NationMaster - Encyclopedia: French Republic

The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... This article describes a type of political entity. ... When the word metropolitan (from the Greek metera = mother and polis = town) is used as an adjective, as in metropolitan bishop, metropolitan France, or metropolitan area it can mean: of or characteristic of a metropolis; see also metropolitan area of or belonging to the home territories of a country, as... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ...

France is a democracy organised as a unitary semi-presidential republic. It is a developed nation whose modern economy is the fifth-largest in the world in 2003. Its main values are expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This article deals with democracy in its modern sense. ... A unitary state is a state or country that is governed constitutionally as one single unit, with one constitutionally created legislature. ... The semi-presidential system is a system of government that features both a prime minister and a president who are active participants in the day to day functioning of government. ... In a broad definition a republic is a state or country that is led by people that dont found their power status on any principle beyond the control of the people living in that state or country. ... A developed country is a country that is technologically advanced and that enjoys a relatively high standard of living. ... Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, ( French: La Déclaration des Droits de lHomme et du citoyen), is one of the fundamental documents of the French Revolution, defining a set of individual rights (and collective...

France is a founding member of the European Union, and is the largest member state with respect to land area. France is also a founding member of the UN Security Council. It is one of only seven acknowledged nuclear powers in existence. The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... There are currently five nations considered to be nuclear weapons nations, an internationally recognized status conferred by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). ...

History

Main article: History of France Gaul For details, see the main Gaul article. ...

The borders of modern France closely align with those of the ancient territory of Gaul, inhabited by the Gauls, a Celtic people. Gaul was conquered by the Romans in the first century BC, and the Gauls eventually adopted Romance speech and culture. Christianity also took root in the second and third centuries AD. Gaul's eastern frontiers along the Rhine were overrun by Germanic tribes in the fourth century AD, principally the Franks, from which the ancient name of "Francie" derived. The modern name "France" derives from the name of the feudal domain of the Capetian Kings of France around Paris (see now Île-de-France). Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Latin name for the region of western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Latin name for the region of western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... The word Celtic can refer to: the European Celtic people, ancient or modern the Celtic languages, spoken by these people and their modern descendents the Celtic (Lusitania), Celts from the Alentejo. ... The Romance languages, also called Romanic languages, are a subfamily of the Italic languages, specifically the descendants of the Vulgar Latin dialects spoken by the common people evolving in different areas after the break-up of the Roman Empire. ... The Rhine canyon (Ruinaulta) in Graubünden in Switzerland Length 1. ... The term Germanic tribes applies to the ancient Germanic peoples of Europe. ... The Franks were one of several west Germanic tribes who entered the late Roman Empire from Frisia as foederati and established a lasting realm in an area that covers most of modern-day France and the region of Franconia in Germany, forming the historic kernel of both these two modern... The direct Capetian Dynasty followed the Carolingian rulers of France from 987 to 1328. ... Île-de-France can refer to: the historical province of France: see Île-de-France (province) the modern French administrative région: see Île-de-France (région) For other meanings without the circumflex accent, see Ile de France. ...

Although the French monarchy is often dated to the 5th century, France's continuous existence as a separate entity begins with the division, in 843, of Charlemagne's Frankish empire into eastern, central and western parts. The eastern part (which would soon unite with the central portion as the Holy Roman Empire) can be regarded the beginnings of what is now Germany, the western part that of France. ( 4th century - 5th century - 6th century - other centuries) Events Rome sacked by Visigoths in 410. ... Events Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian empire between the 3 sons of Louis the Pious. ... Statue of Charlemagne in Frankfurt, a Romantic interpretation of his appearance from the 19th century Charlemagne (c. ... The Franks were one of several west Germanic tribes who entered the late Roman Empire from Frisia as foederati and established a lasting realm in an area that covers most of modern-day France and the region of Franconia in Germany, forming the historic kernel of both these two modern... The Holy Roman Empire ( German: Heiliges Römisches Reich) ( Italian: Sacro Romano Impero) ( Latin: Sacrum Romanum Imperium) ( Czech: Svatá říše římská) ( French: Saint Empire Romain Germanique) ( Polish: Święte Cesarstwo Rzymskie Narodu Niemieckiego) ( Dutch: Heilige Roomse Rijk) was a political conglomeration of lands in Central Europe in the Middle Ages and the...

Charlemagne's descendants ruled France until 987, when Hugh Capet, Duke of France and Count of Paris, was crowned King of France. His descendants (which formed the Capetian, Valois and Bourbon dynasties) ruled France until 1792, when the French Revolution established a Republic, in a period of increasingly radical change that began in 1789. Events Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, crowned King of France Kukulcan conquers Chichen Itza Births Deaths May 21 King Louis V of France Categories: 987 ... -1... The direct Capetian Dynasty followed the Carolingian rulers of France from 987 to 1328. ... The Valois Dynasty succeeded the Capetian Dynasty as rulers of France from 1328- 1589. ... This article or section should include material from France: Wars of Religion - Bourbon Dynasty. ... 1792 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The period of the French Revolution in the history of France covers the years between 1789 and 1799, in which democrats and republicans overthrew the absolute monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church was forced to undergo radical restructuring. ... In a broad definition a republic is a state or country that is led by people that dont found their power status on any principle beyond the control of the people living in that state or country. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Napoleon Bonaparte seized control of the republic in 1799, making himself First Consul. His armies engaged in several wars across Europe, conquered many countries and established new kingdoms with Napoleon's family members at the helm. Following his defeat in 1815, the French monarchy was re-established, which was then legislatively abolished and followed by a Second Republic in 1848. The Second Republic ended when the late Emperor's nephew, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was elected President and proclaimed a Second Empire in 1852. Less ambitious than his uncle, the second Napoleon was also ultimately unseated, and republican rule returned for a third time in the Third Republic (1870). Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français... 1799 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... There were several Second Republics in the course of history. ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Louis Bonaparte Louis Napoleon Bonaparte ( September 2, 1779 - July 25, 1844) was one of three younger brothers of the Emperor Napoleon I of France, who made him king of Holland in 1806. ... The Second French Empire or Second Empire was the imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The French Third Republic, (in French, Troisième Republique, sometimes written as IIIème Republique) ( 1870/ 75- 1940/ 46), was the governing body of France between the Second French Empire and the Fourth Republic. ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France - much like Britain - suffered extensive losses in its empire, comparative economic status, working population, and status as a dominant nation-state. Since 1958, it has constructed a semi-presidential democracy (known as the Fifth Republic) that has not succumbed to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more parliamentary regimes. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Fifth Republic is the fifth and current republican constitution of France, which was introduced on October 5, 1958. ...

In recent decades, France's reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the political and economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of the Euro in January 1999. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... Euro (disambiguation). ...

Today, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European political, defence and security apparatus.

It is also one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and holds nuclear weapons. A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... France is said to have an arsenal of 350 nuclear weapons stockpiled as of 2002 [1]. The weapons are part of the national Force de frappe. ...

Politics

Main articles: Government of France (about government structures) and Politics of France (about political groups and tendencies) This article is about the political and administrative structures of the French government. ... This article discusses political groups and tendencies in France; for information on the political and administrative structures of France, see Government of France. ...

The constitution of the Fifth Republic was approved by public referendum on September 28, 1958. It greatly strengthened the authority of the executive in relation to Parliament. Under the constitution, the president is elected directly for a 5-year (originally 7-year) term. Presidential arbitration assures regular functioning of the public powers and the continuity of the state. The president names the prime minister, presides over the cabinet, commands the armed forces, and concludes treaties. The Fifth Republic is the fifth and current republican constitution of France, which was introduced on October 5, 1958. ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years). ... 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) is the principal legislative body. Its deputies are directly elected to 5-year terms, and all seats are voted on in each election. The Assembly has the power to dismiss the cabinet, and thus the majority in the Assembly determines the choice of government. Senators are chosen by an electoral college for 6-year terms, and one half of the Senate is renewed every 3 years (starting 2007 (http://www.senat.fr/role/senate.html)). The Senate's legislative powers are limited; the National Assembly has the last word in the event of a disagreement between the two houses, except for constitutional laws (amendments to the constitution & "lois organiques"). The government has a strong influence in shaping the agenda of Parliament. This article concerns the modern National Assembly. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ...

