation organization and development (OECD), of the Francophonie and the Latin Union. Militarily, France is member of the Organization of the treaty of the North Atlantic (NATO) - it withdrew itself in 1966 military organization integrated to return there partially in 2002 - and has the nuclear deterrence.

History

See also: French history, Chronology of France, territorial Formation of France

Current France, country of Romance Language but of Germanic superstratum, occupies most of old the Gaulle S Celtic, conquered by Jules César, but it draws its name from the Francs, a Germanic Peuple, whose name means “free men”, which was formed tardily and was installed on part of the grounds of the Roman Empire.

Evolution of the name “France” and the Territory

Francia indicates in the beginning the area of the north of the Europe, populated, or rather dominated, by people of Guerrier S Germanique S which names themselves the Francs. Francia then does not have a Connotation geographical Politique but rather or sociological, like the Maghreb or Balkans with the 21e century. The frank people are before a whole people of warriors which elect a war leader named King of the Francs , and place freely under his Autorité for the military businesses. The war being regarded as the value par excellence of the free man, frankly ends up becoming free Synonyme with .

In 1204, the word Francia indicates, for the first time, the territory on which is exerted the Autorité of this king of the Francs , which sporadically starts to name rex Francie . This authority is still limited to that which the bond of Vassalité authorizes, and thus carries only on the lords themselves, other than their Territoire S, of the population of those, and even of clean vassal of these lords. One can thus for example bring this event closer to the use starting from 1957 of Europe in a politico-economic direction. This opens however the door with the Concept of a Autorité Civil E of the King on a Territoire. But it is necessary to await the {{S|XV|E}} so that this concept is recognized, gladly badly liking, if not accepted (insane Guerre), by the majority of the lords.

At the beginning of the 16th century the concept of “public Chose” makes a timid reappearance after having disappeared with the fall from the Roman Empire. In 1499, the marriage contract of the king de France, which has the Propriété of the France, tries, without success, to constitute an engagement not only between the signatories, but also between their downward, and even their successors. The French nationality is defined at that time. It is as about this time as a Embryon of State gradually starts to be set up. Until the middle of the 16th century, the king is a nomad which moves with any sound administration, never not remaining again few weeks in the same residence, which limits singularly the possibilities of centralization of the official functions.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the foreign Politics of France starts to exceed the only direct military aggressions. Richelieu introduces the diplomacy like a way of doing carry out its wars by other countries.

The French revolution constitutes the birth certificate of the French Nation, and the Peuple French as an political actor. It is then however still only about Concept S very theoretical. They are the Napoleonean Guerres, and especially the Great Wars of 1870, 1914 and 1939 which make French Nation a mental Image divided by the French. The economic difficulties related to the Universalization of the beginning and the end of the 20th century exacerbate (as in the remainder of the Europe) this feeling Nation Al in a Nationalisme.

Prehistory, Protohistoire and Antiquité

See also: Gaulle, Gaulle Roman

The human presence on the territory of current France goes back to the Paléolithique inferior. One of the oldest sites (-: 1800000 years), disputed by certain authors, is the site of Chilhac (Haute-Loire). Several French sites gave their name to cultural facies, such as the Acheuléen, the Moustérien, the Solutréen or the Magdalénien. The national territory counts a big number of caves decorated with the Paléolithique superior whose most known Lascaux (the Dordogne is undoubtedly , -: 15000). Starting from -7000 approximately, the area enters the Neolithic , the oldest known village being the site of Courthézon (Vaucluse), gone back to 4560 av. J. - C. approximately.

Arrived towards -900 on the territory of current France, the Celtes occupy the whole to the III E of it. Towards 680 av. J. - C., the Mediterranean coastline sees the arrival of the first Greek colonists, with the foundation of the counter of Antibes.

The Gaulle passes under the Roman domination towards 125 av. J. - C. for the Gaulle Narbonnese, and in 51 av. J. - C., after the Guerre of Gaules, for the remainder of the territory. Under the Empire, a Graeco-Roman civilization thrives develops, bringing to France a base culture Latin and leading indirectly to the christianization, which takes place slowly.

Early middle ages

See also: Great Carolingian invasions, Mérovingiens,

Gaulle knows as from the 5th century the time of the cruel migrations, with the presence of several people, in particular the Burgondes, the Visigoths and the Francs.

Most of the areas constituting current France are joined together under Clovis in 507 (meeting under the franque domination, or regnum francorum , of the Alamans, the Burgondes and the Visigoths in the north of the the Pyrenees). This “kingdom of the Francs” which is exerted on what one still called Gaulle draws his legitimacy and its unit from its cultural romanity. But it is divided then joined together very often with the liking of the heritages of the heirs to Clovis (dynasty of the Mérovingiens). These later kingdoms are called Neustrie (Paris), Austrasie (Metz), Burgundy (Trawl-net), Aquitaine (Bordeaux).

