Читать книгу The 2005 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 56
ОглавлениеUnemployment rate:
7.6% (1999)
Population below poverty line:
25.5% (1990–91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $427.9 million
expenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes,
bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Industries:
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small
cottage industries
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
750 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 18.5% hydro: 81.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
697.5 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA
Oil - imports:
NA
Exports:
$609 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
US 24%, Australia 19%, UK 12.6%, Samoa 6.5%, Japan 4.1% (2004)
Imports:
$835 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum
products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Australia 25.9%, Singapore 23.1%, New Zealand 21.1% (2004)
Debt - external:
$188.1 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$40.3 million (1995)
Currency (code):
Fijian dollar (FJD)
Currency code:
FJD
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars per US dollar - 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869
(2002), 2.2766 (2001), 2.1286 (2000)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:
102,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
109,900 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international
(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,
telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications
center
domestic: NA
international: country code - 679; access to important cable links
between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
541,476 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
88,110 (1999)
Internet country code:
.fj
Internet hosts:
493 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
55,000 (2003)
Transportation Fiji
Railways:
total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used
to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2003)
Highways:
total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
(2004)
Ports and harbors:
Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,372 GRT/7,453 DWT
by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2005)
Airports:
28 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)
Military Fiji
Military branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval
Division (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18–49: 215,104 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18–49: 163,960 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 9,266 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$36 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Fiji
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Finland
Introduction Finland
Background:
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the
12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia
after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World
War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist
invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory.
In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable
transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern
industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western
Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only
Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January
1999.
Geography Finland
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and
Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 338,145 sq km
land: 304,473 sq km
water: 33,672 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 2,681 km border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 km
Coastline:
1,250 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary
with Sweden
Climate:
cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild
because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,
Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low
hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources:
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold,
silver, limestone
Land use: arable land: 7.19% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 92.78% (2001)
Irrigated land:
640 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national
capital on European continent; population concentrated on small
southwestern coastal plain
People Finland
Population:
5,223,442 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 17.3% (male 460,977/female 443,859)
15–64 years: 66.8% (male 1,764,874/female 1,723,385)
65 years and over: 15.9% (male 328,952/female 501,395) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.97 years
male: 39.43 years
female: 42.52 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.16% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
10.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
9.79 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.35 years
male: 74.82 years
female: 82.02 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups:
Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%,
Sami 0.1%
Religions:
Lutheran National Church 84.2%, Greek Orthodox in Finland 1.1%,
other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 13.5% (2003)
Languages:
Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.6% (official), other 2.4% (small
Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2003)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (2000 est.)
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government Finland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
local short form: Suomi
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Helsinki
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani,
Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani
Independence:
6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution:
1 March 2000
Legal system:
civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request
the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June
2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September
2005)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to be
held February 2006); the president appoints the prime minister and
deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority
coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must
approve the appointment
election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote -
Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4%
note: government coalition - Kesk, SDP, and SFP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected
by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%,
Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party -
Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD
[Paivi RASANEN]; Green League or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left
Alliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League and
Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition
(conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic
Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP
[Jan-Erik ENESTAM]
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,
EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARI
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298–5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298–6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Earle I. MACK
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800
Flag description:
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style
of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Finland
Economy - overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy,
with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and
Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the
wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics
industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling two-fifths of
GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones.
Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports
of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured
goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited
to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an
important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the
rural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe
- Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic
and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over
the next several years. Growth in 2003 was held back by the global
slowdown but picked up in 2004. High unemployment remains a
persistent problem.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$151.2 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 30.2% services: 66.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 2.66 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%
Unemployment rate:
8.9% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.6 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.7% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $96.43 billion
expenditures: $91.95 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2004 est.)