French politics, for the past 30 years, have been characterised by the opposition of two political groups: one left-wing, centred around the French Socialist Party, and one right-wing, centred around the RPR, then its successor the UMP. The Front National National-right party, advocating tougher law-and-order, immigration policies and seizing growing concern by the French public of their country decline as well as immigration and globalisation driven national dissolution has made inroads since the early 1980s and seems to remain stable at around 16% of the votes. In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... The emblem of the French Socialist Party The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste or PS), founded in 1969, is the main opposition party in France. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... The Rally for the Republic, also known by its French acronym RPR (Rassemblement pour la République), was a French political party. ... The Union for a Popular Movement, initially named the Union for a Presidential Majority, and in both cases also known by its French acronym UMP (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire and Union pour la Majorité Présidentielle, respectively) is a French right-wing, conservative political party. ... This article is about the French political party, not the WWII French resistance movement Front National. ...

The current Constitution of France was adopted on October 4, 1958, and has been amended 17 times, most recently on March 28, 2003. ... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ... This page is a list of French prime ministers. ... In 1589, the four French Secretaries of State became specialized, with one of the secretaries responsible for foreign affairs. ... A charter member of the United Nations, France holds one of the permanent seats in the Security Council and is a member of most of its specialized and related agencies. ...

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of France File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Metropolitan (i. ...

France has 26 régions: 21 of these are in the continental part of metropolitan France, one is Corse on the island of Corsica (although strictly speaking Corse is in fact a "territorial collectivity", not a région, but is referred to as a région in common speech), 4 are overseas. The région are further subdivided into 100 départements. The departments are numbered (mainly alphabetically) and this number is used, for instance, in postal codes and vehicle number plates. France is divided into 26 régions: 21 of these are in the continental part of metropolitan France, one is Corse on the island of Corsica (although strictly speaking Corse is in fact a territorial collectivity, not a région, but is referred to as a région in common... The term Metropolitan France ( French: la France métropolitaine, or just la Métropole) refers to the part of France in Europe, including Corsica, as opposed to the overseas departments and overseas territories, which, while integral parts of the French Republic, are regarded as Overseas France ( French: la France d... This article is about the Mediterranean island. ... This article is about the Mediterranean island. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and are now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas régions. ...

