fr.json

{"code":"fr","name":"France","region":"Europe","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. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. 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 exchange 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.","geo":{"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","Mayotte":"Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique"},"Geographic coordinates":{"metropolitan France":{"N":{"deg":46,"min":0},"E":{"deg":2,"min":0}},"French Guiana":{"N":{"deg":4,"min":0},"W":{"deg":53,"min":0}},"Guadeloupe":{"N":{"deg":16,"min":15},"W":{"deg":61,"min":35}},"Martinique":{"N":{"deg":14,"min":40},"W":{"deg":61,"min":0}},"Mayotte":{"S":{"deg":12,"min":50},"E":{"deg":45,"min":10}}},"Map references":{"metropolitan France":"Europe","French Guiana":"South America","Guadeloupe":"Central America and the Caribbean","Martinique":"Central America and the Caribbean","Mayotte":"Africa"},"Area":{"total":"643,801 sq km; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France)","country comparison to the world":"","land":"640,427 sq km; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France)","water":"3,374 sq km; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France)"},"Area - comparative":"slightly less than the size of Texas","Land boundaries":{"metropolitan France - total":{"quantity":2889,"unit":"km"},"border countries":"Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km","French Guiana - total":{"quantity":1183,"unit":"km"}},"Coastline":{"total":{"quantity":4853,"unit":"km"},"metropolitan France":{"quantity":3427,"unit":"km"}},"Maritime claims":{"territorial sea":{"quantity":12,"unit":"nm"},"contiguous zone":{"quantity":24,"unit":"nm"},"exclusive economic zone":{"quantity":200,"unit":"nm"},"continental shelf":"200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation"},"Climate":{"metropolitan France":"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 mistral","French Guiana":"tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation","Guadeloupe and Martinique":"subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average","Mayotte":"tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)","Reunion":"tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)"},"Terrain":{"metropolitan France":"mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east","French Guiana":"low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains","Guadeloupe":"Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin","Martinique":"mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano","Mayotte":"generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks"},"Elevation extremes":{"lowest point":"Rhone River delta -2 m","highest point":"Mont Blanc 4,807 m"},"Natural resources":{"metropolitan France":"coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish","French Guiana":"gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay"},"Land use":{"arable land":{"quantity":33.46,"unit":"%"},"permanent crops":{"quantity":2.03,"unit":"%"},"other":{"quantity":64.51,"unit":"%"}},"Irrigated land":{"total":"26,950 sq km;","metropolitan France":{"quantity":26700,"unit":"sq km"}},"Total renewable water resources":{"quantity":189,"unit":"cu km"},"Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)":{"total":{"quantity":33.16,"unit":"cu km/yr"},"per capita":{"quantity":548,"unit":"cu m/yr"}},"Natural hazards":{"metropolitan France":"flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean","overseas departments":"hurricanes (cyclones); flooding; volcanic activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)"},"internationalEnvironmentAgreements":{"signed, but not ratified":"none of the selected agreements","partyTo":["Air Pollution","Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides","Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants","Air Pollution-Sulfur 85","Air Pollution-Sulfur 94","Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds","Antarctic-Environmental Protocol","Antarctic-Marine Living Resources","Antarctic Seals","Antarctic Treaty","Biodiversity","Climate Change","Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol","Desertification","Endangered Species","Hazardous Wastes","Law of the Sea","Marine Dumping","Marine Life Conservation","Ozone Layer Protection","Ship Pollution","Tropical Timber 83","Tropical Timber 94","Wetlands","Whaling"]},"environmentalIssues":["some forest damage from acid rain","air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions","water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff"],"geographyNote":["largest West European nation"]},"people":{"Population":{"Population":65312,"country comparison to the world":""},"Age structure":{"0-14 years":{"quantity":18.5,"unit":"%"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":64.7,"unit":"%"},"65 years and over":"16.8% (male 4,578,089/female 6,328,834) (2011 est.)"