National Identity
- Official name
- French Republic
- Official name (in French)
- République Française
- Name etymology
derives from the Latin name Francia, meaning "Land of the Franks"; the Franks were a group of Germanic tribes located along the middle and lower Rhine River in the 3rd century A.D.; the origin of the tribal name is unclear but may come from the Old German word franka, meaning "brave," or from a personal name such as Francio or Francus
Sources:- Constitution of 4 October 1958 ↗ - The Constitutional Council
- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- National seal
- National flag
- The flag is made up of three vertical stripes: blue, white and red.
- In July 1789, during the French Revolution, the Parisian national guards wear a cockade in blue and red, the colours of the city of Paris.
- General Lafayette, to symbolise the unity between the king and the people, adds the royal white in the centre: this is the birth of the three colours brought together.
- In 1790, the tricolour flag begins to be used in the navy.
- It became the official flag of France in 1794.
- It lost the blue and red colours upon the return of the monarchy, which kept only the royal white.
- The blue white red flag returned for good in 1830.
Translated from the French Ministry of the Interior Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Government of France In concrete terms, the choice of colours has no real meaning. Over time a pretty legend has been built up saying that the blue, the white and the red represents the union of the king and the people, of the French among themselves, and sums up the long history of the emblems of France.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the French Ministry of the Interior The history of the French flag
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the French Senate Article 2 of the Constitution of 27 October 1946 had taken up these provisions, declaring that "the national emblem is the blue, white, red tricolour flag with three vertical stripes of equal dimensions". Article 2 of the Constitution of 4 October 1958 likewise proclaims that the blue, white, red tricolour flag is the national emblem for France
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSources:- formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr ↗ - the French Ministry of the Interior
- info.gouv.fr ↗ - the Government of France
- senat.fr ↗ - the French Senate
- National anthem
- La Marseillaise1:19
- Title (in French)
- La Marseillaise
- Title (in English, translated)
- The Song of Marseille
- Lyrics
1Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé! Contre nous de la tyrannie, L’étendard sanglant est levé! L’étendard sanglant est levé! Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras Egorger nos fils et nos compagnes!
ChorusAux armes, citoyens! Formez vos bataillons! Marchons! marchons! Qu’un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons!
2Que veut cette horde d’esclaves, De traîtres, de rois conjurés? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, Ces fers dès longtemps préparés? Ces fers dès longtemps préparés? Français, pour nous, ah! quel outrage! Quels transports il doit exciter! C’est nous qu’on ose méditer De rendre à l’antique esclavage!
Aux armes, citoyens!3Quoi ! ces cohortes étrangères Feraient la loi dans nos foyers! Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers! Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers! Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient! De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres de nos destinées!
Aux armes, citoyens!4Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides, L’opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix! Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix! Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, S’ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, La terre en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre!
Aux armes, citoyens!5Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups! Epargnez ces tristes victimes, A regret s’armant contre nous. A regret s’armant contre nous. Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, Mais ces complices de Bouillé, Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, Déchirent le sein de leur mère!
Aux armes, citoyens!6Amour sacré de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs! Liberté, Liberté chérie, Combats avec tes défenseurs! Combats avec tes défenseurs! Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents! Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire !
Aux armes, citoyens!7Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n’y seront plus; Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus. Et la trace de leurs vertus. Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre !
Aux armes, citoyens!Source: - Citizens
- Frenchmen, Frenchwomen
- Official name:Constitution of 4 October 1958 ↗ - The Constitutional Council
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: France - CIA
- National flag:formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr ↗ - the French Ministry of the Interior
- National flag:info.gouv.fr ↗ - the Government of France
- National flag:senat.fr ↗ - the French Senate
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Total area
- 551,500 km²
- Land area
- 549,970 km²
- Water area
- 1,530 km²
- Land borders
- 3,956 km(8 countries)
- Spain
- 646 km
- Belgium
- 556 km
- Switzerland
- 525 km
- Italy
- 476 km
- Germany
- 418 km
- Luxembourg
- 69 km
- Andorra
- 55 km
- Monaco
- 6 km
- metropolitan France
- 2,751 km
- French Guiana
- 1,205 km
Source:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Coastline
- 3,427 km
- Terrain
Mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east - Mean elevation
- 375 m
- Highest point
- 4,810 mMont Blanc
- Lowest point
- −2 mRhone River delta
- Climate
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 - Avg. temperature
- 11.5 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 7.5 to 15.6 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 947 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 7 4.1 1.4 82 February 8.2 4.6 1.3 68 March 11.9 7.6 3.6 71 April 14.8 10.3 5.7 81 May 18.5 14 9.3 88 June 22.1 17.5 12.6 73 July 24.5 19.6 14.5 65 August 24.6 19.5 14.4 68 September 20.8 15.9 11.3 74 October 16.2 12.1 8.5 90 November 10.7 7.5 4.5 94 December 7.6 4.7 2 92 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable31.4%Perm. crops1.9%Pasture19.2%Forest32.7%Other15.0%
- Arable land
- 16,899,246 hectares (31.4%)
- Permanent crops
- 1,027,532 hectares (1.9%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 10,370,467 hectares (19.2%)
- Forest
- 17,616,200 hectares (32.7%)
- Other land
- 8,076,471 hectares (15.0%)
Source: - Major lakes
- Lake Geneva580 km²
- Natural hazards2026
- River floods7.5Very high#32/191Coastal floods7.4Very high#18/191Earthquakes2.8Low#104/191Tsunamis2.5Very low#84/191Epidemics2.3Very low#174/191Drought1.4Very low#140/191Tropical cyclones0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate, Major rivers, Major lakes:The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +0.14% per year+95,597 people/yearWorld Rank165thof 237
- Birth rate
- 9.5 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 9.5 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +1.3 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 42.5 yearsWorld Rank44thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years16.0%15-64 years61.1%65 years +22.9%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 22.9%
- Share aged under 18
- 19.7%
- Total dependency ratio
- 64
- Youth dependency ratio
- 26
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 38
- Sex ratio
- 0.94 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 2.5% 4.1% 70-79 4.7% 5.7% 60-69 5.8% 6.4% 50-59 6.2% 6.5% 40-49 6.0% 6.2% 30-39 5.6% 5.7% 20-29 6.3% 6.0% 10-19 6.2% 5.9% 0-9 5.2% 5.0% - 2026
- 0.46 below the replacement level for France ()1.64 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank146thof 237
- 0.79 daughters per woman0.21 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- 0.0 per 1,000 populationbirths and deaths are roughly equal
- 2026
- +1.3 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 78.9% live in cities52,670,382 urban residents
- Largest cities2023
- Paris, Marseille, Lyon, ToulouseRankCityPopulation (2023 estimate)1Paris2,103,7782Marseille886,0403Lyon519,1274Toulouse514,8195Nice357,7376Nantes327,7347Montpellier310,2408Strasbourg293,7719Bordeaux267,99110Lille238,246Source:
- National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, France (2023 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second.
- Ethnic groups
- Celtic and Latin, with Teutonic, Slavic, North African (Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian), Indochinese and Basque minorities.
Overseas departments: Black, White, Mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Indigenous.
Source:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Religions2021
- France has not collected official religious affiliation data since 1872.Roman Catholic47.0%Muslim4.0%Protestant2.0%Buddhist2.0%Orthodox1.0%Jewish1.0%Other1.0%None33.0%Unspecified9.0%
An 1872 law barring the state from collecting data on ethnicity or religious belief was reaffirmed in 1978. A 1905 law codified the separation of church and state.