Starting from the middle of the 8th century Pip the Brief, king of the Francs not mérovingien, extends considerably the kingdom of the Francs, set up soon in Empire by his/her son Charlemagne and its grandson Louis the Piles. After the death of Louis, his field is shared in three parts where the central authority crumbles quickly, bringing back the organization of the area to the former situation: the Francia orientalis (with the is), the Francia occidentalis (with the western) and between the two transitory the Lotharingie, field of a very theoretical emperor. The oriental party corresponds to what became later the Germany and the Western part, to France. It is of 842, with the Serments of Strasbourg last between the grandsons of Charlemagne, which date the oldest source attesting the use of two languages different on both sides from the the Rhine (the Tudesque and the Romance ). This text was thus often presented like the founding document of France (and of Germany). Descendants of Charlemagne - Carolingian - very coarsely preserve a symbolic system influence on territories corresponding to France until in 987, date on which the duke Hugues Capet is elected king of the Francs.

Feudal times

See also: Capétiens, House capétienne of Valois

Hugues Capet, by modifying the rules of succession, creates the conditions which will allow, the length of the following centuries, the constitution of France. Its descendants, the Capétiens reign then on France, in three successive dynasties (Capétiens direct, Valois and Bourbons), until 1792 when Louis XVI is deposited at the time of the French revolution, then during a thirty years interlude, of 1814 with 1848.

The first kings of the dynasty extend the royal Domaine gradually, consolidate the franque royalty in spite of the opposition of the Plantagenêt S, which materializes by the Guerre One hundred Year old. But it is only at the end of the 12th century that Philippe Auguste extends for the third time in one millenium the authority of the king of the Francs of the Pyrenees to the English Channel. It is at that time that one starts to employ the expression kingdom of France , and that this one acquires a weight comparable with that of the England or Saint Germanic Roman Empire. The last centuries of the the Middle Ages, marked by the crises of the One hundred Year old War and the Black Death, reinforce finally the royal authority, which becomes undeniable only at the 15th century, with Louis XI.

Rebirth and absolutism

See also: Rebirth (historical period), Rebirth, Old Mode

At the end of the Moyen-âge Spain of the catholic kings and the possessions of the Habsbourg are linked, which gives rise to the empire of Charles Quint. François I {{er}} and its son Henri II fights against this new power with successes and reverses. But the wars of religion which mark second half of the 16th century and the reign of the last Valois (François II, Charles IX, Henri III) move away France from the European theater.

It is necessary to await Henri IV, then Louis XIII and its minister Richelieu, so that the Spanish preponderance is called into question to the profit of France. In spite of the premature disappearance of these actors, the balance of the forces is restored then reversed, by great policies like Mazarin, in particular in 1648 (treated Westphalia) and 1659 (Traité of the Pyrenees).

In the colonial field, the assessment is on the other hand mitigé : in spite of a good departure in America with the forwarding of Jacques Cartier under François I {{er}}, an establishment successful with the the Antilles, in Louisiana, and to the Senegal under Louis XIV, the lack of determination of Louis XV led to serious failures in front of the English in India and to the Canada, and, thus, to break the dynamics created by its predecessors.

The Revolution and Empire

See also: French revolution, Consulate (French history), First Empire, Hundred Days

The financial problems, the refusal of the reforms and the impatience of the people lead to the French revolution, of 1789 with 1799. This outstanding episode in the construction of the national history sees being born in particular the Déclaration from the human rights and the citizen of 1789 and the promotion of the ideals of Liberté, equality, fraternity.

The Revolution proceeds in several phases and starts with a test of constitutional monarchy, with the meeting of the General states, then the Storming of the Bastille the July 14th 1789, the disturbances political and social (opposition of the Tiers state vis-a-vis the Noblesse) lead to the fall of monarchy, on August 10th 1792. Revolutionary boiling led to a succession of modes (Republic of the Convention, Directory, Consulate) in quasi permanent conflict with the other anxious European countries of a propagation of the republican ideas.

Starting from 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte seizes the power, initially like First consul, then as emperor. This period sees the introduction of new institutions, while France extends through Europe before one period from military reversals. The episode is completed by the restoration of the Bourbons in 1815.

The 19th century

See also: French Restoration, Monarchy of July, Second Republic (France), Second Republic, Second Empire

The Restoration of 1815 marks the beginning of a new attempt at constitutional monarchy, but the tensions of the reigns of Louis XVIII then especially of Charles X lead to the Révolution of 1830 which carries Louis-Philippe I {{er}} to the capacity. Of 1830 with 1848, the Monarchie of July is a mode supported by the middle-class, but which causes an opposition legitimist, republican bonarpartist and especially .

The latter involves the revolution of February 1848 which sees an attempt at presidential regime, the Second Republic.