},"Median age":{"total":{"quantity":39.9,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":38.4,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":41.5,"unit":"years"}},"Population growth rate":{"quantity":0.5,"unit":"%"},"Birth rate":{"quantity":12.29,"unit":"births/1,000 population"},"Death rate":{"quantity":8.76,"unit":"deaths/1,000 population"},"Net migration rate":{"quantity":1.46,"unit":"migrant(s)/1,000 population"},"Urbanization":{"urban population":{"quantity":85,"unit":"% of total population"},"rate of urbanization":{"quantity":1,"unit":"% annual rate of change"}},"Major cities - population":"PARIS (capital) 10.41 million; Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 1.457 million; Lyon 1.456 million; Lille 1.028 million; Nice-Cannes 977,000 (2009)","Sex ratio":{"at birth":{"quantity":1.051,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"under 15 years":{"quantity":1.05,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":1,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"65 years and over":{"quantity":0.72,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"total population":{"quantity":0.96,"unit":"male(s)/female"}},"Infant mortality rate":{"total":{"quantity":3.29,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":3.61,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"female":{"quantity":2.96,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"}},"Life expectancy at birth":{"total population":{"quantity":81.19,"unit":"years"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":78.02,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":84.54,"unit":"years"}},"Total fertility rate":{"quantity":1.96,"unit":"children born/woman"},"HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate":{"quantity":0.4,"unit":"%"},"HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS":150000,"HIV/AIDS - deaths":1700,"Drinking water source":{},"Sanitation facility access":{},"Nationality":{"noun":"Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)","adjective":"French"},"Ethnic groups":{"Ethnic groups":"Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities","overseas departments":"black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian"},"Religions":{"Religions":"Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%","overseas departments":"Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, pagan"},"Languages":{"Languages":"French (official) 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)","overseas departments":"French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili dialect)"},"Literacy":{"definition":"age 15 and over can read and write","total population":{"quantity":99,"unit":"%"},"male":{"quantity":99,"unit":"%"},"female":{"quantity":99,"unit":"%"}},"School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)":{"total":{"quantity":16,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":16,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":16,"unit":"years"}},"Education expenditures":{"quantity":5.6,"unit":"% of GDP"}},"government":{"Country name":{"conventional long form":"French Republic","conventional short form":"France","local long form":"Republique francaise","local short form":"France"},"Government type":"republic","Capital":{"name":"Paris","geographic coordinates":{"N":{"deg":48,"min":52},"E":{"deg":2,"min":20}},"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"},"Administrative divisions":{"Administrative divisions":"27 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy), Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica), Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Martinique, Mayotte, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion, Rhone-Alpes"},"Dependent areas":{"Dependent areas":"Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna"},"Independence":"no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)","National holiday":"Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)","Legal system":"civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts","International law organization participation":"has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction","Suffrage":"18 years of age; universal","Executive branch":{"chief of state":"President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)","head of government":"Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May 2007)","cabinet":"Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister","elections":"president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 April and 6 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of 2012); prime minister appointed by the president","election results":"Nicolas SARKOZY elected; first round: percent of vote - Nicolas SARKOZY 31.2%, Segolene ROYAL 25.9%, Francois BAYROU 18.6%, Jean-Marie LE PEN 10.4%, others 13.9%; second round: SARKOZY 53.1%, ROYAL 46.9%"},"Legislative branch":{"Legislative branch":"bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (343 seats; 323 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for French Polynesia, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 1 for Wallis and Futuna, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms; one