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* = site is in French |
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| Best viewed with MSIE | |
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| More History Resources |
 The Campaigns of Napoleon David G. Chandler |
 Louis Xiv And The Greatness Of France Maurice P. Ashley |
 Madame Tussaud: A Life in Wax Kate Berridge |
 The Private Lives of the Impressionists Sue Roe |
 Earthly Powers: The Clash of Religion and Politics in Europe, from the French Revolution to the Great War Michael Burleigh |
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About the Country |
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Background: Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro in January 1999. Today, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus.
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Map courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps used with permission. |
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Location: 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 Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 2 00 E Area: Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Colorado Land boundaries: Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash
Population: 60,424,213 (July 2004 est.) Population growth rate: 0.39% (2004 est.) Birth rate: 12.34 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North 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)
Government type: republic Capital: Paris Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis) National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Labor force: 27.1 million (2003 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.6% (2003 est.) Exports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, iron and steel products; agricultural products, textiles and clothing Imports - commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, chemicals; agricultural products Currency: euro (EUR)
Military branches: Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie Military expenditures - dollar figure: $45,238.1 million (2003) |
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Source of background and statistical data: The World Factbook
For more on France, click here |