The December 2nd 1851, the president of the Republic, Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, nephew of, organizes a coup d'etat. The January 14th 1852, it is named emperor under the name of Napoleon III. Under the Second Empire, the country strongly knows the beginnings of the the second industrialization, impelled by liberal economic guidelines, based on capital intensive constructions structuring (investment banks, maritime railroad companies and, heavy industries and textiles, department stores, etc). In the field of the foreign policy, Napoleon III makes sure confidence of the the United Kingdom (Crimean War) which makes it possible to sit the influence of France to the the Middle East while its action in Italy, against the Austria, is crowned success and conduit with the meeting in France of areas of the Piedmont (Savoy]], Nice). Nevertheless, of serious reverses tarnish the image of the mode considerably, and reinforce an external opposition (Victor Hugo) and interior. The bet of the fight against the Prussia to give again a certain gloss with the Empire, precipitates in fact its fall. It thus finishes in 1870 after the defeat of Sedan. The loss of the Alsace-Lorraine and the considerable allowances due to the German Empire created with the favor of the advantage taken by the Prussia, lead to a national resentment extremely (the Revanche). A significant fact for the following events will be that the growth of the Italian population and especially allemande exceeds that of French by far, France which was the country more populated Europe during the revolution.

Third Republic with the Release

See also: Third Republic, First World War, Inter-war period, Mode of Vichy

The war of 1870 involves the fall of the Second Empire and the return to the République, after the insurrection of the Commune of Paris. The Second Empire had evolved to a parliamentary Régime, and its heritage is partly taken again by the {{IIIe}} République. After a few years of hesitation, the Third Republic is finally confirmed in 1875, the practice of the institutions by making a mode of assembly.

Under the Third Republic, France extends its colonial empire, whose conquest had started under monarchies of the 19th century (Africa Western and equatorial, Morocco, Tunisia, Madagascar, Indo-China).

Victorious exit, but at the prices of demographic and economic sufferings immense of the First World War, France knows one economic and political crisis period in the Années 1930. The defeat of 1940 conduit to attribution by vote of the full powerss to the marshal Pétain during the Second world war. This one replaces the republic by a French State disputed by the free France of the general de Gaulle until in 1944.

Contemporary France

See also: France since 1945, Fourth Republic, Fifth Republic

Following the Second world war, the Fourth Republic is promulgated the October 27th 1946, but it faces serious difficulties in the colonial Empire, initially in Indo-China, then in Algérie, while elsewhere the Décolonisation is done by negotiation. The governmental instability which results from it, generates finally a crisis which leads to a change of constitution. However, in spite of the frequent changes of ministries, a certain constancy of the policy of European construction made it possible to take part actively first of all in the European Coal and Steel Community in 1950, then with the signature of the the Treaty of Rome in 1957 founder of the Common Market. In addition, the development policy of nuclear industry as well civil as military, an independent policy in the years 1960 made it possible to sit.

The Constitution of the V {{E}} Republic, written under the influence of the general de Gaulle and Michel Debré, is adopted the October 4th 1958. It sets up a République at parliamentary Régime which proves better to resist instabilities that the preceding parliamentary republics. In 1962, the conjunction of the election of the president of the Republic by the universal direct suffrage and majority fact at the Parliament favorable to the president will modify the Constitution to have a reading favorable to the president of it. One speaks then about presidentialized parliamentary mode. This case is single in France; in all the other parliamentary modes, the Head of the State was systematically erased with the profit of the head of government, who is supported by the parliamentary majority. Maurice Duverger, wished him to define Ve as concerning a new category, that of the semi-presidential Régime. This typology is however not accepted by all.

Starting from 1973, the French economy knows a succession of economic crises and periods of low growth, which involve a frequent alternation within the capacity. Of 1986 with 1988, then of 1993 with 1995 and finally of 1997 with 2002, the phenomenon of the Cohabitation (cancellation of the fact majority favorable to the President, with the result that the Prime Minister is of a different political edge that of the President) still modifies the reading of the Constitution, to return to a reading closer to its design in 1958, i.e. a parliamentary mode.

Since the Years 1950, reconciliation, then the co-operation with the Germany made it possible France to play a part of engine in the European construction industry, in particular with the European Economic community. It became one of the principal countries of the European Union, in favor of strong political Europe, although it rejected the European Constitution by 55% of the votes the May 29th, 2005.

Policy

See also: Political of France

France is a Republic Constitution nelle, “indivisible, laic, democratic and social” (article 1st of the Constitution of 1958) with parliamentary Régime presidentialized (whose reading is done in favor of the President of the Republic, sometimes called wrongly or rightly semi-presidential Régime). The constitutional reform of March 28th, 2003 (act II of decentralization) added in this same article that the organization of the Republic was decentralized .

Before 1962, the president of the French Republic was elected by the indirect vote for all by a widened electoral college. This one was widened to avoid the preponderance of the legislative power on the executive power which had occurred under IVe République and which had caused the blocking of the institutions. In November 1962, the president of the Republic required by referendum that he be elected by the universal direct suffrage, by using article 11 of the Constitution and not article 89 of this one. Article 11 makes it possible to subject to the referendum laws on the public authorities, the organization of the institutions or on the international treaties while article 89 makes it possible to subject a constitutional revision to the people but after the agreement of the Parliament assembled in Congress. This choice involved the inversion of the Pompidou government by a Motion of censure. This motion of censure is the only one of Ve République to have succeeded.

