About France

France is an extremely rich and diverse country. The nation is one of the strongest economies in the world, and has a richly deserved reputation for having some of the highest living standards on earth. In order to help you better understand this extraordinary country we have provided some general outline information. Please be advised that the data contained below is meant for reference purposes only and is liable to change without warning. If you would like more in-depth information you should contact a professional.

Official Name: French Republic or Republique francaise, known in the short form simply as France.

Capital: The capital of France is Paris , which is located in the north of the country.

Location: France is located in Western Europe and shares a land border with Spain , Germany , Belgium , Switzerland , Italy , and Luxembourg . France is also connected to the United Kingdom via a tunnel that runs under the English Channel called the “Chunnel”. France has water borders on the Mediterranean, the Atlantic ocean in the Bay of Biscay, and the English Channel.

Size: France occupies a total area of approximately 547,030 Sq Km, making this country slightly less large than the American State of Texas.

Climate: France is a large country and as such the climate can change dramatically depending on where you may be located. Generally the northern part of the country experiences cool winters and mild summers while the southern part tends to be much hotter, especially along the Mediterranean coast.

Population: France has a total population of approximately 60.87 million people. This ranks the country 89th in the world for total country population density.

Life expectancy at birth: There is an average life expectancy of 80.59 years at birth in France. This ranks the nation as 10th in the world for highest life expectancy, and means that France fall immediately behind Macau and Israel .

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: Approximately 0.4% of the total French population is currently living with HIV/Aids. This is roughly equivalent to approximately 240,000 people; however the highest HIV/Aids rates in France primarily occur in the major cities.

Major illnesses: There is a limited risk of disease in France . The main health risks are sunburn, blisters on your feet, and a stomach ache from over eating. It is advisable however, whenever you travel to a new country, to ensure that all your vaccinations and immunizations are up to date.

Ethnic Groups: There are a number of ethnic groups in the country, historically France was a very homogenous society with only individuals of Celtic, Latin, and Teutonic descent living in the country. In recent years however, there has been an influx of foreign immigrants and currently a number of ethnicities are represented throughout the nation. These include; Slavic, North African, West African, Indochinese, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian, and Basque minorities.

Languages: The official language of France is French. 100% of the French populations speak the language although there are a number of regional dialects that are losing native speakers. It is common for French nationals residing overseas to speak a pseudo dialect of French known as Creole.

Religion: There are a number of religions that are practiced throughout France these include; Roman Catholic (83-88%), Protestant (2%), Jewish (1%), Muslim (5-10%), Unaffiliated (4%). Some other religions that are also practiced in the country include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Pagan.

Government: France is a republic; this is a system of government where the leaders are only able to lead provided that they have the approval (however marginal) of the population that is consenting to be governed. Rule of law and popular representation are two key aspects of a republic.

Head of State: The current French head of state is President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Head of Government: Prime Minister Francois Fillon is the current head of the French Government.

Military: The French government ended military conscription in the 1990's. Since then the age of enrollment for the French military is 17 years old. Women are allowed to join the armed forces in France, however they are confined to participating in non combat roles. Currently France spends approximately 2.6% of its total GDP on the military.

Economy: The French economy is the 10 th largest in the world and a leader in both the European and international markets. The French government has, since the late 1990's, started to relinquish the extensive government control that previously characterized France’s markets. France maintains the worlds 3 rd largest tourism industry, however there are some serious concerns in terms of the nation's overall economy. Unemployment is roughly 9% of the total population and inflation above 3% of the total GDP have lead to some serious concerns about the long term viability of the French market. However, progressive social reforms and a competent work force have helped to ease these concerns and France continues to be an economic powerhouse.

GDP: France has a purchasing power GDP of US$ 1.891 trillion and an official exchange rate of US$ 2.149 Trillion making the country the 6 the wealthiest in the world.

For more information about the products and services that we can offer, French international health insurance plans, or to receive a free quote, please contact us today.

 

For more information about France expat insurance, the international health insurance plans that we can offer in France, or to receive a free quote, please contact one of our expert advisers today.

Recent Questions / Comments:

---