France

Quick Facts

Capital

Paris

Population

68,512,806 (2025 est.)

Area

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

Government

semi-presidential republic

Religions

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

Ethnic Groups

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

Currency

euros (EUR)

Life Expectancy

82.6 years (2024 est.)

Internet Domain

metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re

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 the mistral

Terrain

metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in eastFrench Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountainsGuadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in originMartinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcanoMayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaksReunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Natural Resources

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

Major Exports

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

Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)