In the Constitution of Ve République, the executive power is reinforced with the detriment it legislative power. The president acquired clean capacities such as the right of dissolution of the National Assembly (article 12 of the Constitution), the right to submit to the people a referendum (article 11 of the Constitution), the capacity to name the Prime Minister (article 8 of the Constitution) or the right of message to the Parliament (article 18 of the Constitution). With regard to the government, this one determines and follows the policy of the nation. It also has the lawful capacity enabling him to make adopt laws. It also fixes the 3/4 of the day orders at the National Assembly.

Since the constitutional reform of 2001, the President of the Republic is elected for five years with the universal direct suffrage (against 7 years before). It appoints the Prime Minister.

The Parliament is consisted of the National Assembly, bringing together 577 deputies, and of the Sénat, currently including/understanding 331 senators (there will be of them 346 in 2010) elected for six years with the indirect suffrage and renewed half every three years (as from 2010). The French from abroad see their interests defended near the Parliament by the Assemblée of the French from Abroad.


Geopolitics and military power

See also: French Army, military History of France

France belongs to the five countries which is juridically recognized like “States equipped with the nuclear weapon” by the Traité nuclear non-proliferation. The French Army, with that of the the United Kingdom, one of is equipped financially in Europe. Indeed, together, they represent more than 40% of the military expenditure of the European Union. France devotes to him 2,5% of sound GDP (for a budget of 38 billion euros in 2006), where its European counterparts (except the United Kingdom and Greece) devote to it 1,5% of their GDP, according to NATO.

The military forces are divided into four principal armies:

  • the Army,
  • the National marine,
  • the Air force,
  • the National police.

Since 1996, the army became professional and the military service reduced to one day of call (mixed). Of a capacity of more than: 350000 men, it is deployed throughout the world in particular with the Kosovo, in Ivory Coast, in its overseas territories, but also with the the Middle East where it ensures a maintenance of peace, or a security of its means of supply oil in particular. It mobilizes also more than 1000 men within the framework of the Plan Vigipirate.

Geography

See also: Geography of France, Relief of France, Geology of France

France is the 47e State by its terrestrial surface and 2nd by the surface of its exclusive economic Zone.

The Metropolitan France is localized in Western Europe (see the Liste of extreme points of France). France has also territories, under various administrative statutes, apart from the European territory: in North America, in the the Antilles, in South America, in the Indian Ocean, the north and the south of the Pacific Ocean and in the Antarctic. It shares in metropolis 2970 km of land borders with eight countries bordering: Spain (650 km), Belgium (620 km), Swiss (572 km), Italy (515 km), Germany (450 km), Luxembourg (73 km), Andorra (57 km), Monaco (4,5 km). In Guyana, the borders are of 700 km with Brésil and 520 km with the Suriname. Border long a 10,2 km (but not materialized) on the island of Saint Martin's day in the Antilles, separates the French part of that under sovereignty from the Netherlands. Finally the Ad3elie coast (TAAF) asserted by France is wedged in part of the the Antarctic asserted by the Australia. The French coasts present four maritime frontages rounds towards the the North Sea, the Manche, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, which makes France a crossroads of cultures and communications single in Europe.

Of a metropolitan surface of 551  500  km ² (675 417 km ² with overseas), France extends on 1000  km of north in the south and of is in west (longer North-South distance: Bray-Dunes - Cerberus). It is the third larger country of Europe, after the Russia and the Ukraine (2nd if one counts overseas) and largest of the European Union. The Metropolitan France has four maritime frontages on (north in the south): the the North Sea, the Handle, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. The overall length of its coasts reached 3427  km (apart from the Corsican coasts which measure approximately 1000km). France is a Isthme.

Except for its north-eastern border, the country is delimited mainly by natural seas and the Ocean and borders: the Rhine, the Jura, the Alps, the Pyrenees.

The Metropolitan France has a large variety of landscapes, between the coastal plains located in north and the west and the assembly lines in south-east (the the Alps) and in south-west (the the Pyrenees). The French Alps highest have the point of Western Europe, the Mont Blanc, which culminates with 4.810  Mr. There also exists of other older mountainous regions, such Corsica, the Massif Central, the the Jura, the the Vosges, the Armorican Massif and the the Ardennes which are rather rock and wooded. France also profits from a river network wide which is made up mainly by the the Loire, the the Rhone (source in Suisse), the the Garonne (source in Spain), the the Seine and part of the courses of the the Rhine, Meuse, and the Moselle as well as the Somme, and the Vilaine which constitute their own river basins.

Administrative divisions

Principal French administrative divisions are the areas which are 26 including 22 metropolitan, the departments (100 including 4 overseas) and the districts.

