France. Characteristics of France

France or French Republic is a country located on the European continent. The nation has a population of approximately 62.6 million inhabitants distributed in a territory that occupies 551,500 km².
France is among the richest and most developed countries in the world. In Europe, it ranks third among the continent's economies, surpassed only by Germany and the United Kingdom. Globally, it is the sixth largest economy, surpassed by the United States, Japan, Germany, the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom.
The capital, Paris, plays an important role in Europe, including one of the most populous on the continent. Furthermore, it is considered a global city, that is, one of the most important in the world.


Paris, capital of France.

The French economy is one of the strongest in the world, its industrial park is quite diversified, it operates in the manufacture of cars, airplanes, parts, chemical products and food. In addition to the high-tech industry, which manufactures computer products and supplies, electronics and weapons.


France is the country of origin of several multinational companies, including: Accor, Air France, Air Liquide, Alcatel, Alstom, Areva, Aventis, Axa, BNP Paribas, Bouygues, Carrefour, Champion, Citroem, Danone, EDF, ELF, FNAC, France Telecom, Leroy Merlin, Michelin, Peugeot, Renault, Saint-Gobain, Suez, Thales, Thomson, among others.
In addition to the French industrial sector, another important source of income is tourism. Every year, France receives around 70 million tourists, who “inject” billions of dollars into the economy.
Among the numerous export products are French wines and perfumes, which are famous throughout the world.
In agriculture, the country stands out in the production of wheat, sweet potatoes, corn, barley, grapes, potatoes, fruits, oats, sunflowers, vegetables, beetroot, tobacco and wine. In livestock, the main creations are cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, in addition to fish, such as cod, whiting and sardines.
In mineral extraction, the country stands out in the production of coal, iron, potassium salts, bauxite, zinc, lead, gold, oil, natural gas, gypsum and steel.
The French population has a good quality of life, has good social indicators, in addition, the per capita income is one of the best in the world. The French constitution grants the right to worship in the country, thus, several religions are practiced, including: Catholicism (majority), agnosticism, atheism, Islam, Protestantism and Judaism.
The official language is French, however, minority languages ​​are spoken in the country, such as Catalan, Breton, Corsican, Occitan, Provençal, Franco-Provencal, Basque and Alsatian.
General data
Name: French Republic.
Coat of Arms:
Gentile: French or French.
Capital: Paris.
Official language: French.
Government: Semi-presidential Unitary Republic.
Entry into the European Union: March 25, 1957.
Demographic density: 113.5 inhab./km².
Income per capita: $42,680.
HDI (Human Development Index): 0.872 (very high).
Life expectancy: 81.6 years.
Infant mortality: 3.41 / thousand births.
Literacy: 99%.
Euro currency.
Official website of the French government: WWW.elysee.fr

By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team

countries - geography - Brazil School

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