The departments are further subdivided into 342 arrondissements. Capital Strasbourg Area 8,280 km² Regional President Adrien Zeller Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density 1,793,000 1,734,145 209/km² Arrondissements 13 Cantons 75 Communes 903 Départements Bas-Rhin Haut-Rhin Alsace ( French: Alsace; Alsatian/ German: Elsaß) is a région of France. ... History The département was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution. ... Haut-Rhin is a French département, named after the Rhine river. ... Capital Bordeaux Area 41,309 km² Regional President Alain Rousset ( PS) (since 1998) Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density (Ranked 6th) 3,049,000 2,908,359 74/km² (2004) Arrondissements 18 Cantons 235 Communes 2,296 Départements Dordogne Gironde Landes Lot-et-Garonne Pyrénées-Atlantiques Aquitaine... Dordogne is a département in central France named after the Dordogne River. ... Gironde is a département in the southwest of France named after the Gironde Estuary. ... Landes is a département in southern France. ... Lot-et-Garonne is a département in the southwest of France named after the Lot and Garonne rivers. ... Pyrénées-Atlantiques ( Gascon: Pirenèus-Atlantics; Basque: Pirinio-Atlantiarrak or Pirinio-Atlantikoak) is a département in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. ... This article is about the French administrative région of Auvergne. ... Allier is a département in south-central France named after the Allier River. ... Cantal is a département in south-central France. ... Haute-Loire is a département in south-central France named after the Loire River. ... Puy-de-Dôme is a département in the center of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme. ... Capital Caen Area 31,582 km² Regional President Philippe Duron Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density 1,443,000 1,422,193 81/km² Arrondissements 11 Cantons 141 Communes 1,812 Départements Calvados Manche Orne Basse-Normandie is a region of France. ... Alternate use, see Calvados, The French département of Calvados forms part of the région of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. ... Manche is a French département in Normandy named after La Manche (the sleeve), which is the French name of the English Channel. ... Orne is a département in the northwest of France named after the Orne River. ... This article is about the French administrative région of Bourgogne. ... Côte-dOr is a département in the eastern part of France. ... Nièvre is a département in the center of France named after the Nièvre River. ... Saône-et-Loire is a French département, named after the Saône and the Loire rivers. ... Yonne is a French département named after the Yonne River. ... This article is about the French administrative région of Bretagne. ... Côtes-dArmor is a département in the northwest of France. ... Finistère (Penn-ar-Bed in Breton) is a département of France, located in Brittany (Bretagne in French). ... Ille-et-Vilaine is a département of France, located in Brittany (Bretagne in French) in the northwest corner of France. ... Morbihan is a département in the northwest of France named after the Morbihan (small sea in Breton), the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline. ... Capital Orléans Area 39,151 km² Regional President Michel Sapin Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density 2,480,000 2,440,329 62/km² Arrondissements 20 Cantons 198 Communes 842 Départements Cher Eure-et-Loir Indre Indre-et-Loire Loir-et-Cher Loiret Centre (Val de Loire) is... Cher is a département in the center of France. ... Eure-et-Loir is a French département, named after the Eure and Loir rivers. ... Indre is a département in the center of France named after the Indre River. ... Indre-et-Loire is a département in west-central France named after the Indre and the Loire rivers. ... Loir-et-Cher is a département in north-central France named after its two principal rivers. ... Loiret is a département in north-central France named after the Loiret River. ... Capital Châlons-en-Champagne Area 25,606 km² Regional President Jean-Paul Bachy Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density 1,342,363 52/km² Arrondissements 15 Cantons 146 Communes 1,947 Départements Aube Ardennes Haute-Marne Marne Champagne-Ardenne is a French région. ... Ardennes is a département in the northeast of France named after the Ardennes area. ... Aube is a département in the northeastern part of France named after the Aube River. ... Marne is a region in France. ... Haute-Marne is a département in the northeast of France named after the Marne River. ... This article is about the Mediterranean island. ... Corse-du-Sud is a French département. ... Haute-Corse is a French département. ... Capital Besançon Area 16,202 km² Regional President Raymond Forni ( PS) (since 2004) Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density (Ranked 20th) 1,133,000 1,117,059 70/km² (2004) Arrondissements 8 Cantons 116 Communes 1,786 Départements Doubs Haute-Saône Jura Territoire de Belfort Franche-Comt... Doubs is a département in eastern France named after the Doubs River. ... Jura is a département in the east of France named after the Jura mountains. ... Haute-Saône is a French département, named after the Saône River. ... The Territoire de Belfort is a département in the Franche-Comté région of eastern France. ... Capital Rouen Area 12,317 km² Regional President Alain Le Vern Population - [[As of |]] estimate - 1999 census - Density 1,780,192 145/km² Arrondissements 6 Cantons 112 Communes 1,420 Départements Eure Seine-Maritime Haute-Normandie is a région of France. ... Eure is a département in the north of France named after the Eure River. ... Seine-Maritime is a French département in Normandy. ... This article is about the French administrative région of Île-de-France. ... Seine-et-Marne is a French département, named after the Seine and the Marne rivers, and located in the Île-de-France région. ... Yvelines is a French département in the région of Île-de-France. ... The French département of Essonne is part of the région of Île-de-France. ... Hauts-de-Seine is a département in France. ... Seine-Saint-Denis is a French département located in the Île-de-France région. ... Val-de-Marne is a French département, named after the Marne River, located in the Île-de-France région. ... Val-dOise is a French département named after the Oise River, located in the Île-de-France région. ... Capital Montpellier Area 27,376 km² Regional President Georges Frêche ( PS) (since 2004) Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density (Ranked 10th) 2,458,000 2,295,648 90/km² (2004) Arrondissements 14 Cantons 186 Communes 1,545 Départements Aude Gard Hérault Lozère Pyrénées-Orientales... Aude is a département in south-central France named after the Aude River. ... Gard is a département located in the south of France named after the river Gardon (or Gard). ... Hérault is a département in the southwest of France named after the Hérault River. ... Lozère is a département in southeast France near the Massif Central. ... Pyrénées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees) is a département of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea. ... Capital Limoges Area 16,942 km² Regional President Jean-Paul Denanot Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density 710,939 42/km² Arrondissements 8 Cantons 106 Communes 747 Départements Corrèze Creuse Haute-Vienne Limousin is a former province of France and now a region of France, around the city... Corrèze is a département in the center of France. ... Creuse is a département in central France named after the Creuse River. ... Haute-Vienne is a French département named after the Vienne River. ... Capital Metz Area 23,547 km² Regional President Jean-Pierre Masseret Population - 2005 estimate - 1999 census - Density 2,310,376 98/km² Arrondissements 19 Cantons 157 Communes 2,337 Départements Meurthe-et-Moselle Meuse Moselle Vosges Lorraine ( German: Lothringen) is a historical area in present-day northeast France. ... Meurthe-et-Moselle is a département in the northeast of France named after the Meurthe and Moselle rivers. ... Meuse is a département in northeast France, named after the Meuse River. ... Moselle is a département in the northeast of France named after the Moselle River. ... Vosges is a French département, named after the Vosges mountain range. ... Capital Toulouse Area 45,348 km² Regional President Martin Malvy ( PS) (since 1998) Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density (Ranked 8th) 2,687,000 2,551,687 59/km² (2004) Arrondissements 22 Cantons 293 Communes 3,020 Départements Ariège Aveyron Gers Haute-Garonne Hautes-Pyrénées Lot Tarn Tarn-et-Garonne... Ariège is a département in southwestern France named after the Ariège River. ... Aveyron is a département in southern France named after the Aveyron River. ... Haute-Garonne is a département in the southwest of France named after the Garonne river. ... Gers is a département in the southwest of France named after the Gers River. ... Lot is a département in the southwest of France named after the Lot River. ... Hautes-Pyrénées is a département in southwestern France. ... Tarn (disambiguation). ... Tarn-et-Garonne is a French département in the southwest of France. ... Capital Lille Area 12,414 km² Regional President Daniel Percheron ( PS) (since 2001) Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density (Ranked 4th) 4,026,000 3,996,588 324/km² (2004) Arrondissements 13 Cantons 156 Communes 1,546 Départements Nord Pas-de-Calais The administrative region of Nord-Pas-de... Nord (French, the north) is a département in the north of France. ... Pas-de-Calais is a département in northern France named after the strait which it borders. ... Région Pays-de-la-Loire Information Capital: Nantes Population - Total - Density 3 222 061 (1999) 100 /km² Area 32 082 km² Arrondissements 17 Cantons 203 Communes 1 502 President of the regional council Jacques Auxiette Départements Categories: Regions of France | Stub ... Loire-Atlantique (formerly Loire-Inférieure) is a département on the west coast of France named after the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean. ... Maine-et-Loire is a département in west-central France. ... Mayenne is a département in northwest France named after the Mayenne River. ... Sarthe is a French département, named after the Sarthe River. ... Vendée is a département in west central France, on the Atlantics Bay of Biscay. ... Capital Amiens Area 19,399 km² Regional President Claude Gewerc Population - 2005 estimate - 1999 census - Density 1,857,481 96/km² Arrondissements 13 Cantons 129 Communes 2,292 Départements Aisne Oise Somme For use in music, see Picardy third. ... Aisne is a département in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River. ... Oise is a département in the north of France named after the Oise River. ... Somme is a French département named after the Somme River. ... Categories: Stub | Regions of France ... Charente is a département in central France named after the Charente River. ... Charente-Maritime is a département on the west coast of France named after the Charente River. ... Deux-Sèvres is a French département. ... This article is about the French département. ... Capital Marseilles Area 31,400 km² Regional President Michel Vauzelle ( PS) (since 1998) Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density (Ranked 3rd) 4,666,000 4,506,151 149/km² (2004) Arrondissements 18 Cantons 237 Communes 963 Départements Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Alpes-Maritimes Bouches-du-Rhône Hautes-Alpes... Alpes_de_Haute_Provence is a French département in the south of France, it was formerly part of the province of Provence. ... Hautes-Alpes is a département in southeastern France named after the Alp mountain range. ... Alpes_Maritimes is a département in the extreme southeast corner of France. ... Bouches-du-Rhône is a département in the south of France named after the mouth of the Rhone River. ... Var (disambiguation). ... For other uses of the name Vaucluse, see Vaucluse (disambiguation) Vaucluse is a département in the south of France. ... Capital Lyon Area 43,698 km² Regional President Jean-Jack Queyranne ( PS) (since 2004) Population - 2004 estimate - 1999 census - Density (Ranked 2nd) 5,893,000 5,645,407 135/km² (2004) Arrondissements 25 Cantons 335 Communes 2,879 Départements Ain Ardèche Drôme Isère Loire Rhône... Ain is also a figure from mythology; see Ain (mythology). ... Ardèche is a département in south-central France named after the Ardèche River. ... Drôme is a département in southeastern France named after the Drôme River. ... Isère is a département in the east of France named after the Isère River. ... Loire is a département in the east-central part of France occupying the Loire Rivers upper reaches. ... Rhône is a French département located in eastern central France. ... Savoie is a French département. ... Haute-Savoie is a French département, named after the Alps mountain range. ... Under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic, the French colonies of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana in the Caribbean and Réunion in the Indian Ocean became départements doutre-mer (Overseas departments) or DOMs. ... Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean Sea, is an archipelago with a total area of 1,704 km² located in the Eastern Caribbean. ... The département of Martinique is an overseas département (département doutre-mer, or DOM) of France, located in the Caribbean Sea. ... French Guiana (French: Guyane) is an overseas département (département doutre-mer, or DOM) of France, located on the Caribbean coast of South America. ... Réunion is an island, as well as an overseas département (département doutre-mer, or DOM) of France, located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. ... Map of Mayotte. ... Saint-Pierre and Miquelon ( French Saint-Pierre et Miquelon) is a French overseas collectivity consisting of several small islands off the eastern coast of Canada near Newfoundland. ... The Collectivity of Wallis and Futuna ( French: Collectivité de Wallis et Futuna) is a group of mainly three volcanic tropical islands (Wallis, Futuna, and Alofi) with fringing reefs located in the South Pacific Ocean between Fiji and Samoa. ... National motto: Tahiti Nui Marearea Official language French Political status Dependent territory Capital Papeete Largest City Papeete President Oscar Temaru Area - Total - % water 4,167 km² 12% Population - Total (2002) - Density 245,405 64/km² Currency CFP franc Time zone UTC -10 Internet TLD . ... Sui generis is a (post) Latin expression, literally meaning of its own gender/genus or unique in its characteristics. ... Sui generis is a (post) Latin expression, literally meaning of its own gender/genus or unique in its characteristics. ... Map of New Caledonia New Caledonia ( French: Nouvelle-Calédonie; popular names: Kanaky, Le caillou) is a French territory of 18,575 km² (7,172 sq. ... A Territoire doutre-mer (TOM, French for Overseas territory) is an administrative divisions of France. ... The French Southern Territories (long name: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, French: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises or TAAF) are antarctic, volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, south of Africa and about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia. ... World map showing location of Antarctica A satellite composite image of Antarctica For the Kim Stanley Robinson novel see Antarctica (novel) Antarctica (from Greek ἀνταρκτικός, opposite the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earths South Pole. ... map of France, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF map of france converted directly from the world atlas File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The 100 French départements are divided into 342 arrondissements. ...

The overseas departments are former colonies outside metropolitan France that now enjoy a status similar to European or metropolitan France. They are considered to be a part of France (and the EU) rather than dependent territories, and each of them is a région at the same time. The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ...

The overseas territories and countries form part of the French Republic, but do not form part of the Republic's European territory or the EU fiscal area. They continue to use the French Pacific Franc as their currency, which was not replaced by the euro like the French franc was in 2002. The French Pacific Franc's value is, however, now tied to that of the euro. The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ... The CFP franc (in French: franc Pacifique or franc CFP ; CFP stood for Colonies françaises du Pacifique (i. ... Euro (disambiguation). ...