These last districts are cut out either in cantons (for the electoral colleges), or in common (approximately 36.800) for the local territorial administration. The cantons generally gather complete communes, however certain important communes are cut out on several cantons which can also include/understand other common less populated neighbors.

Finally some very important communes (Paris, Lyon, Marseilles) themselves are divided into districts of commune for the administration territorial with local town halls having a certain financial autonomy and administrative within the same municipal council.

The department of Paris includes/understands only one commune, and that the 4 areas in overseas (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, Réunion) count each one one department. The area of the Corsica (which includes/understands two departments) has a special statute of territorial collectivity slightly different from the other metropolitan regions. These areas are however integral part of the European Union.

Since the laws Removes iron of 1982-1983 and Raffarin of 2003-2004, France is a decentralized State. The constitutional reform of February 2003 specifies that the organization of the Republic is decentralized. The Décentralisation, which was initially accompanied by the Déconcentration, supports today fully the emergence of true local Authorities whose balance however makes still debate.

At the side of the Territorial collectivities of full exercise which are the commune, the department and the area, there exists also an inter-commune level which is brought to exert competences more and more (public economic development, fitting-out, habitat, transport, cleansing). Indeed, the communes all are invited to be grouped under the mode of the Intercommunalité which has from now on an financial autonomy and tax, and authority of moral person and legal recognized (the public corporation of inter-commune co-operation or EPCI). In 2006,2573 communities (the Communities of communes, communities of agglomeration and Urban communities) recompose the national territory (either 90% of the communes and 85% of the population Frenchwomen. Certain intercommunalities gather communes of departments or even of different areas. In the border regions, intercommunalities also exist with local government agencies of the adjoining countries, which facilitates the management of common equipment, in particular as regards transport.

A new level was created with the development of the country, which gathers communes and intercommunalities in units larger than are to it the intercommunalities, in order to gather the whole of the communes of a territory, even those excluded from the existing intercommunalities.

France is " one and indivisible" , but this formula creates certain tensions, especially because of the fact that the French territory is composed of several " pays" or " régions" who only are seldom recognized, and of which some have their own language (Alsace, Brittany, Catalogne, Corsica, Flanders, Basque Country, Pays Occitan, etc), but also much of others, which do not have any.

France of overseas

See also: France of overseas

French communities in overseas have particular statuses related to their stronger autonomy: the communities of Mayotte and Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon have a single local government combining the functions generally conferred on the areas and metropolitan departments. However, Mayotte evolves since 2001 to the statute of overseas department, for a stronger integration. These two communities, although located out of the European Union, use the Euro like currency.

The other communities of overseas of the Pacific have statutes of wider autonomy where cohabit the kingly territorial administration and usual administration (French Polynésie, New Caledonia, Wallis-and-Futuna). Although always having a division and municipal authorities (except with Wallis-and-Futuna where in fact the usual villages play this part within the three usual kingdoms), these communities are not cut out in departments, but in provinces (or kingdoms) and villages (on the usual bases) having functions normally assigned to the departments and communes in metropolis and in the areas of overseas, in particular as regards justice, of education or citizenship. Moreover, the function of area is transferred there at a local government where are represented the usual and kingly authorities, as well as an administrator of the Republic. These communities, out of the European Union, use the peaceful Franc like common currency (related to the euro since 1999, instead of the French franc). It should be noted that the New Caledonia has a specific transitory particular status before a future referendum having to determine if the territory will remain in the French Republic with a broad autonomy, or will become independent (with a possible association).

Other grounds French in overseas little or not inhabited are managed remotely since another inhabited territory, by an administrator appointed by the State in the name of the republic: the Scattered islands (in the Indian Ocean, dispersed around Madagascar, or close to Mayotte or Maurice) and the southern and antarctic Lands French (in the South of the Indian Ocean) are managed since the Meeting, and Clipperton (in the East of the Pacific Ocean, off Mexico) is managed from French Polynesia. These grounds do not have clean local government.

Environment

France, if one includes Overseas shelters natural resources and a exceptional Biodiversité, with the Guyana in particular (one of the zones of the least fragmented tropical forests and best preserved) and with the New Caledonia which shelters the second larger coral barrier. In the hexagon the biodiversity has known a constant degradation for two centuries, because of the ecological Fragmentation of the mediums by the dense road network in particular, and this in spite of the work of the national parks and the regional natural parks. Discrete but important Séquelles of wars still marks North and Is country, as well as the Littoral western, with in particular the problem of the immersed Munitions. Since the years 1980, France regularly badly or was very badly classified for the application of the European directives on the Environnement. Several of its areas among are touched in Europe by the Eutrophisation by the agricultural Engrais and by the Pesticide S. the country like the different one is confronted with problems growing of invasive Espèces, and a controversy persists on the risk of genetic Pollution posed by GMO tested or cultivated into full fields. This country is also one of those where the weight of hunting is traditionally important.