Source:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Languages
- French (Français)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, France (2023 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: France - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President of the Republic is elected for five years by direct universal suffrage; the Constitution calls France "an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic" (Arts. 1, 6).Source:
- System of government
- Semi-presidentialThe President appoints the Prime Minister without an investiture vote; the Government is responsible to Parliament and falls if the National Assembly adopts a motion of censure, and the President may dissolve the Assembly after consultation (Arts. 8, 12, 20).Source:
- Constitution du 4 octobre 1958, texte intégral en vigueur ↗, Arts. 8, 12, 20
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Government (in French)
- President
- Parliament (in French)
- Capital
- Paris2.1 million people(2021)
- National holidays
- 11 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- FriMay 8Victory Day
- ThuMay 14Ascension Day
- MonMay 25Pentecost Monday
- TueJul 14National Day
- SatAug 15Assumption Day
- SunNov 1All Saints' Day
- WedNov 11Armistice Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +33
- Internet TLD
- .fr
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- FR, FRA
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 64,644,716 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Heliports
- 405
- Aircraft departures
- 497,793 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 4,301.7 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- F
- Note
- Includes 29 airports in French overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion)
Sources:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Air France (in French)Partly state-owned
- Passenger rail
- SNCF Voyageurs
- 2025
- 66 / 100World Rank27thof 182
Significant declinerDown 6 points since 2022, when it scored 72.
Confidence intervalCorruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 71 67 75 2013 71 67 75 2014 69 65 73 2015 70 66 74 2016 69 64 74 2017 70 68 72 2018 72 70 74 2019 69 65.3 72.7 2020 69 66.7 71.3 2021 71 68.9 73.1 2022 72 70.9 73.1 2023 71 70.3 71.7 2024 67 64.4 69.6 2025 66 63 69 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitution du 4 octobre 1958, texte intégral en vigueur ↗ - Constitutional Council of France
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- High income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +0.4% per yearWorld Rank178thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $51,448 (27th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services70.9% of GDPIndustry16.8% of GDPAgriculture1.4% of GDPManufacturing9.5%part of industry
- Households
- +54.1%
- Government
- +24.4%
- Investment
- +21.9%
- Exports
- +33.4%
- Imports
- −33.8%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 2.4%up 1.5 percentage points1.5pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 31.8 million (48% of population)World Rank22ndof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 55.7% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 7.4%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 18.6% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $79.5 per hour worked at PPP
- Labor cost2025
- €44.30 per hour$50.06 (USD), $60.48 (PPP)
- Budget balance2026
- 5.4% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 0.7% of GDP, $25.6 billion deficit
Source: - Debt2024
- Government debt113.1% of GDPHousehold debt60.5% of GDPCompany debt154.9% of GDPInterest on debt2.1% of GDPCentral government debt94.3% of GDP
- Trade2025
- Goods$704.4 billion62.2%
- Services$428.8 billion37.8%
- Total exports
- $1.1 trillion
- Change from 2024
- up 5.8 percent on the previous year5.8%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- 2024
- +1.09World Rank21stof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +1.2% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Sugar beet, Barley, Grapes, and 7 more
- 1Sugar beet8.6×
- 2Barley5.3×
- 3Grapes4.8×
- 4Rape or colza seed3.5×
- 5Wheat2.6×
- 6Raw milk of cattle2.3×
- 7Sunflower seed2.2×
- 8Potatoes1.8×
- 9Apples1.5×
- 10Meat of pig with the bone (fresh or chilled)1.3×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Gold reserves2025
- 2,437 tonnesWorth $342.2 billion, 80% of total official reserves by value
- Industries
- machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food processing, tourism
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade, Gold reserves:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity, Labor cost:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2025
- €4,446 per month$5,024 (USD), $6,069 (PPP)
- Median
- €3,720 per month($4,204)
- Men
- €5,070 per month($5,729)
- Women
- €3,830 per month($4,327)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2025
- €1,802 per month, gross$2,036 (USD), $2,460 (PPP)
- Share of the average gross salary
- 41%
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.920Very highWorld Rank26thof 193FranceWorld
Human Development Index by year Year France World 1990 0.798 0.608 1991 0.807 0.611 1992 0.814 0.614 1993 0.818 0.617 1994 0.832 0.620 1995 0.837 0.625 1996 0.842 0.631 1997 0.847 0.636 1998 0.851 0.641 1999 0.856 0.646 2000 0.852 0.651 2001 0.855 0.657 2002 0.858 0.662 2003 0.862 0.669 2004 0.869 0.675 2005 0.877 0.681 2006 0.881 0.688 2007 0.884 0.694 2008 0.884 0.698 2009 0.883 0.701 2010 0.888 0.707 2011 0.892 0.713 2012 0.893 0.717 2013 0.896 0.721 2014 0.900 0.726 2015 0.901 0.731 2016 0.905 0.735 2017 0.908 0.739 2018 0.911 0.741 2019 0.914 0.745 2020 0.909 0.742 2021 0.915 0.742 2022 0.916 0.752 2023 0.920 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2023