third elected every three years); note - between 2006 and 2011, 15 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 348 seats - 328 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for French Polynesia, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 1 for Wallis and Futuna, and 12 for French nationals abroad; Mayotte's previously held 2 seats as an overseas collectivity are now included in the total as an overseas department; starting in 2008, members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms with one-half elected every three years; and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 for metropolitan France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for overseas dependencies; members elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)","elections":"Senate - last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2011); National Assembly - last held on 10 and 17 June 2007 (next to be held in June 2012)","election results":"Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 151, PS 102, PCF 22, MoDem 11, NC 11, Greens 5, PG 2, other 39; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - UMP 46.4%, PS 42.2%, miscellaneous left wing parties 2.5%, PCF 2.3%, NC 2.1%, PRG 1.6%, miscellaneous right wing parties 1.2%, the Greens 0.4%, other 1.2%; seats by party - UMP 313, PS 186, NC 22, miscellaneous left wing parties 15, PCF 16, miscellaneous right wing parties 9, PRG 7, the Greens 3, other 6"},"Judicial branch":"Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat","Political parties and leaders":"Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for French Democracy or UDF); French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT]; Greens [Cecile DUFLOT]; Left Party or PG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON]; Left Radical Party or PRG [Jean-Michel BAYLET] (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG); Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; New Anticapitalist Party or NPA [Olivier BESANCENOT]; New Center or NC [Herve MORIN]; Radical Party [Jean-Louis BORLOO]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; Socialist Party or PS [Martine AUBRY]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [Jean-Francois COPE]; Worker's Struggle or LO [Nathalie ARTHAUD]","Political pressure groups and leaders":{"Political pressure groups and leaders":"Confederation francaise democratique du travail or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with approximately 803,000 members; Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des cadres or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000 members; Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens of CFTC, independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims 132,000 members; Confederation generale du travail or CGT, historically communist labor union with approximately 700,000 members; Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere or FO, independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members; Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000 companies as members (claimed)","French Guiana":"conservationists; gold mining pressure groups; hunting pressure groups","Guadeloupe":"Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement","Martinique":"Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP","Reunion":"NA"},"Diplomatic representation in the US":{"chief of mission":"Ambassador Francois M. DELATTRE","chancery":"4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007","telephone":"[1] (202) 944-6000","FAX":"[1] (202) 944-6166","consulate(s) general":"Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco"},"Diplomatic representation from the US":{"chief of mission":"Ambassador Charles H. RIVKIN","embassy":"2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08","mailing address":"PSC 116, APO AE 09777","telephone":"[33] (1) 43-12-22-22","FAX":"[33] (1) 42 66 97 83"},"Flag description":{"Flag description":"three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the \"Le drapeau tricolore\" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the \"ancient French color\" of white was combined with the blue and red colors of the Parisian militia; the official flag for all French dependent areas"},"National anthem":{"name":"\"La Marseillaise\" (The Song of Marseille)","lyrics/music":"Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle"},"internationalOrganizations":["ADB (nonregional member)","AfDB (nonregional member)","Arctic Council (observer)","Australia Group","BDEAC","BIS","BSEC (observer)","CBSS (observer)","CE","CERN","EAPC","EBRD","EIB","EMU","ESA","EU","FAO","FATF","FZ","G-20","G-5","G-7","G-8","G-10","IADB","IAEA","IBRD","ICAO","ICC","ICRM","IDA","IEA","IFAD","IFC","IFRCS","IHO","ILO","IMF","IMO","IMSO","InOC","Interpol","IOC","IOM","IPU","ISO","ITSO","ITU","ITUC","MIGA","MINURSO","MINUSTAH","MONUSCO","NATO","NEA","NSG","OAS (observer)","OECD","OIF","OPCW","OSCE","Paris Club","PCA","PIF (partner)","Schengen Convention","SECI (observer)","SPC","UN","UN Security Council","UNCTAD","UNESCO","UNHCR","UNIDO","UNIFIL","Union Latina","UNITAR","UNMIL","UNOCI","UNRWA","UNTSO","UNWTO","UPU","WCO","WFTU","WHO","WIPO","WMO","WTO","ZC"]},"economy":{"Economy - 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. 