Demography

See also: Demography of France

Population

The French Republic counted: 64102140 inhabitants at January 1st, 2007, of which: 61538322 in metropolis, is approximately 1% of the World population. A Recensement national general was organized with regular intervals since 1801, in 2004 the census becomes permanent.

The French population growth is one of most dynamic of Europe, combining a birth rate higher than the European average (830 900 births against 531.200 Décès) and a positive Migratory balance (approximately 100.000 individuals): the Population of France thus evolved/moved of 0,61  %. With regard to fertility rate, it is of 2,01 babies per woman; only the Albania and the Iceland have higher indices of fruitfulness in Europe.

Moreover, the Population pyramid sees since the beginning of the 21e century its structure evolving with a progressive increase in the oldest population, because at the same time of the progression of the life expectancy (France enjoys the one of longest life expectancies in the world) and of the arrival to the third age of the generation of the Baby-boom (this phenomenon is commonly called the Papy boom ).

Immigration

See also: Immigration in France

In 2006, the National institute of the statistics and economic studies (INSEE) estimated that 4,9 million immigrants (to include/understand born foreigners out of the territory) lived in France (8% of the population). It as should be noted as French the children of immigrant parents are regarded (Droit of the ground) and not as foreigners. Consequently, the number of French citizens of foreign origin is considered around 6,7 million according to the census of 1999 of INSEE - what accounts for approximately 1/10 of the French population. Many a Ethnie S is present in DOM-TOM.

The majority of the immigrants come from Europe (Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, but also Poland, Romania and countries forming old the Yugoslavia), from the the Maghreb and Black Africa, in particular its old colonies. At the first January 2005, the number from abroad (people of foreign nationality) in Metropolitan France was of 3  501  000 people, i.e. 5,8% of the population. The proportion of those is comparable with the average of the countries of Western Europe like the the United Kingdom (4,8%), the Germany (8,9%), the Spain (10%), the Netherlands (4,3%), the Sweden (5,3%), the Belgium (8,6%) and the Suisse (20,7%).

According to Michele Tribalat, enquiring with INED, the number of immigrants is very difficult to estimate because of the absence of official statistics. Only three studies were undertaken: in 1927,1942 and 1986. According to a study of 2004, nearly 14 million people at least a relative or a foreign grandparent had.

Principal agglomerations

See also: Principal urban surfaces of France, Big cities of France

Economy and development

See also: Economy of France, List of French companies

France is the 6th world economic power, behind the the United States, the Japan, the Germany, the China and the the United Kingdom with a nominal GDP of: 2230 billion dollars (Total GDP 2006, the World Bank). With its: 551602 km ² in metropolis and its 64 million inhabitants DOM-TOM included/understood, France could not be regarded as “a large” country on a worldwide scale. However, its economic weight knew to make an important role of the international scene of it. France very early benefitted from undeniable natural assets, to start with its geographical location, of the center of the Europe to the outlets on principal commercial flows of Western Europe: the Mediterranean, Handle, Atlantic… In this respect, the Common Market European set up in 1957, constituted for the French companies a true aubaine, while old colonies and DOM-TOM continue to represent important business partners.

Agriculture

See also: Agriculture in France

France is a large agricultural country and with 23% of the European agricultural production in 1999, it is largely at the head countries of the Union, in front of the Italy (15,4%) and the Germany (15,2%) in particular of with a considerable modernization. The continuous agricultural active population to decrease according to the movement which had strongly begun again after the end of the Second world war, for as much, it would seem that this population knows a relative renovation especially related to the massive departures in retirement and anticipated retirement: 53% managers had less than 50 years in 2000, against 42,6% in 1988. The agricultural activity occupies 60% of the metropolitan territory through its 28 million hectares, however only half are put in culture and the remainder benefits in particular with town planning but also the forests.

In 2000, according to INSEE, the share in value of each group of agricultural produce in the whole of the agricultural production was established thus

In terms of production, the Cattle, with 11,9 billion euros in value in 2000, arrives definitely at the head, in front of the Céréales (10 billion for 66 million tons) and the Vins (8,9 billion euros). With 22,6 billion liters in 2000, dairy production of cow in France, however that in retreat compared to 1990, represents a fifth of the European total. If fishing has today a ridiculous weight as well at the European level as world (: 341000 tons in 1999, primarily of tropical tuna) and relate to nothing any more but 6.000 ships for approximately: 20500 embarked sailors, the marine breedings, mainly of Oysters and Moulds, are in constant growth since their production doubled since the beginning of the years 1980. Lastly, the harvest of Wood which rose to 36,2 million m ³ in 1999, supplies a whole die (sawing, work of wood, manufacture of objects, production of paper and paperboard) which employs approximately: 100000 people. The agricultural production is also at the origin of an important sector of agribusiness industries which at the end 1999 with some 3.000 companies, employed: 370000 paid whose industry of the meats included some: 122000 with it only.