The departmental and territorial collectivities have an intermediate status between overseas department and overseas territory.

France also maintains control over a number of other small islands in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, including Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island. See Islands controlled by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The Indian Ocean is the third-largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earths water surface. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (in French Îles éparses de locéan indien) are five islands of the Indian Ocean with no permanent population, Bassas da India, Europa, Juan de Nova, Glorioso, and Tromelin. ... Clipperton Island (locally known as Île Clipperton and sometimes Île de la Passion) is an uninhabited seven-square-kilometer coral atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,300 km southwest of Mexico, at 10°18′ N 109°13′ W. It is a possession of France administered from French Polynesia by... The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (in French Îles éparses de locéan indien) are five islands of the Indian Ocean with no permanent population, Bassas da India, Europa, Juan de Nova, Glorioso, and Tromelin. ... The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (in French Îles éparses de locéan indien) are five islands of the Indian Ocean with no permanent population, Bassas da India, Europa, Juan de Nova, Glorioso, and Tromelin. ... The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (in French Îles éparses de locéan indien) are five islands of the Indian Ocean with no permanent population, Bassas da India, Europa, Juan de Nova, Glorioso, and Tromelin. ... The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (in French Îles éparses de locéan indien) are five islands of the Indian Ocean with no permanent population, Bassas da India, Europa, Juan de Nova, Glorioso, and Tromelin. ... Indian Ocean Islands The following islands are in the Indian Ocean Réunion - (Overseas department and region) Mayotte - (Overseas collectivity entitled departmental collectivity) Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (all five have no permanent population) Bassas da India Europa Island Glorioso Islands Juan de Nova Island Tromelin Island French Southern...

Geography

Main article: Geography of 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 Area total: 674,843 km² note: whole territory of the French Republic, including all the...

While the main territory of France (la métropole) is located in Western Europe, France is also constituted from territories in North America, the Caribbean, South America, the western and southern Indian Ocean, the northern and southern Pacific Ocean, and Antarctica (sovereignty claims in Antarctica are not recognised by most countries, see Antarctic Treaty). World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Indian Ocean is the third-largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earths water surface. ... The Pacific Ocean (from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, peaceful sea, bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan) is the worlds largest body of water. ... World map showing location of Antarctica A satellite composite image of Antarctica For the Kim Stanley Robinson novel see Antarctica (novel) Antarctica (from Greek ἀνταρκτικός, opposite the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earths South Pole. ... World map showing location of Antarctica A satellite composite image of Antarctica For the Kim Stanley Robinson novel see Antarctica (novel) Antarctica (from Greek ἀνταρκτικός, opposite the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earths South Pole. ... For the Antarctic Treaty from the Gundam anime, see Antarctic Treaty (Gundam) The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate the international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earths only uninhabited continent. ...

Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea, and from the Rhine River to the Atlantic Ocean; it is bordered by the United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. The French Republic also shares land borders overseas with Brazil, Suriname, and the Netherlands.-1... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... The Rhine canyon (Ruinaulta) in Graubünden in Switzerland Length 1. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... The Kingdom of Belgium (Dutch: Koninkrijk België, French: Royaume de Belgique, German: Königreich Belgien) is a country in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. ... The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small landlocked state in the north-west of the continental European Union, bordered by France, Germany and Belgium. ... The Swiss Confederation or Switzerland is a landlocked federal state in Europe, with neighbours Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. ... The Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... The Principality of Monaco or Monaco ( French: Principauté de Monaco or Monaco; Monegasque: Munegu or Principatu de Munegu) is a city state and the second-smallest country in the world, wedged in between the Mediterranean Sea and France along the French Riviera or Côte dAzur (The Blue Coast). ... National motto: Virtus Unita Fortior (Latin: Virtue united is stronger) Official language: Catalan. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... -1...

France possesses a large variety of landscapes, ranging from coastal plains in the north and west, where France borders the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, to the mountain ranges in the south (the Pyrenees) and the south-east (the Alps), of which the latter contains the highest point of Europe, the Mont Blanc at 4810 m. The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... For other meanings see: Pyrenees, Victoria and Montes Pyrenaeus. ... The Alps is the collective name for one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria in the east, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany, through to France in the west. ... This article is about the Alpine mountain. ...

In between are found other elevated regions such as the Massif Central or the Vosges mountains and extensive river basins such as those of the Loire River, the Rhone River, the Garonne and Seine. France, viewed from the NASA Shuttle Topography Radar Mission. ... The Vosges mountains are range of mountains in central-western Europe, stretching along the west side of the Rhine valley in a NNE direction, from Basel to Mainz, for a distance of 250 km (150 miles). ... The Loire is wide; here in Orléans, half of it is shown, up to a dividing half-flooded island. ... Length 800 km Elevation of the source 1753 m Average discharge 1800 m³/ s Area watershed 100,200 km² Origin Rhône glacier Mouth Mediterranean Sea Basin countries Switzerland, France The River Rhône ( Latin Rhodanus, French Rhône, Occitan Rose, German Rotten) is one of the major rivers (ca. ... The Garonne ( Latin: Garumna, Occitan: Garona) is a river in southwest France, with a length of 575 km (357 miles). ... This article is about the river in France; it should not be confused with the Senne, a much smaller river that flows through Brussels. ...

Maritime territory (EEZ)

Due to its numerous overseas departments and territories scattered on all oceans of the planet, France possesses the second-largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the world, covering 11,035,000 km² (4,260,000 sq. miles), just behind the EEZ of the United States (11,351,000 km² / 4,383,000 sq. miles), but ahead of the EEZ of Australia (8,232,000 km² / 3,178,000 sq. miles). According to a different calculation cited by the Pew Research Center, the EEZ of France would be 10,084,201 km² (3,893,532 sq. miles), behind the United States (12,174,629 km² / 4,700,651 sq. miles), but ahead of Australia (8,980,568 km² / 3,467,416 sq. miles) and Russia (7,566,673 km² / 2,921,508 sq. miles). In international maritime law, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a seazone extending from a states coast over which the state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources. ... To help compare sizes of different areas, here is a list of areas between 10 million km² and 100 million km². ... Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only country to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/Oceania. ... To help compare sizes of different areas, here is a list of areas between 10 million km² and 100 million km². ... Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only country to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/Oceania. ...

The EEZ of France covers approximately 8% of the total surface of all the EEZs of the world, whereas the land area of the French Republic is only 0.45% of the total land area of the Earth.

Economy

France's economy combines extensive private enterprise with substantial (though declining) government intervention (see dirigisme). The government retains considerable influence over key segments of infrastructure sectors, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s. The government is slowly selling off holdings in France Télécom, Air France, as well as the insurance, banking, and defence industries. Dirigisme (from the French) is an economic term designating an economy where the government exerts strong directive influence. ... Events and trends Technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other technology Reduction in size and cost of mobile phones leads to a massive surge in their popularity Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K) Microsoft Windows operating system becomes virtually ubiquitous on IBM... France Télécom (outside of France often spelled France Telecom, without the accents) is the main telecommunication company in France. ... Air France Boeing 747 Air France (Compagnie Nationale Air France) (a part of the Air France-KLM Group) is the national airline of France, employing over 64,000 people. ...

A member of the G8 group of leading industrialised countries, it ranked as the fifth-largest economy in the world in 2003, behind the United States, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. France joined 10 other EU members to launch the Euro on January 1, 1999, with euro coins and banknotes completely replacing the French franc in early 2002. G8 (disambiguation). ... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area - Total - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0. ... The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ... Euro (disambiguation). ... The euro (EUR or €) is the currency of 12 European Union (EU) member states: ( Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain); four European micro-states: ( Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Holy See - Vatican City), as well as EU institutions. ... The euro symbol The euro (EUR or €) is the single currency for many countries within the European Union. ... The franc is the name of several currency units. ...

