Area Total | 643,801 sq km |
Climate | metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean |
Natural Resources | coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish |
Imports | Germany 18.5%, Belgium 10.2%, Netherlands 8.3%, Italy 7.9%, Spain 7.1%, UK 5.3%, US 5.2%, China 5.1% (2017) – machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals |
Government | semi-presidential republic |
Capital | Paris |
Population | 49.3 million (July 2018 est.) |
Ethnicity | Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities |
Language | French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard) |
Exports | Germany 14.8%, Spain 7.7%, Italy 7.5%, US 7.2%, Belgium 7%, UK 6.7% (2017) – machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages |
News about France
- Mocked for my name like Kévins of France | Brief lettersby Letters (France | The Guardian) on August 8, 2022
Name blame | Survival kit | Rishi Sunak’s degree plan | Travelling too farI have every sympathy with Kévins of France who are fed up with their name being subject to mockery, having myself sustained six decades of rudeness (We need to talk about Kévin: French namesakes fight national mockery, 5 August). People think it’s acceptable to toss variations […]
- Ask the expert: Why is France's drought so bad and what will happen next?by The Local on August 8, 2022
With France in the grip of an historic drought we asked a climate expert which areas are worst affected, what type of water restrictions we can expect to see in the coming weeks and how long the drought it likely to last for.
- Beluga whale is now stationary in Seineby The Local on August 8, 2022
A malnourished beluga whale that swam up France's River Seine is no longer progressing but is still alive, the environmental group Sea Shepherd said on Monday.
- France introduces stricter wine rules for restaurants, bars and cafésby The Local on August 8, 2022
The French government has introduced stricter wine rules for restaurants, bars and cafés, which must now display full information on the origins of all wines they serve.
- ‘The new normal’: how Europe is being hit by a climate-driven drought crisisby Jon Henley and Guardian correspondents (France | The Guardian) on August 8, 2022
Water shortages across the continent, from France through Italy, Spain and beyond, are creating a critical situationEurope’s worst ever drought in picturesEurope’s most severe drought in decades is hitting homes, factories, farmers and freight across the continent, as experts warn drier winters and searing summers fuelled by global heating mean water […]
- Beluga whale stranded in Seine still alive but now stationary, NGO saysby NEWS WIRES on August 8, 2022
A malnourished beluga whale that has swum up France's River Seine is no longer progressing but is still alive, environmental group Sea Shepherd said Monday.
- Hidden cameras show discrimination on Côte d’Azur private beaches, say activistsby Kim Willsher in Paris (France | The Guardian) on August 8, 2022
Footage includes white couple getting sunbeds shortly after couple of ‘north African appearance’ were told they were reservedAnti-racism activists who secretly filmed private beaches on the Côte d’Azur are planning legal action claiming discrimination on the French Riviera.SOS-Racisme sent couples of different ethnic backgrounds to exclusive coastal […]
- France vows to crack down on motorbike ‘rodeos’ after children injuredby NEWS WIRES on August 8, 2022
The French government pledged a new crackdown Monday against illicit motorbike cruising by youths in suburbs across the country, after two children were seriously injured by a rider near Paris.
- French Expression of the Day: Chanter fauxby The Local on August 8, 2022
This is definitely not lip synching.
- Airport chaos in Europe: What are your rights if flights are delayed or cancelled?by The Local on August 8, 2022
Summer is up, tourism is recovering from pandemic years, and people are stuck at chaotic airports. Here are your rights if something goes wrong.
- ANALYSIS: Is water likely to be rationed as France's drought worsens?by The Local on August 8, 2022
More than one hundred French villages have already seen their taps run dry as France grapples with one of its driest summers on record. Some local authorities have already imposed water rationing, but could this be applied nationwide?
- France vows to tackle motorbike 'rodeos' after children injuredby The Local on August 8, 2022
The French government has pledged a new crackdown against illicit motorbike cruising by youths in suburbs across the country, after two children were seriously injured by a rider near Paris.
- 10 French phrases that English really should have tooby The Local on August 8, 2022
Some French words and phrases cause a translation crisis because they have no exact equivalent in the English language. Here are some of our favourites that English really should have too.
- Hosepipe bans, well water and pools - your questions answered on France's drought restrictionsby The Local on August 8, 2022
France is suffering an unprecedented drought and the whole country is now under some level of water restrictions - we answer your questions on what this means for daily life in France.
- Heatwave: What temperatures can we expect this week in France?by The Local on August 8, 2022
As we get into August the very hot weather continues, with heatwave warnings for some parts of France and storms in other regions - here's what we can expect this week.
- French history myths: France is the birthplace of wineby The Local on August 8, 2022
You might be surprised that France - one of the world's top wine exporters - is not where wine originated.
- MAP: Where in France has water restrictions and what do they mean?by The Local on August 8, 2022
All of France's metropolitan départements currently have water restrictions in place. Here's how to find out what restrictions are in place in your area, and what that means for everyday life.
- Tax warning for second-home owners with French carte de séjourby The Local on August 8, 2022
British second-home owners in France who have acquired a post-Brexit carte de séjour are being warned of potential tax problems.
- Call for crackdown on dirt-bike ‘urban rodeos’ in France after child critically injuredby Angelique Chrisafis in Paris (France | The Guardian) on August 7, 2022
Ten-year-old girl suffers major head injuries as motocross bike rider at meet-up in Pontoise hits two childrenFrench politicians have called for a crackdown on urban dirt-bike riding as a 10-year-old girl was critically ill in hospital after being hit by a motocross bike while she played on a housing estate north-east of Paris.An 18-year-old boy was being […]
- Rescuers ‘race against clock’ to save beluga whale stranded in Seine Riverby NEWS WIRES on August 7, 2022
Hopes of saving a malnourished beluga whale that has swum up the Seine River were receding on Sunday, as rescuers said they were in a race against the clock to find a solution.
- 'Little hope' of saving beluga whale stranded in France's River Seineby The Local on August 7, 2022
Hopes of saving a malnourished beluga whale that has swum up the Seine river were receding on Sunday, but rescuers said they have ruled out "euthanasia" for now.
- French ex-firefighter detained over starting wildfiresby The Local on August 7, 2022
France has detained a former volunteer fireman suspected of starting two wildfires in the south of the country earlier this week, a prosecutor said Saturday.
- What are the new Covid rules as France scraps its State of Emergency?by The Local on August 7, 2022
France has ended its Covid-19 state of emergency after more than two years - so what does this mean for daily life in France and travel rules?
- How to order the perfect steak in Franceby The Local on August 7, 2022
Well-cooked or still bleeding, entrecôte or onglet, with salad or green beans - here is our complete guide to getting the perfect steak in France.
- Property taxes, food and tunnels: 6 essential articles on life in Franceby The Local on August 7, 2022
From tax hikes to the price of food, air conditioning and the unexpected things that lurk beneath the streets of Paris, here are 6 essential articles for life in France.