Industry

See also: Industry in France

France is one of the more industrial great powers of the world. In their branch of industry, several French groups occupy even the first place vis-a-vis their foreign competitors: it is the case in particular of L'Oreal, Michelin or Alcatel. In spite of a domination of the service sector, the research departments, the companies of engineering and the “technological tertiary sector”, the new forms of industries are very diversified and are powerful in the fields where the structures adapted to the constraints of the market (Aérospatiale, Télécommunications, Micro-informatique), and often find themselves in partnership with european partners.

The branches aspiring greatest numbers of employees are industries of the Mécanique, the electric and the electronic (25% in 1998), the work of metals (11,7%) and the wood-paper-printing works-edition (10,2%). Also, the car occupies a particular place whose annual production, about 5 million vehicles, is ensured by some: 300000 paid great groups (Peugeot-Citroen, Renault).

With 88% of its companies than 200 having less paid in 1998, the French industry is concentrated little. It should be considered that beside great and very great groups, coexist and thrive of very many Small and medium-size companies (SME) which often carry on activities of subcontracting.

Tertiary sector

See also: Tertiary sector in France

Very represented with export, the agro-alimentary sector with 9,4 billion euros of surplus in 2000. One at the head finds products the drinks and alcohols (champagne, Vins, Cognac), then come the Céréales and the animals and meats. The latter are followed of very near by auto industry (9,3 billion euros) and capital equipment which is in a contrasted situation: one finds a balance very positive for the industry of transport in particular due to aeronautical successes (Airbus) and naval of French industry. On the other hand the balance is negative for the mechanical and electric-electronic equipment. The principal business partners of France are obviously the countries of the European Union, with which its trade is surplus and which concentrated 62% of its exports and 60% of its imports in 2000, they are followed by far by the America and the Asia. The Germany is detached at the head from the European market since traditional partner. It is followed the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain which constitute a strong outlet for the export businesses of the country.

Concerning the imports, the greatest French imports are of an energy nature. The leading vendors of Hydrocarbure S of France are the Norway, then the Saudi Arabia, the Russia and finally its close British. One can quote other importing branches such capital equipment domestic and clothing-leather.

The Tertiary sector has a dominating place in the French economy with the image of the evolution made in principal the other industrialized countries. In 2000, it employed close to the three-quarters of the French active population. The trade has been marked for a few years by an upheaval giving profit to the large distribution, whose certain names set up groups of world size, often with the favor of fusion-acquisitions of great width (Carrefour, Auchan, Casino, Leclerc, Intermarché…).

Economic difficulties

The trade deficit for April 2005 was of 3,2 billion euros. Between April 2004 and April 2005, it represents 17,4 billion euros.

The Public deficit, like the Budget deficit, is very high: for 2007, the clear national expenditure is established to 271 billion euros; whereas the clear total revenues sélèvent to 228 billion euros. According to the Ministry for French finances, the deficit will be established to approximately 42 billion euros in 2007.

The national debt of the public administrations (State, Territorial collectivities, Social security, ODAC) assembled to 1150 billion euros end 2006, that is to say 64,2% of GDP (the criteria of the Stability pact and growth of the Traité on the European Union limiting the deficit to 3,0% of the GDP and the debt to 60% of the GDP).

Unemployment rate decreased by 1,3  % in March 2007 to be established to officially 2,281 million applicants for work (8,3  % of the active population). However the governmental official figures were the subject of disputes to the center even of INSEE, the administrators estimating them voluntarily underestimated because taking again only certain increasingly restrictive categories of registered voters with the National agency for employment (ANPE) and not all people declaring itself in the search of an employment. This Chômage is one of highest of Europe, whereas for 30 years this problem has been officially the governmental priority whatever the party in power. Unemployment particularly touches the women, the most 50 years and the young people (though the estimates are slightly distorted for the latter, since their over-representation results partly owing to the fact that they are a minority to seek an employment before 22 years). According to INSEE, France counted 7,14 million poor in 2005, i.e. people living with less than 788 euros per month. 15  % of the richest households have 55,8  % of the whole of the national heritage.

Characteristics of the economic system

Its organization is of capitalist type with a considerable official intervention since the end of the Second world war, so much so that one often speaks about capitalism to the Frenchwoman :

  • With regard to the productive system , France is the fourth world exporter (all produced confused), in spite of an inherent weakness, since it does not control the productive system, dominated upstream by those which produce the machine tools