According to the WTO, in 2003, France was the world's fifth-largest exporter, behind the United States, Germany, Japan, and China, (but ahead of the United Kingdom). It was also the fourth-largest importer (behind the United States, Germany, and China, but ahead of the United Kingdom and Japan). According to the OECD, in 2003 France received the largest percentage of foreign international investment, ahead of the United States and Belgium. For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area - Total - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0. ... The Great Wall of China, stretching over 6,700 km, was erected beginning in the 3rd century BC to guard the north from raids by men on horses. ... The Great Wall of China, stretching over 6,700 km, was erected beginning in the 3rd century BC to guard the north from raids by men on horses. ... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area - Total - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0. ... The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization of those developed countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy. ... The Kingdom of Belgium (Dutch: Koninkrijk België, French: Royaume de Belgique, German: Königreich Belgien) is a country in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. ...

With over 77 million tourists a year, France is ranked as the major tourist destination in the world, ahead of Spain (51.7 million) and United States (41.9 million). It features cities of high cultural interest (Paris being the foremost), beaches and seaside resorts, ski centres and rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity. The World Tourism Organization compiles the World Tourism Rankings. ... A twin-tip shaped downhill ski. ...

France has an important aerospace industry (lead by Airbus Industrie) and is the only European power to have its own national space centre. France is also the most energy independent Western country due to heavy investment in nuclear power, which also makes France the smallest producer of carbon dioxide among the seven most industrialised countries in the world. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and EU subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Airbus S.A.S. is a commercial aircraft manufacturer based in Toulouse, France. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ...

Since the end of the Second World War the government made efforts to integrate more and more with Germany, both economically and politically. Today the two countries form what is often referred to as the "core" countries in favour of greater integration of the European Union.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of France A charter member of the United Nations, France holds one of the permanent seats in the Security Council and is a member of most of its specialized and related agencies. ...

France's founding membership in the European Union largely defines France's current foreign policy. On May 29th, the French are going to hold a referendum to decide whether their country should ratify the proposed Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The outcome of the vote is widely regarded as crucial for the future development of the EU, as well as for France's ability to retain its position of leadership in Europe. The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ... France is going to hold a referendum on May 29, 2005, to decide whether France should ratify the proposed Constitution of the European Union. ... The Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe is a proposed constitutional treaty for the European Union. ...

The French Republic is furthermore a member of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and of the Indian Ocean Commission (COI), and an associate member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). France is also a leading member or the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF) which gathers 51 fully or partly French-speaking countries. Flag of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community The Secretariat of the Pacific Community or SPC is a regional intergovernmental organisation whose membership includes both nations and territories. ... The Indian Ocean Commission (COI), known as the Commission de lOcéan Indien in French, is an intergovernmental organization that joins France, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles together to encourage cooperation. ... The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) (Also called the Asociacion de Estados del Caribe or Association des Etats de la Caraibe) was formed with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among all the countries of the Caribbean, comprising of 25 member states and 3 associate members. ... The Francophonie flag, symbolising the five continents, was adopted in 1987 on Nigers suggestion. ...

France hosts the headquarters of the OECD and UNESCO, as well as those of the International Bureau for Weights and Measures in charge of the international metric system, and Interpol. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization of those developed countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy. ... UNESCO logo The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1946. ... The Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (International Bureau of Weights and Measures, or BIPM) is a standards organization, one of the three organizations established to maintain the SI system under the terms of the Metre Convention. ... SI (disambiguation). ... This article is about the International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol. ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of France Since prehistoric times, France has been a crossroads of trade, migrations, and invasions. ...

The official language is French. Several regional languages (including Alsatian, Basque, Breton, Caribbean Creole, Catalan, Corsican, Dutch (Flemish), Franco-Provençal dialects, Gascon, Lorraine German dialect, Occitan, and some Oïl dialects) are also occasionally understood and spoken, mostly by elderly people, but the French government and public school system discouraged the use of any of them until recently. The regional languages are now taught at some schools, though French remains the only official language in use by the government, local or national. Some languages spoken by immigrants are also frequently heard, especially in large cities: Portuguese, Maghreb Arabic, several Berber languages, several languages of Black Africa, Turkish, several Chinese dialects (most notably Wu dialects, Cantonese, Min Nan, and Mandarin), Vietnamese, and Khmer are the most frequently heard. There are a number of languages of France, although the French language is by far the most widely spoken and the only official language of the country. ... Alsatian can refer to: A person from Alsace, France The Alsatian language A German Shepherd Dog This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Basque is the language spoken by the Basque people, who live in northern Spain and the adjoining area of southwestern France. ... This page is about the Breton language. ... The term Creole is used with different meanings in different contexts, which can generate confusion. ... Catalan (Català, Valencià) is a Romance language spoken by as many as approximately 12 million people in portions of Spain, France, Andorra and Italy, although the majority of Catalan speakers are in Spain. ... Corsican (Corsu or Lingua Corsa) is a Romance language spoken on the island of Corsica ( France), alongside French, which is the official language. ... Note: This page contains IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Franco-Provençal is a Romance language consisting of dialects that can be found in Italy (Valle dAosta, Piemonte), in Switzerland (cantons Fribourg, Valais, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Geneva, non-German speaking parts of Bern, but not Jura, where the dialects spoken are French) and in France (Dauphinois, Lyonnais, Savoy). ... The Gascon language is an Occitan dialect mostly spoken in Gascony (in the French départements of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Landes, Gers, Gironde, a part of Lot-et-Garonne, a part of Haute-Garonne, and a part of Ariège), and in the small Spanish... West Middle German is a High German dialect family in the German language. ... Occitan, or langue doc is a Romance language characterized by its richness, variability, and by the intelligibility of its dialects. ... The langue doïl language family in linguistics comprises Romance languages originating in territories now occupied by northern France, part of Belgium and the Channel Islands. ... Portuguese (português) is a Romance language predominantly spoken in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and East Timor. ... Maghreb arabic is a dialect of Arabic spoken in the Maghreb, including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya. ... Afro-Asiatic - Berber The Berber languages (or Tamazight) are a group of closely related languages mainly spoken in Morocco and Algeria. ... Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa south of the Sahara Desert, is the term used to describe those countries of Africa that are not part of North Africa. ... Turkish (Türkçe or Türk dili) is a Turkic language, spoken natively by over 100 million speakers in Turkey, Cyprus, and worldwide. ... Spoken Chinese The Chinese spoken language(s) comprise(s) many regional variants. ... Wu (吳方言 pinyin wú fāng yán; 吳語 pinyin wú yǔ) is one of the major divisions of the Chinese language. ... Cantonese can refer to: Of, or pertaining to, the people of, or things from, Guangdong Province, Hong Kong or Macau in China. ... Mǐn N n (Chinese: 閩南語), also spelt as Minnan or Min-nan; native name B ; literally means Southern Min or Southern Fujian and refers to the local language/dialect of southern Fujian province, China. ... This article is on all of the Northern Chinese dialects. ... Vietnamese (tiếng Việt, less commonly tiếng Việt Nam or Việt ngữ), formerly known as Annamite, is the national and official language of Vietnam (Việt Nam). ... Khmer is one of the main Austroasiatic languages. ...

According to the UNHCR, the number of people seeking political asylum in France rose by around 3 per cent between 2003 and 2004, while in the same period, the number of asylum applications submitted in the United States fell by about 29 per cent. France thereby replaced the United States as the world's top destination for asylum-seekers in 2004. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... Power lines leading to a trash dump hover just overhead in El Carpio, a Nicaraguan refugee camp in Costa Rica Under international law, a refugee is a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her...

Starting with the 19th century, the historical evolution of the population in France has been extremely atypical in the Western World. Unlike the rest of Europe, France did not experience a strong population growth in the 19th century and first half of the 20th century. Conversely, it experienced a much stronger growth in the second half of the 20th century than the rest of Europe or indeed its own growth in the previous centuries. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ...

It has been the third most populous country of Europe, behind Russia and Germany, since the late 1990s. Events and trends Technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other technology Reduction in size and cost of mobile phones leads to a massive surge in their popularity Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K) Microsoft Windows operating system becomes virtually ubiquitous on IBM...

