Data at glance of France - average on period

History

France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-7, the G-20, the EU, and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing then President Charles DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to withdraw French forces from NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities -- French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion -- became French regions and were made part of France proper.

Environment

Area: 643,801 sq km ; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France) km2

Climate: <strong>metropolitan France:</strong> generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral<br>

Natural resources: <em>metropolitan France:</em> coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish; <em>French Guiana</em><em>:</em> gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African (Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian), Indochinese, Basque minorities

Languages: French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects and languages (Proven&ccedil;al, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard)

Religions: Roman Catholic 47%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 2%, Buddhist 2%, Orthodox 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 33%, unspecified 9% (2021 est.)

Government

Capital: Paris

Government type: semi-presidential republic

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017)

Head of government: S&eacute;bastien LECORNU (since 10 September 2025)

Legislative branch

Description: Parliament (Parlement) - bicameral

Industries

machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food processing, tourism

GDP by sector: Agriculture: 1.4% (2024 est.), Industry: 17.5% (2024 est.), Services: 70.4% (2024 est.)

Trade

Export partners: Germany 11%, Italy 9%, USA 8%, Belgium 8%, Spain 7% (2023)

Export commodities: aircraft, cars, packaged medicine, gas turbines, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

Import partners: Germany 15%, Belgium 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, Italy 8% (2023)

Import commodities: cars, natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, garments (2023)

Geography

<strong>metropolitan France:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>French Guiana:</strong> Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname<br><br><strong>Guadeloupe:</strong> Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico<br><br><strong>Martinique:</strong> Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago<br><br><strong>Mayotte:</strong> Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about halfway between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique<br><br><strong>Reunion:</strong> Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Defence

Military expenditure: 2025: 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.)