  • the French economy is mainly a economy of services, for which it is the second world exporter (it is the first tourist destination world with more than 60 million visitors per annum).
The Tertiary sector occupies 72% of the active population.
  • But it is especially on the level of the delivery system that France dissociates itself: large distribution in France has a very strong weight in the economic channel, since one sees the large distributers partly dominating, by the downstream, the system of production (characteristic of France, the large distributers can, to a certain extent, to fix the prices of the producers).
  • It is the second world exporter for the products Agro-alimentaire S, behind the the United States. The Primary sector (Agriculture, fishing) accounts for nothing any more but 4% of the active population.
  • France also could constitute international industrial champions, scattered enough. France thus manufactures the the fastest trains of the world, has a powerful auto industry (Peugeot-Citroen, Renault, Michelin), set up the first world group of construction of nuclear plants, cooperates with the aeronautical groups and aerospace Airbus, Eurocopter, ARIANE, Safran, shelters the group independent of military aeronautics Dassault, of the universally famous pharmaceutical groups (Sanofi Aventis, Institut Pasteur), some of the first world groups of industry Agroalimentaire, sitting on the power of sound Agriculture and itexcellence of its Gastronomy, and the industry of the Luxury, develops an industry of the Construction industry powerful (Bouygues, Eiffage, Vinci), a tographic industry Cinéma of quality. The Secondary industry accounts for 24% of the active population.

Energy production

See also: energy in France

The nuclear die French constitutes today a growth industry of the economy of the country and one of the pillars of its energy policy. France is the second nuclear energy producer of the world behind the the United States. With 58 nuclear reactors, all exploited by EDF, France has the second park in the world after the United States; as for the share of nuclear energy in the whole of the electrical production, with nearly 79%, France is at the head on a world level.

The strategic choice of the nuclear power made it possible to lower the energy bill of France regularly. For as much, the rate of energy independence of the country strongly increases: from 26% in 1973, it is about 50% since the end of the the Eighties. The nuclear power also made it possible France to reduce the level of the emissions contributing to the Greenhouse effect. France thus has one of low the rejection rates of CO2 of the countries of OECD. Its carbon emissions due to the energy utilization rose with 1,68 T . per capita in 2002, against 2,30 T . for the European Union to 15 (of which 2,80 T . for the Germany and 2,44 T. for the the United Kingdom) and 5,36 T . for the the United States and 2005 |}

  • Indicating of human poverty (IPH-2): 8th on 17 developed Countries (11,1  %) in 2000, 10th on 18 in 2004 (11,4  %) .

Certain countries see them IPH increasing between 2000 and 2004 and thus their exposure to poverty worsening for countries such Norway, Luxembourg, Japan, Spain, Italy, Ireland and France. For the latter, the maintenance with an elevated level of the indicator measuring the unemployment rate of long life, prevents index IPH from improving.

  • Freedom of the press : 35e , the country was 19th in 2004, France thus lost 16 places in 5 years only. In France, it is which instituted this freedom. Previously, one needed an prior approval, before becoming editor of press, books or to become printer. Association Reporters without borders draws up a list of “predatory of freedom of the press”, which it brings up to date each year.

Culture

See also: Amorce=Consulter also, Culture of France, regional Languages of France

French culture

See also: French Culture

The French Culture rich, is diversified and old, and reflects its regional cultures and influences it waves of immigration of all times. Its capital, Paris - the City of Light - is for a long time an important cultural hearth (the Sorbonne…), accommodating the artists of any origines, and the greatest number of sites in cultural matter in the world shelters today (Musée S, places, buildings and others). Some of these sites are devoted to a large variety of topics (in particular within the Musée of Louvre) thus, this richness of the culture made France, as well as Paris, the first world tourist sites.

Fatherland many philosophical (the 17th century or Great century, and the 18th century or Age of Enlightenment being centuries of gold of France), the French Culture bequeathed to the world the language of the Diplomate S, a certain universal design of the man (sometimes judged free-centered a little), many medical achievements Technique S and an ancestral art of living.

After having invented the cinema with Lyon and defending with heat the cultural Exception, France develops a cinema industry which remains in Europe one of rare to resist the machine Hollywood ienne.

Also the French Musique knew to be dissociated by great names at all the times, and this, throughout the world.

  • Sculpture: to see the article dedicated French Sculpture ,

  • painting: to see French painters ,
  • architecture: to see French architects ,
  • music: to see the article dedicated French Music ,
  • literature: to see the article dedicated French Literature,
  • cinema: to see the article dedicated French Cinema,
  • kitchen: to see the article dedicated French Kitchen

The French Culture continuous to radiate within the Francophonie which also provides him francophile contributors of exception.

Beliefs and secularity

See also: Religion in France

Constitutionally, France is a laic State . Secularity with the Frenchwoman involves a reciprocal separation between the Churches and the State, on the basis of postulate that so that the State respects all the religions, it should not recognize some no, which makes it possible several religions to cohabit. By principle thus, the French State prohibits the censuses in religious matter; however, a certain number of studies and assumptions were carried out and the results want to be more or less close, among them:

In spite of this clear reduction in the beliefs, in particular the Catholicism, the Catholic religion remains dominant in France; it largely influenced the culture of the country and the nickname of “Oldest daughter of the Church was worth to him”. Even today, whereas the State is laic, Catholicism remains particularly present: one can thus quote the bank holidays which are, for the majority, of the Christian Religious holidays or the private schools of which nine out of ten are catholic.

Codes

France has as codes:

See too

References

Sources