See also List of fifteen largest French metropolitan areas by population and List of towns in France. Aix (prounounced eks), or, to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, Aix-en-Provence is a city in southern France, some 30 km north of Marseille. ... Ajaccio ( Corsican: Aiacciu) is a city and commune of France, préfecture ( capital) of the département of Corse-du-Sud and, since 1810 capital of the région of Corsica. ... Albi is also a municipality in the comarca (county) of Garrigues, in Catalonia. ... The cathedral in Amiens Location within France Amiens is a city and commune in the north of France, 120 km north of Paris. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... Angoulême is a town in southwestern France, préfecture ( capital city) of the Charente département. ... Location within France The yacht harbour. ... Location within France Belfort is a town and commune of northeastern France, préfecture (capital) of the Territoire de Belfort département in the Franche-Comté région. ... Location within France Besançon is a French city in the département of Doubs, of which it is the préfecture. ... City motto: Lilia sola regunt lunam undas castra leonem. ... For the city in Belarus, see Brest, Belarus. ... Location within France Caen is a city and a commune of northwestern France. ... This article is about the French city. ... The seaside town of Cannes, in southern France, as seen from a ferry speeding towards lîle Saint Honorat Cannes (Canas in Provençal) ( pronounced ) is a city and commune in southern France, located on the French Riviera, in the Alpes-Maritimes département. ... For other uses of the name Carcassonne, see Carcassonne (disambiguation). ... Location within France Charleville-Mézières is a town and commune in northeastern France, préfecture (capital) of the Ardennes département which is itself part of the Champagne-Ardenne région. ... Clermont-Ferrand is a city of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of approximately 140,000. ... This article is about the city in Alsace. ... Location within France Street in the centre of Dijon Dijon ( pronunciation?) is a city in eastern France, the préfecture (administrative capital) of the Côte-dOr département (county) and of the Bourgogne région. ... Location within France Dunkirk ( French: Dunkerque; Dutch: Duinkerke) is a harbour city and a commune in the northernmost part of France, in the département of Nord, 10 km from the Belgian border. ... Évreux is a commune of Normandy, France, in the Eure département, of which it is the préfecture (capital). ... View of Grenoble, 2002, with the snowy peaks of the Dauphiné Alps Location within France Grenoble ( Occitan: Grasanòbol) is a city and commune in south-east France, situated at the foot of the Alps, at the confluence of the Drac into the Isère River. ... The entrance to the old La Rochelle harbour, with the two 14th century towers. ... Location within France Le Havre is a city in Normandy, northern France, on the English Channel, at the mouth of the Seine. ... Le Mans is a city in France, located at the Sarthe River. ... The following article is about the city in France. ... Location within France Limoges (Limòtges in Occitan) is a city and commune in France, the préfecture of the Haute-Vienne département, and the administrative capital of the Limousin région. ... This article is about the French city. ... Marseilles redirects here. ... Location within France Rhine watershed Metz is a city in the North-East of France, capital of the Lorraine région and of the département of Moselle (57). ... Location within France Montpellier ( Occitan Montpelhièr) is a city in the south of France. ... Location within France Mulhouse (Mülhausen in German, Milhüsa in Alsatian and Muhlhausen in Dutch) is a town and commune in eastern France. ... This article is about the city in France named Nancy. ... For a place in Brazil, see Nantes, Brazil City motto: Favet Neptunus eunti. ... This article is about the city. ... Location within France Nîmes is a city and commune of southern France, préfecture (capital) of the Gard département. ... This article is about Orléans, France; for other meanings see Orleans (disambiguation). ... Location within France Perpignan ( Catalan Perpinyà) is a commune and the préfecture (administrative capital city) of the Pyrénées-Orientales département in southern France, and was the capital of the former province of Roussillon (French Catalonia). ... Location within France Poitiers (population 85,000) is a city and commune in central France, préfecture (capital) of the Vienne département. ... Location within France Quimper (Kemper in Breton) is a commune of northwestern France. ... Location within France Reims (English traditionally Rheims) (pronounced in French) is a city of northern France, 144 km. ... Location within France The Parlement de Bretagne (Parliament of Brittany), the most famous building in Rennes, was rebuilt after a terrible fire in 1994. ... Location within France Roubaix is a city of northern France, in the Nord département, located near the cities of Lille and Tourcoing and the Belgian border. ... Location within France Rouen (pronounced in French, sometimes also ) is the historical capital city of Normandy, in northern France, and presently the capital of the Upper Normandy région. ... Location within France Saint-Étienne is a city in the central eastern part of France, 60 km. ... Saint-Nazaire is also a commune of the Gard département of France. ... City motto: – City proper ( commune) Région Alsace Département Bas-Rhin (67) Mayor Fabienne Keller ( UMP) (since 2001) Area 78. ... Tarbes, Musée des Beaux-Arts Location within France Tarbes is a French city and commune, in the département of Hautes-Pyrénées, of which it is the préfecture. ... Location within France Coat of Arms of Toulon Toulon (Tolon in Provençal) is a city in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. ... The Capitole, the 18th century city hall of Toulouse and best known landmark in the city; in the foreground is the Place du Capitole, a hub of urban life at the very center of the city Toulouse (pronounced in standard French, in local Toulouse accent) ( Occitan: Tolosa, pronounced ) is a... Location within France Tourcoing is a city and commune of northern France, in the Nord département, located near the cities of Lille and Roubaix and the Belgian border. ... Location within France Tours is a city in France, the préfecture (capital city) of the Indre-et-Loire département, on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. ... Location within France Valence is a commune in south-eastern France, the capital of the département of Drôme, situated on the left bank of the Rhône, 65 miles south of Lyon on the railway to Marseille. ... In France an aire urbaine (literally: urban area) is roughly the equivalent of a US Metropolitan Statistical Area. ... This is a list of towns or cities in France. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of France The culture of France is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as the influence of recent immigration. ...

The Académie française, or French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. ... French literature is literature written in the French language; and especially, literature written in French by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written in other languages of France. ... French cuisine is characterized by its extreme diversity. ... France has been influential in the development of film as a mass medium and as an art form. ... France has long been considered a center for European art and music. ... Holidays in France: Note: Only labour day (May 1st) is a public holiday by statute. ...

Religion

Traditionally a predominantly Roman Catholic country, with anticlerical leanings, France is since the 1970s a very secular country. Freedom of religion is a constitutional right, as reflected by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The dominant concept of the relationships between the public sphere and religions is that of laïcité, which implies that the government does not intervene in religious dogma, and that religions should refrain from intervening in policy-making. Tensions occasionally erupt about the alleged or real behaviour of some part of the Muslim minority, or about alleged or real discrimination against that community; see Islam in France. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Anti-clericalism is a movement that opposes religious interference into public and political life and more generally the encroachment of religion in the citizens lives. ... Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, ( French: La Déclaration des Droits de lHomme et du citoyen), is one of the fundamental documents of the French Revolution, defining a set of individual rights (and collective... In France and some other French-speaking countries, laïcité ( pronounced ) is a prevailing conception of the separation of church and state and the absence of religious interference into government affairs (and vice versa). ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Islam is the second largest religion in France, with approximately 5 million adherents, after 45 million adherents to Catholicism, and before Protestantism (1 million), Buddhism (600 000), Judaism (525 000) and French Eastern Orthodoxy (150 000) (data: 2000-2003). ...

The government does not maintain statistics as to the religion of its inhabitants. Statistics from an unspecified source and date given in the CIA World Factbook gives the following number: Roman Catholic 83-88%, Muslim 5-10%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%. However, a 2003 poll (http://a1692.g.akamai.net/f/1692/2042/1h/medias.lemonde.fr/medias/pdf_obj/sondage030416.pdf) 41% said that the existence of God was "excluded" or "unlikely". 33% declared that "atheist" described them rather or very well, and 51% for "Christian". When questioned about their religion, 62% answered Roman Catholic, 6% Muslim, 2% Protestant, 1% Jewish, 2% "other religions" (except for Orthodox or Buddhist, which were negligible), 26% "no religion" and 1% declined to answer. A Gallup poll established that 15% of the French population attend places of worship. World Factbook 2004 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... Islam ( Arabic al-islām الإسلام, listen?) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... For a discussion of Jews as an ethnicity or ethnic group see the article on Jew. ... This article focuses on the monotheistic concept of a singular God. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Statues of Buddha such as this, the Tian Tan Buddha statue in Hong Kong, remind followers to practice right living. ... A Gallup Poll is an opinion poll frequently used by the mass media for representing public opinion. ...

Military

Main article: Military of France Organization The French armed forces are divided into four branches: French Army (Armée de Terre), including Chasseurs Alpins French Foreign Legion Marine troops light aviation (ALAT - Aviation Légére de lArmée de Terre) engineers (Génie) [[Marine nationale|Navy] (Marine Nationale], including Naval Air naval fusiliers...

The French armed forces are divided into four branches: The armed forces of a state are its military organization. ...

In France, military age lies at 17. Since the Algerian War of Independence, conscription has been steadily reduced and was abolished by the government of Jacques Chirac in 1996. The French Army (Armée de Terre, Ground Army) is one component in the Military of France. ... Navy officers on the bridges of the Motte-Picquet frigate French Navy summer uniforms Frigate division of the French Navy in Toulon harbour The French Navy (Marine Nationale) is the second-largest Western European navy (the largest being the Royal Navy). ... Categories: Military stubs | France-related stubs | Air forces | French Air Force ... Gendarmes guarding the Paris Hall of Justice Gendarmerie motorcyclists police the roads and autoroutes of rural France. ... The Algerian War of Independence ( 1954– 62) was a period of guerrilla strikes, maquis fighting, terrorism against civilians on both sides, and riots between the French army and colonists in Algeria and the FLN (Front de Libération Nationale) and other pro-independence Algerians. ... Conscription is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority, e. ... Jacques (René) Chirac (born 29 November 1932) is a French politician. ...

Among the larger European economies, France and Britain are the only significant spenders on defence: France with 2.6% of GDP, and Britain, at 2.4%, according to 2003 figures from NATO. Those two countries account for 40% of EU defence spending. In most other EU countries, defence spending is less than 1.5% of GDP. For the National Association of Theatre Owners, please see National Association of Theatre Owners. ...

Miscellaneous topics

Description of the flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red (blue and red being the colours of Paris and white the colour of the Bourbon royal family); became the flag during the French Revolution and made popular by Marquis de Lafayette; known as the drapeau tricolore (Tricolour Flag); the design and colours inspired a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Côte d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg. The term tricolore can refer to: the Flag of France (in French, le drapeau tricolore or, rarely, le tricolore) the Flag of Italy (in Italian: il tricolore) the Flag of Russia (in Russian: триколор) a tricolour banner or flag which has three colours, usually in approximately equal size (horizontally or... The Kingdom of Belgium (Dutch: Koninkrijk België, French: Royaume de Belgique, German: Königreich Belgien) is a country in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. ... The Republic of Chad (تشاد) is a land-locked nation in central Africa. ... Côte dIvoire (often called Ivory Coast in English; see below about the name) is a country in West Africa. ... The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small landlocked state in the north-west of the continental European Union, bordered by France, Germany and Belgium. ...

The foundation of France may be dated to 486 (unified by Clovis I). For the processor, see Intel 80486. ... Non-contemporary coin with obverse legend Clovis Roy de France Clovis I (or Chlodowech or Chlodwig, modern French Louis, modern German Ludwig) (c. ...

France's motto "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" was first used as the rebels' motto during the French Revolution. The period of the French Revolution in the history of France covers the years between 1789 and 1799, in which democrats and republicans overthrew the absolute monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church was forced to undergo radical restructuring. ...

The national holiday is the Fête Nationale (National Day), celebrating the Fête de la Fédération, July 14, 1790 and not the taking of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) as is often mistakenly believed, even by a majority of the French, and is the reason why the holiday is referred to as Bastille Day in English. July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... For Bastille Linux, a hardening application, see Bastille Linux. ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on July 14th of each year. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

The capital and most populous city, Paris, is one of the most famous and beautiful cities in the world, and home to numerous historical buildings and monuments.

The Palace of Versailles is the prime tourist destination in France followed by the great châteaux of the Loire Valley. Versailles: Louis Le Vau opened up the interior court to create the expansive entrance cour dhonneur, later copied all over Europe The Château de Versailles — often called the Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles — is a royal château, outside the gates of which the village of Versailles, France, has... A château ( French for castle; plural châteaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of gentry, usually French, with or without fortifications. ... Loire Valley (French Vallée de la Loire) is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language. ...

See also

File links The following pages link to this file: Abu Dhabi Abraham Lincoln Australia Adolf Hitler Animation Andorra Alaska Anatomy Asia Albert Einstein Asterales Automobile Aircraft Alexander Graham Bell Apple Computer American Civil War Ancient Egypt Asteraceae Alps Arches National Park Aarhus Almond Caesar Augustus Acacia Acropolis Acupuncture Amaranth Alexander... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Kings ruled in France from the Middle Ages to 1848. ... Telephones - main lines in use: 33. ... Railways: total: 31,939 km (31,940 km are operated by French National Railways ( SNCF); 14,176 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked) standard gauge: 31,840 km 1. ... In France an aire urbaine (literally: urban area) is roughly the equivalent of a US Metropolitan Statistical Area. ... Education in France: Secondary education in France (collège and lycée) Baccalauréat (the final exam at the end of the lycée) Grandes Écoles List of universities in France See also Minister of National Education (France) Agence pour lEnseignement Français à lEtranger Categories: Education in France... A listing of universities and major tertiary education institutions in France. ... Chateau of Josselin, in Brittany, France. ... This is a list of ski areas around the world. ... -1... Marianne busts with features of Brigitte Bardot - ? - ? - Catherine Deneuve - Mireille Mathieu For the Tori Amos song see Marianne (song). ... Because of the large number of bird species in France, this list has been split into two parts: List of French birds: non-passerines List of French birds: passerines Categories: Regional bird lists ... Bastides are fortified towns built in medieval France starting around 1229, the date of the first recorded bastide. ... Institutions Franc (Currency) Euro (Current currency) Government of France Politics of France History Eras, events Gauls Franks French Revolution Verdun Historical characters Joan of Arc Napoleon Bonaparte Charles de Gaulle Charlemagne Culture Marianne Cheese Baguette Trivia List of French people French Foreign Legion Concorde Papillon (book) based on the life...

International rankings

In economics, the gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of the amount of the economic production of a particular territory in financial capital terms during a specific time period. ... International trade is defined as trade between two or more partners from different countries (an exporter and an importer). ... International trade is the exchange of goods and services across international borders. ... Economics In economics, an export is any good or commodity, shipped or otherwise transported out of a country, province, town to another part of the world, typically for use in trade or sale. ... The UN Human Development Index (HDI) measures poverty, literacy, education, life expectancy, and other factors. ... Reporters Without Borders, or RWB ( French: Reporters sans frontières, or RSF) is an international non-governmental organization devoted to freedom of the press. ...

External links

Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ...

European Union (EU)