- 31.8
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 11.8 years
- Expected for a child today
- 16.1 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Education expenditure2022
- 5.3% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 9.1%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2023
- 86.8% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 88.1%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2023
- 77.5 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 37,281,000
- Fixed broadband
- 48.7 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2021
- 40% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 86%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 99%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 98%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted2025
- 751,218 people
- Asylum seekers
- 77,412
- Stateless persons
- 2,725
- Internally displaced persons
- 100All due to disasters
- Refugees from France abroad
- 78
Sources:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists2021latest available
- 48.4 million arrivalsdown 47% against 201947% below 2019Official tourism site
- Per resident
- 7.3 arrivals per 10 residents
- Same-day visitors
- 92.9 million arrivals
- $85.9 billion(2024)
- Share of GDP
- 3.8% tourism direct GDP(2023)
- Domestic trips
- 203.5 million overnight trips by residents(2024)
- Residents' trips abroad
- 36.5 million overnight trips(2024)
- $68.5 billion(2024)
- Hotel beds
- 1.4 million(2024)
- Average hotel stay
- 2 nights(2024)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2021A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 54 sites46 cultural7 natural1 mixed
Site Type Chartres Cathedral Cultural Palace and Park of Versailles Cultural Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay Cultural Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley Cultural Pyrénées - Mont Perdu Mixed Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay Cultural Paris, Banks of the Seine Cultural The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes Cultural Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) Cultural Amiens Cathedral Cultural Palace and Park of Fontainebleau Cultural Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne Cultural The Maison Carrée of Nîmes Cultural Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve (Corsica) Natural Megaliths of Carnac and of the shores of Morbihan Cultural The Factbook names 15 of the 54 sites.includes one site in New Caledonia and one site in French Polynesia
Source:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Refugees hosted:Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: France - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2024
- Low by global standards1.3 per 100,000 peopleWorld Rank71stof 115
- Crime rates
- 7 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 1.3 882 2024 Serious assault 628.3 417,453 2023 Sexual violence 134.9 89,619 2023 Kidnapping 5.9 3,818 2016 Burglary 446.9 296,218 2022 Theft 2,011.4 1,333,128 2022 Vehicle theft 248.1 161,512 2016 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2023
- 114.3 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 75,913
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 83.7 years
- Health expenditure2024
- 11.5% of GDP$5,327 per person
- Physicians2022
- 3.28 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2022
- 5.7 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 3.0 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 7 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 11.2 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2022
- 33.7% of adults
- Men
- 36.2%
- Women
- 31.1%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending2023
- 3.5% of household spendingWorld Rank39thof 105
- World median
- 3.1%
Source:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 5.1 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending:The World Factbook: France - CIA
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 274.5 Mt per yeardown 3.4 percent on the previous year3.4% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 4.1 t per personWorld Rank74thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.69%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 67 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 30.1 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 6.54 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 378.1 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 7.8 µg/m³ of PM2.50.3 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted155thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 10 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- air pollution and acid rain from industrial and vehicle emissions
- water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
- International agreements