Public debt:
46.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
Industries:
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific
instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
71.59 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 39% hydro: 18.7% nuclear: 30.4% other: 11.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
78.58 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
1.5 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
13.5 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
211,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
101,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
318,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$11.39 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:
$61.04 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp
(1999)
Exports - partners:
Sweden 11.1%, Germany 10.7%, Russia 8.9%, UK 7%, US 6.4%,
Netherlands 5.1% (2004)
Imports:
$45.17 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport
equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,
grains (1999)
Imports - partners:
Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.3%, Russia 12.8%, Netherlands 6.3%,
Denmark 5.2%, UK 4.6%, France 4.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.17 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$30 billion (December 1993)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $379 million (2001)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.81 (2004), 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12
(2001), 1.09 (2000)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Finland
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.548 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.7 million (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive
cellular network provide domestic needs
international: country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (Finland
Estonia Connection); satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat
transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares
the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
7.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:
3.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.fi
Internet hosts:
1,219,173 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2002)
Internet users:
2.65 million (2002)
Transportation Finland
Railways: total: 5,851 km broad gauge: 5,851 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:
total: 78,197 km
paved: 50,539 km (including 794 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,658 km (2004)
Waterways:
7,842 km
note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased
from Russia (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 694 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvou, Raahe,
Rauma, Turku
Merchant marine:
total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,152,175 GRT/1,053,906 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 27, chemical tanker 6, container 1,
passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll
off 25
foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 1, United States 1)
registered in other countries: 42 (2005)
Airports:
148 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 75 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 69 (2004 est.)
Military Finland
Military branches:
Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense
Forces), Air Force (2003)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service
(October 2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18–49: 1,121,275 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18–49: 913,617 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 32,040 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.8 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues Finland
Disputes - international:
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other
areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts
no territorial demands
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@France
Introduction France
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 presidential democracy
resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary
democracies. In recent years, 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. At present, France is at the forefront of
efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement
progress toward an EU foreign policy.
Geography France
Location:
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
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 547,030 sq km
land: 545,630 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas
administrative divisions
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,889 km
border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
Switzerland 573 km
Coastline:
3,427 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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 mistral
Terrain:
mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west;
remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rhone River delta −2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash,
feldspar, fluorospar, gypsum, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 33.53% permanent crops: 2.07% other: 64.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:
20,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires
in south near the Mediterranean
Environment - current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
largest West European nation
People France
Population:
60,656,178 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 18.4% (male 5,717,761/female 5,440,060)
15–64 years: 65.2% (male 19,784,749/female 19,752,432)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,084,193/female 5,876,983) (2005
est.)
Median age:
total: 38.85 years
male: 37.3 years
female: 40.39 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.37% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
12.15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.6 years
male: 75.96 years
female: 83.42 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
120,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 1,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups:
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese,
Basque minorities
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%,
unaffiliated 4%
Languages:
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages
(Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1980 est.)
Government France
Country name:
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique Francaise
local short form: France
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Paris
Administrative divisions:
22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,
Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre,
Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie,
Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine,
Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie,
Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided
into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas
departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the
overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon)
Dependent areas:
Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French
Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands,
Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and
Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:
486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October 1958;
amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to comply
with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty,
2000 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993;
amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a
five-year term
Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative
but not legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Dominique DE VILLEPIN (since 31
May 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
suggestion of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held
21 April and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round April 2007,
second round May 2007); prime minister nominated by the National
Assembly majority and appointed by the president
election results: Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent of
vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN
(FN) 18.04%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat
(321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas
departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad;
members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve
nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years); note -
between now and 2010, 25 new seats will be added to the Senate for a
total of 346 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseas
departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre
and Miquelon, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for French
nationals abroad; members will be indirectly elected by an electoral
college to serve six-year terms, with one-half the seats being
renewed every three years; and the National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a
single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held
September 2007); National Assembly - last held 8–16 June 2002 (next
to be held not later than June 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other 7; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 355,
PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22
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:
Citizen and Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT];
Democratic and European Social Rally or RDSE (mainly Radical
Republican and Socialist Parties, and PRG) [Jacques PELLETIER];
French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET]; Left Radical
Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left
Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Movement for France
or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or NF [Jean-Marie LE
PEN]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Socialist Party or
PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Greens [Yann WEHRLING, national secretary];
Union for French Democracy or UDF [Francois BAYROU]; Union for a
Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and a part of UDF)
[Nicolas SARKOZY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du
Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed);
left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du
Travail) or CFDT, approximately 889,000 members (claimed);
independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - Force
Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.); independent white-collar
union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members
(claimed); employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or
MEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed)
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC
(observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5,
G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN
Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR,
UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB
(nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTE
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, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. LEACH
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43–12-22–22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
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; the design and/or
colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of
Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands;
the official flag for all French dependent areas
Economy France
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. It retains controlling stakes in several
leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and
Thales, and is dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public
transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is
gradually being opened to competition. 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. The government has lowered income taxes and introduced
measures to boost employment and reform the pension system. In
addition, it is focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor
and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek
and restrictions on lay-offs. The tax burden remains one of the
highest in Europe (43.8% of GDP in 2003). The lingering economic
slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficit
above the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit. Finance Minister Herve GAYMARD
has promised that the 2005 deficit will fall below 3%.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.737 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $28,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 24.3% services: 73% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
27.7 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 4.1%, industry 24.4%, services 71.5% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
10.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
6.5% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.005 trillion
expenditures: $1.08 trillion, including capital expenditures of $23
billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:
67.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy
products; fish
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft,
electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
528.6 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.2% hydro: 14% nuclear: 77.1% other: 0.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
414.7 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
79.9 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
3 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
34,920 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.026 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
409,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
2.281 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
144.3 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
1.898 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
42.01 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
1.725 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
40.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
12.86 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-305 million (2004 est.)
Exports:
$419 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:
Germany 15%, Spain 9.5%, UK 9.3%, Italy 9%, Belgium 7.2%, US 6.7%
(2004)
Imports:
$419.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 19.2%, Belgium 9.9%, Italy 8.8%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7%,
Netherlands 6.7%, US 5.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$70.76 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $5.4 billion (2002)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications France
Telephones - main lines in use:
33,905,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
41,683,100 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive
introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: country code - 33; satellite earth stations - 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes
many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
55.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
34.8 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.fr
Internet hosts:
2,396,761 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
62 (2000)
Internet users:
21.9 million (2003)
Transportation France
Railways:
total: 29,519 km
standard gauge: 29,352 km 1.435-m gauge (14,481 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways:
total: 893,100 km
paved: 893,100 km (including 12,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:
8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2000)
Pipelines:
gas 14,232 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Marseille,
Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg
Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 703,639 GRT/889,705 DWT
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 4, passenger 3,
passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Sweden 5, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 139 (2005)
Airports:
478 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 283 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 95 914 to 1,523 m: 82 under 914 m: 65 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 195 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 120 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 3 (2004 est.)
Military France
Military branches:
Army (includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy
(includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National
Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age with consent for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 17–49: 13,676,509 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17–49: 11,262,661 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 389,204 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$45,238.1 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues France
Disputes - international:
Madagascar claims 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
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine,
Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@French Guiana
Introduction French Guiana
Background:
First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of
notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency
launches its communication satellites from Kourou.
Geography French Guiana
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Brazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates:
4 00 N, 53 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 91,000 sq km
land: 89,150 sq km
water: 1,850 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline: 378 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), petroleum, kaolin, fish,
niobium, tantalum, clay
Land use: arable land: 0.14% permanent crops: 0.05% other: 99.81% (90% forest, 10% other) (2001)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of
the South American continent
People French Guiana
Population:
195,506 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 29.3% (male 29,262/female 27,947)
15–64 years: 64.7% (male 67,895/female 58,534)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,038/female 5,830) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.45 years
male: 29.49 years
female: 27.31 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.1% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
20.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.07 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.09 years
male: 73.77 years
female: 80.58 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.01 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA