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Physical geography
European France includes northern plains, the Massif Central, the Alps and the Pyrenees. Corsica is mountainous. Overseas France adds tropical, volcanic and other landscapes.
Local timeParis ·
Europe / Western Europe · Card 016
France
France is a country in Western Europe. Its capital is Paris.
Find France
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. The maps show European France, including Corsica. Overseas territories are not shown. World Bank statistics follow the provider’s coverage for France.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. The maps show European France, including Corsica. Overseas territories are not shown. World Bank statistics follow the provider’s coverage for France.
At a glance
- Capital
- Paris
- Languages
- French
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Population
- 68.7 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 551,695 km²Metropolitan France; overseas areas excluded.
- Fifth Republic
- 1958Current constitutional framework.
France in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Paris; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include French.
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Location
European France borders the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. Its overseas departments and territories lie in several other world regions.
Flag
Three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), white, and red
History & status
Modern France developed from a medieval kingdom. The 1789 Revolution overturned the old political order and was followed by republics, empires and restored monarchies. The constitution of 1958 established the Fifth Republic.
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The French Revolution begins
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Paris is liberated during the Second World War
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The Fifth Republic is established
Economy
Main activities
Services dominate economic activity, alongside aerospace, pharmaceuticals, machinery, luxury goods and agriculture. Tourism is significant. France is a major EU economy and uses the euro.
Industry and production
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food processing, tourism
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people68.72025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 52,007,169 | 52.007 |
| 1980 | 55,274,184 | 55.274 |
| 1990 | 58,261,012 | 58.261 |
| 2000 | 60,918,661 | 60.919 |
| 2010 | 65,026,211 | 65.026 |
| 2020 | 67,601,110 | 67.601 |
| 2025 | 68,720,337 | 68.720 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Trillions of constant 2015 US dollars2.72025 · trillions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Trillions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,630,899,060,963 | 1.631 |
| 1991 | 1,651,067,777,785 | 1.651 |
| 1992 | 1,676,098,974,379 | 1.676 |
| 1993 | 1,670,081,815,759 | 1.670 |
| 1994 | 1,709,890,902,349 | 1.710 |
| 1995 | 1,749,300,344,480 | 1.749 |
| 1996 | 1,773,739,467,493 | 1.774 |
| 1997 | 1,818,562,957,062 | 1.819 |
| 1998 | 1,881,350,558,838 | 1.881 |
| 1999 | 1,945,303,460,550 | 1.945 |
| 2000 | 2,025,858,476,151 | 2.026 |
| 2001 | 2,064,338,989,613 | 2.064 |
| 2002 | 2,086,380,974,763 | 2.086 |
| 2003 | 2,106,573,536,968 | 2.107 |
| 2004 | 2,166,995,343,502 | 2.167 |
| 2005 | 2,207,920,477,337 | 2.208 |
| 2006 | 2,267,844,862,926 | 2.268 |
| 2007 | 2,325,232,266,329 | 2.325 |
| 2008 | 2,334,072,135,222 | 2.334 |
| 2009 | 2,268,145,064,849 | 2.268 |
| 2010 | 2,313,515,332,183 | 2.314 |
| 2011 | 2,369,909,039,106 | 2.370 |
| 2012 | 2,374,265,767,668 | 2.374 |
| 2013 | 2,392,826,743,357 | 2.393 |
| 2014 | 2,416,703,156,974 | 2.417 |
| 2015 | 2,442,483,452,642 | 2.442 |
| 2016 | 2,463,489,569,347 | 2.463 |
| 2017 | 2,514,819,204,088 | 2.515 |
| 2018 | 2,556,210,832,760 | 2.556 |
| 2019 | 2,608,036,638,906 | 2.608 |
| 2020 | 2,413,981,867,676 | 2.414 |
| 2021 | 2,580,120,255,052 | 2.580 |
| 2022 | 2,650,215,998,256 | 2.650 |
| 2023 | 2,688,358,302,961 | 2.688 |
| 2024 | 2,720,362,347,820 | 2.720 |
| 2025 | 2,743,239,233,773 | 2.743 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.920Very High human developmentRank 26 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.798
20000.852
20100.888
20200.909
20230.920
83.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.8 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Semi-presidential republic. Parliament (Parlement) has two chambers (a bicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about France.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which description fits France’s government?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.