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. 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. France has weathered the global economic crisis better than most other big EU economies because of the relative resilience of domestic consumer spending, a large public sector, and less exposure to the downturn in global demand than in some other countries. Nonetheless, France's real GDP contracted 2.5% in 2009, but recovered somewhat in 2010, while the unemployment rate increased from 7.4% in 2008 to 9.5% in 2010. The government pursuit of aggressive stimulus and investment measures in response to the economic crisis, however, are contributing to a deterioration of France's public finances. The government budget deficit rose sharply from 3.4% of GDP in 2008 to 7.8% of GDP in 2010, while France's public debt rose from 68% of GDP to 84% over the same period. Paris is terminating stimulus measures, eliminating tax credits, and freezing most government spending to bring the budget deficit under the 3% euro-zone ceiling by 2013, and to highlight France's commitment to fiscal discipline at a time of intense financial market scrutiny of euro zone debt levels. President SARKOZY - who secured passage of pension reform in 2010 - is expected to seek passage of some tax reforms in 2011, but he may delay additional, more costly, reforms until after the 2012 election.","GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"usd":2145000000000},"country comparison to the world":""},"GDP (official exchange rate)":{"usd":2583000000000},"GDP - real growth rate":{"quantity":1.5,"unit":"%"},"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"usd":null},"country comparison to the world":""},"GDP - composition by sector":{"agriculture":{"quantity":1.8,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":19.2,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":79,"unit":"%"}},"Labor force":28210000,"Labor force - by occupation":{"agriculture":{"quantity":3.8,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":24.3,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":71.8,"unit":"%"}},"Unemployment rate":{"quantity":9.5,"unit":"%"},"Population below poverty line":{"quantity":6.2,"unit":"%"},"Household income or consumption by percentage share":{"lowest 10%":{"quantity":3,"unit":"%"},"highest 10%":{"quantity":24.8,"unit":"%"}},"Distribution of family income - Gini index":32.7,"Investment (gross fixed)":{"quantity":19.9,"unit":"% of GDP"},"Budget":{"revenues":{"usd":1241000000000},"expenditures":{"usd":1441000000000}},"Public debt":{"quantity":83.5,"unit":"% of GDP"},"Inflation rate (consumer prices)":{"quantity":1.5,"unit":"%"},"Central bank discount rate":{"Central bank discount rate":{"quantity":1.75,"unit":"%"},"country comparison to the world":""},"Commercial bank prime lending rate":{"quantity":7.46,"unit":"%"},"Stock of narrow money":{"Stock of narrow money":{"usd":858600000000},"country comparison to the world":""},"Stock of broad money":{"usd":2292000000000},"Stock of domestic credit":{"usd":4319000000000},"Market value of publicly traded shares":{"usd":1972000000000},"Industrial production growth rate":{"quantity":3.5,"unit":"%"},"Electricity - production":{"quantity":535700000000.00006,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - consumption":{"quantity":447200000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - exports":{"quantity":58690000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - imports":{"quantity":10680000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Oil - production":{"quantity":70820,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - consumption":{"quantity":1875000,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - exports":{"quantity":597800,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - imports":{"quantity":2386000,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - proved reserves":{"quantity":101200000,"unit":"bbl"},"Natural gas - production":{"quantity":877000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - consumption":{"quantity":44840000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - exports":{"quantity":1931000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - imports":{"quantity":45850000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - proved reserves":{"quantity":7079000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Current account balance":"$-53.29 billion (2010 est.)","Exports":{"usd":508700000000},"Imports":{"usd":577700000000},"Reserves of foreign exchange and gold":"$NA (31 December 2010 est.)","Debt - external":{"usd":4698000000000},"Stock of direct foreign investment - at home":{"usd":1207000000000},"Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad":{"usd":1837000000000},"Exchange rates":"euros (EUR) per US dollar -","industries":["machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics","textiles, food processing","tourism"],"agricultureProducts":["wheat","cereals","sugar beets","potatoes","wine grapes","beef","dairy products","fish"],"exportCommodities":["machinery and transportation equipment","aircraft","plastics","chemicals","pharmaceutical products","iron and steel","beverages"],"exportPartners":["Germany 15.88%","Italy 8.16%","Spain 7.8%","Belgium 7.44%","UK 7.04%","US 5.65%","Netherlands 3.99%"],"importCommodities":["machinery and equipment","vehicles","crude oil","aircraft","plastics","chemicals"],"importPartners":["Germany 19.41%","Belgium 11.61%","Italy 7.97%","Netherlands 7.15%","Spain 6.68%","UK 4.9%","US 4.72%","China 4.44%"]},"communications":{"Telephones - main lines in use":"36.441 million; 35.5 million (metropolitan France) (2009)","Telephones - mobile cellular":"60.95 million; 59.543 million (metropolitan France) (2009)","Telephone system":{"general assessment":"highly developed","domestic":"extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive use of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system","international":"country code - 33; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries","overseas departments":"country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe - 590; Martinique - 596; Mayotte - 262; Reunion - 262"},"Broadcast media":"a mix of both publicly-operated and privately-owned TV stations; state-owned France Televisions operates 4 networks, one of which is a network of regional stations, and has part-interest in several thematic cable/satellite channels and international channels; a large number of privately-owned regional and local TV stations; multi-channel satellite and cable services provide a large number of channels; public broadcaster Radio France operates 7 national networks, a series of regional networks, and operates services for overseas territories and foreign audiences; Radio France Internationale (RFI), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a leading international broadcaster; a large number of commercial FM stations, with many of them consolidating into commercial networks (2008)","Internet country code":"metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re","Internet hosts":"15,182,001; 15.161 million (metropolitan France) (2010)","Internet users":"45.262 million; 44.625 million (metropolitan France) (2009)"},"transport":{"Airports":475,"Airports - with paved runways":{"total":297,"over 3,047 m":14,"2,438 to 3,047 m":27,"1,524 to 2,437 m":98,"914 to 1,523 m":83},"Airports - with unpaved runways":{"total":177,"914 to 1,523 m":69,"under 914 m":108},"Heliports":1,"Pipelines":"gas 15,276 km; oil 2,939 km; refined products 5,084 km (2010)","Railways":{"total":{"quantity":29640,"unit":"km"},"country comparison to the world":"","standard gauge":"29,473 km 1.435-m gauge (15,361 km electrified)","narrow gauge":"167 km 1.000-m gauge (63 km electrified) (2009)"},"Roadways":{"total":{"quantity":1027,"unit":"km"},"country comparison to the world":""},"Waterways":{"metropolitan France":"8,501 km (1,621 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2010)","country comparison to the world":""},"Merchant marine":{"total":167,"country comparison to the world":"","by type":"bulk carrier 2, cargo 8, chemical tanker 36, container 25, liquefied gas 12, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 44, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11","foreign-owned":57,"registered in other countries":"146 (Bahamas 19, Belgium 5, Bermuda 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 16, Egypt 1, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Italy 2, Luxembourg 16, Malta 13, Morocco 4, Netherlands 2, Norway 4, Panama 13, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 3, South Korea 1, Taiwan 1, UK 33, US 4, unknown 1) (2010)"},"Ports and terminals":"Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen"},"military":{"Military branches":"Army (Armee de Terre; includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale, includes Naval Air, Maritime Gendarmerie (Coast Guard)), Air Force (Armee de l'Air (AdlA), includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie (2011)","Military service age and obligation":"17-40 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat posts (2010)","Manpower available for military service":{"males age 16-49":14563,"females age 16-49":14238},"Manpower fit for military service":{"males age 16-49":12025,"females age 16-49":11721},"Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually":{"male":396050,"female":377839},"Military expenditures":{"quantity":2.6,"unit":"% of GDP"}},"issues":{"Illicit drugs":{"metropolitan France":"transshipment point for South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics","French Guiana":"small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe","Martinique":"transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe"},"internationalDisputes":["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"]}}