France

Quick Facts

🇫🇷
Capital:
Paris
Official Language(s):
French
Currency:
Euro (€)
Population:
67,391,582

Overview

France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean, giving it one of the largest discontiguous exclusive economic zones in the world. Metropolitan France shares borders with Belgium and Luxembourg to the north, Germany to the northeast, Switzerland to the east, Italy and Monaco to the southeast, Andorra and Spain to the south, and a maritime border with the United Kingdom to the northwest. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea. Its eighteen integral regions—five of which are overseas—span a combined area of 632,702 km2 (244,288 sq mi) and have an estimated total population of over 68.6 million as of January 2025. France is a semi-presidential republic and its capital, largest city and main cultural and economic centre is Paris.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $2.97TB(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 6.9%(2021). Advanced economy with high living standards.

GDP Growth
6.9%(2021)
GDP PPP
$3.56T

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 70.7%(2021) in services, 16.1%(2021) in industry, and 1.5%(2021) in agriculture. Service-oriented advanced economy.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 7.9%(2021) unemployment and 1.6%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 31.3%(2021) exports and 32.5%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
7.9%(2021)
Inflation
1.6%(2021)
Exports/GDP
31.3%(2021)
Imports/GDP
32.5%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

21.9

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

3.6

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

86.1

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

116.7

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

9.1

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 63.79%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of -1.21%(2021).

FDI Inflows
3.30%(2021)
FDI Outflows
3.99%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

N/A

Foreign Reserves

$244.28B(2021)(2.7 months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
6.45%(2021)
High-Tech Exports
21.92%(2021)

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
9.10%(2021)
Services
70.67%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

EUEU-Japan EPAEU-Mercosur

Critical Dependencies

    Growth Trajectory

    Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

    Growth Potential Indicators

    Human Capital

    Education and workforce development

    53.8/100

    Trade Position

    International trade and competitiveness

    23.3/100

    Economic Structure

    Sectoral balance and sophistication

    35.8/100

    Demographics & Human Capital

    Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

    Demographics

    Population Overview

    Total population of 67,842,811(2021) with 0.4%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 1.84 births/woman(2021).

    Life Expectancy
    82.324 years(2021)
    Birth Rate
    11 per 1,000(2021)

    Age Structure

    Working-age population (61.7%(2021)) with youth at 17.2%(2021) and elderly at 21.1%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 62.1%(2021).

    Young Dependency
    27.9%(2021)
    Old Dependency
    34.1%(2021)

    Gender & Migration

    Population is 51.6%(2021) female and 48.4%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.048 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: 131,465(2021).

    Male Mortality
    93.641/1,000(2021)
    Female Mortality
    46.098/1,000(2021)

    Development Indicators

    Urban population growing at 0.7%(2021) annually, with 18.8%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: N/A.

    Urbanization
    81.2%(2021)
    Infant Mortality
    3.3 per 1,000(2021)

    Population Structure

    The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
    • Labor force participation and productivity
    • Tax contributions to support social services
    • Innovation and economic growth

    An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

    Source: World Bank Development Indicators

    Security Context

    Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

    Geographic & Resource Security

    Food & Agriculture

    Arable land comprises 34.3%(2021) of territory, with 52.1%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 7,171.3 kg/hectare(2021).

    Food Production Index
    96.72(2021)
    Cereal Production
    66,877,140 MT(2021)

    Energy Security

    Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 100.0%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

    Resource Rents
    N/A

    Water Resources

    Fresh water resources of 867 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 31.661 mm(2021).

    Forest Area
    1.9%(2021)

    Environmental Vulnerability

    2948.0%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at 1.9%(2021) providing natural buffer.

    Annual Rainfall
    31.661 mm(2021)

    Military & Security

    Military Capabilities

    Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: 105,000,000(2021) ( 3892000000.00%(2021) of labor force).

    Arms Exports
    499,914 USD(2021)
    Arms Imports
    N/A

    Strategic Status

    Military Alliances

    NATOEU Defense

    Nuclear Status

    NPT Nuclear Weapon State

    Security Environment

    Refugee population: 1,817,647(2021)Internally displaced: 2,023,856(2021)

    Strategic Geography

    Strategic Features

    • Borders 8 countries