- 20 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 264 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1994 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1989 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1988 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1994 CITES in force 1978 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) in force 1990 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2003 Nagoya Protocol in force 2016 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 1986 World Heritage Convention in force 1975 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1997 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1992 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2004 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2004 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1996 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 in force 1983 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: France - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 0% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 211 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 3,184 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 5% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 24 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 10%
- Water stress
- 21% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity2024
- 11.2% of adults
- Men
- 10.7%
- Women
- 11.7%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 135.8 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 1.4%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 51% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- Net exporter, net 90 TWh in 2024, 22% of consumption537 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 537 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 410 TWh per year
- Imports
- 15 TWh per year
- Exports
- 105 TWh per year
- Net
- +90 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Deficitproduces 7.1% of what it consumes, 2025Oil reserves202567.6 million barrelsWorld Rank75thof 99Imports2020662,564 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal:Worldwide Oil and Gas Survey ↗ - Oil & Gas Journal
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 2.1% of GDP$64.7 billion, 3.6% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 200,000active duty Armed Forces; approximately 150,000 National Gendarmerie; approximately 80,000 National Guard
- Military service2025
- Voluntaryno conscription since 2001; generally men and women 17–30 with some variations by service, position, and enlisted versus officer; 17–40 for National Gendarmerie; basic service contract is for 12 months
A 10-month voluntary military service program for French citizens 18-19 is scheduled to start accepting recruits in September 2026; afterwards, the volunteers can integrate into civilian life, become a reservist, or stay in the armed forces.In 2024, women comprised about 17% of the uniformed armed forces.Men between the ages of 17.5 and 39.5 years of age, of any nationality, may join the French Foreign Legion; those volunteers selected for service sign five-year contracts.
Source:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Space program2025
- National Center for Space Studies (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, CNES; established 1961)
Has one of Europe’s largest space programs and is one of the top contributors to the ESA; has independent capabilities in all areas, except for autonomous manned space flight; can build, launch, and operate a range of space/satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and spacecraft, including exploratory probes and a full spectrum of satellites; shifted astronaut training to ESA in 2001; hosts the ESA headquarters and its space launch facility; participates in international space programs such as the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope and International Space Station; works with a broad range of space agencies and commercial space companies, including those of China, Egypt, individual ESA and EU member countries, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the UAE, the US, and several African countries; has a large commercial space sector involved in satellite construction and payloads, launch capabilities, and a range of other space-related capabilities and technologies
- Launch sites
- Guiana Space Center (Kourou, French Guiana; also serves as the spaceport for the ESA); note – prior to the completion of the Guiana Space Center in 1969, France launched rockets from Algeria
- early 1960s
- Began rocket program and launched animals into space
- 1965
- Launched first domestically produced satellite (Asterix) into space on a French Diamant rocket (third country to do so after the Soviet Union and US)
- 1973
- Began development of Ariane heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) along with other European states, particularly Germany and the UK; Ariane would become the ESA's SLV
- 1970s-1990s
- Development of a space plane/shuttle program (Hermes)
- 1982
- First French astronaut into space on a Soviet rocket
- 1986
- Launched first joint European Earth observation/remote sensing program (SPOT)
- 2018
- Launched project (Spaceship FR) to lay the groundwork for robotic and crewed missions to the Moon and Mars
- 2024
- Debut launch of Ariane-6 SLV; claimed world's first satellite to ground communications via laser
Key milestones
Source:- The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Nuclear weapons2026
- 370 warheads280 deployed, 290 in the military stockpile
Deployed, strategicOn long-range missiles and at bomber bases 280 Deployed, nonstrategicOn short-range weapons None known ReserveIn storage, not on launchers 10 Military stockpileDeployed and reserve, held for use 290 RetiredAwaiting dismantlement 80 Total inventory 370 Approximate FAS estimates. Parts may not sum.
Source:- Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service, Space program:The World Factbook: France - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