Austria | Belgium | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Ireland | Italy | Latvia | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta | Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | United Kingdom The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ... Download high resolution version (1200x800, 13 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic Croatia Cyprus Economy of Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Council of Europe Economy of Denmark Drachma European Union Estonia Euro European Parliament Talk:European Union European Free Alliance... Fixed size, hues based on World Flag Database. ... The Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. ... General info: Large flag of Belgium Dimensions: 348x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... The Kingdom of Belgium (Dutch: Koninkrijk België, French: Royaume de Belgique, German: Königreich Belgien) is a country in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. ... General info: Large flag of Cyprus Dimensions: 503x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: Originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... Cyprus (in Greek Kypros Κύπρος and in Turkish Kıbrıs) is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, 113 kilometres (70 miles) south of Turkey and around 120 km west of the Syrian coast. ... General info: Large flag of the Czech Republic Dimensions: 453x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain License: Originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... National motto: Truth prevails (Czech: Pravda vítězí) Official language Czech Capital Praha (Prague) President Václav Klaus Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek Area - Total - % water Ranked 114th 78,866 km² 2% Population - Total (2003) - Density Ranked 76th 10. ... General info: Large civil flag of Denmark Dimensions: 399x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: Originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... The Kingdom of Denmark is geographically the smallest Nordic country and is part of the European Union. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic European Union Estonia Foreign relations of Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Finland France Germany Economy... The Republic of Estonia is a country in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the north. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria AZ Alkmaar Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Charlton Athletic F.C. Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European... The Republic of Finland (Finnish: Suomen tasavalta, Swedish: Republiken Finland) is a Nordic country in northeastern Europe, bordered by the Baltic Sea to the southwest, the Gulf of Finland to the southeast and the Gulf of Bothnia to the west. ... Tricolore of France Created by User:Anthony S. Tsoumbris French Tricolore flag File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam A.S. Roma A.C. Milan Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Corsica Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Large flag of Greece Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Large flag of Hungary Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) or Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Arsenal F.C. Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Charlton Athletic F.C. Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and... The Republic of Ireland ( Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann) is the official description of an independent state which covers approximately five-sixths of the island of Ireland, off the coast of north-west Europe. ... Download high resolution version (1200x800, 1 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Arsenal F.C. A.S. Roma A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union... The Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Finland France Germany Economy of Germany Greece Hungary... The Republic of Latvia ( Latvian: Latvijas Republika), or Latvia ( Latvian: Latvija), is a country in Northern Europe. ... Large flag of Lithuania Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... The Republic of Lithuania (in Lithuanian, Lietuva) is a republic in Northeastern Europe. ... Headline text File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Finland France Germany Economy of Germany... The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small landlocked state in the north-west of the continental European Union, bordered by France, Germany and Belgium. ... Flag of Malta. ... This article is about the European nation. ... Large flag of the Netherlands. ... Large flag of Poland Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria A.C. Milan Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Finland France Fulham F.C. Football World Cup... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Finland France Germany Economy of Germany Greece Hungary... National motto: None Official language Slovak Capital Bratislava President Ivan Gašparovič Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda Area - Total - % water Ranked 126th 49,035 km² Negligible Population - Total ( 2004) - Density Ranked 103rd 5,379,455 109/km² Independence January 1, 1993 (division of Czechoslovakia) Currency Slovak koruna Time zone - in summer CET... Large Flag of Slovenia, originally from flags of the CIA World Factbook, 2004. ... The Republic of Slovenia ( Slovenian: Republika Slovenija) is a coastal sub-Alpine country in south central Europe bordering Italy to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north. ... Source: Sodipodis Clipart Gallery. ... Large flag of Sweden Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Union Flag / Union Jack: Flag of the United Kingdom For more information, see Court of the Lord Lyon, Flags. ...

Categories: European countries | France | Francophonie | Republics | European Union member states This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... Albania is a Mediterranean country in southeastern Europe. ... National motto: Virtus Unita Fortior (Latin: Virtue united is stronger) Official language: Catalan. ... Armenia - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... The Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. ... Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a country in the Caucasus, in the crossroads of Europe and Southwest Asia, with an east coast on the Caspian Sea. ... Belarus (Belarusian: Белару́сь or Biełaruś, Russian: Белару́сь (formerly: Белору́ссия), Polish: Białoruś) is a landlocked nation of Eastern Europe with the capital Minsk. ... The Kingdom of Belgium (Dutch: Koninkrijk België, French: Royaume de Belgique, German: Königreich Belgien) is a country in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. ... Bosnia and Herzegovina (officially Bosna i Hercegovina, shortened to BiH, also in English variously written Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bosnia-Hercegovina) is a mountainous country in the western Balkans. ... The Republic of Bulgaria is a republic in the southeast of Europe. ... The Republic of Croatia is a crescent-shaped country in Europe bordering the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans. ... Cyprus (in Greek Kypros Κύπρος and in Turkish Kıbrıs) is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, 113 kilometres (70 miles) south of Turkey and around 120 km west of the Syrian coast. ... National motto: Truth prevails (Czech: Pravda vítězí) Official language Czech Capital Praha (Prague) President Václav Klaus Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek Area - Total - % water Ranked 114th 78,866 km² 2% Population - Total (2003) - Density Ranked 76th 10. ... The Kingdom of Denmark is geographically the smallest Nordic country and is part of the European Union. ... The Republic of Estonia is a country in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the north. ... The Republic of Finland (Finnish: Suomen tasavalta, Swedish: Republiken Finland) is a Nordic country in northeastern Europe, bordered by the Baltic Sea to the southwest, the Gulf of Finland to the southeast and the Gulf of Bothnia to the west. ... The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) or Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. ... Iceland (disambiguation). ... The Republic of Ireland ( Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann) is the official description of an independent state which covers approximately five-sixths of the island of Ireland, off the coast of north-west Europe. ... The Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... The Republic of Latvia ( Latvian: Latvijas Republika), or Latvia ( Latvian: Latvija), is a country in Northern Europe. ... The Principality of Liechtenstein ( German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a small, doubly landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Switzerland to its west and by Austria to its east. ... The Republic of Lithuania (in Lithuanian, Lietuva) is a republic in Northeastern Europe. ... The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small landlocked state in the north-west of the continental European Union, bordered by France, Germany and Belgium. ... National motto: None Official languages Macedonian2 Capital Skopje President Branko Crvenkovski Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski Area - Total - % water Ranked 145th 25,713 km² 1. ... This article is about the European nation. ... This article refers to the Republic of Moldova. ... The Principality of Monaco or Monaco ( French: Principauté de Monaco or Monaco; Monegasque: Munegu or Principatu de Munegu) is a city state and the second-smallest country in the world, wedged in between the Mediterranean Sea and France along the French Riviera or Côte dAzur (The Blue Coast). ... The Kingdom of Norway is a Nordic country on the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, bordering Sweden, Finland and Russia, with territorial waters bordering Danish and British waters. ... The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and... Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ... San Marino (disambiguation). ... Serbia and Montenegro ( Serbian: Србија и Црна Гора, often abbreviated as SCG) is the name of the union of Serbia and Montenegro, two former Yugoslav republics united since 2003 in a loose confederation. ... National motto: None Official language Slovak Capital Bratislava President Ivan Gašparovič Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda Area - Total - % water Ranked 126th 49,035 km² Negligible Population - Total ( 2004) - Density Ranked 103rd 5,379,455 109/km² Independence January 1, 1993 (division of Czechoslovakia) Currency Slovak koruna Time zone - in summer CET... The Republic of Slovenia ( Slovenian: Republika Slovenija) is a coastal sub-Alpine country in south central Europe bordering Italy to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north. ... The Swiss Confederation or Switzerland is a landlocked federal state in Europe, with neighbours Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. ... Ukraine (Україна, Ukrayina in Ukrainian; Украина in Russian) is a republic in eastern Europe which borders Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest and the Black Sea to the south. ... The State of the Vatican City ( Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanæ), is a landlocked enclave surrounded by the city of Rome in Italy, and the smallest independent state in the world (both in area and in population). ... The coat of arms of the Holy See The term Holy See ( Latin: Sancta Sedes, lit. ... Dependency has a number of meanings: In project management, a dependency is a link amongst a projects terminal elements. ... Map of Akrotiri (Western) SBA Akrotiri (also known as the Western Sovereign Base Area or WSBA) and Dhekelia (also known as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area or ESBA) are UK Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus, a former British Crown Colony. ... Motto: None Official language Faroese Capital Tórshavn Monarch Margrethe II Prime Minister Jóannes Eidesgaard Area - Total - % water World ranking: 189th 1,399 km² — Population - Total (2004) - Density World ranking: 211th 48,228 33. ... Gibraltar (disambiguation). ... For the garment with this name, see guernsey. ... Jan Mayen Jan Mayen Island, a part of the Kingdom of Norway, is a 373-square-kilometer arctic volcanic island partly covered by glaciers and divided into two parts by a narrow isthmus. ... New Jersey and Jersey (disambiguation). ... See also the Isle of Mam. ... Svalbard, a part of the Kingdom of Norway, including one municipality (Longyearbyen), lies in the Arctic Ocean north of mainland Europe. ... A bicontinental country is a country whose contiguous continental territory (or in case an island state - its different islands) lie in two different continents. ... World map showing location of Asia A satellite composite image of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of the continent of Eurasia, defined by subtracting the European peninsula from Eurasia. ... World map showing location of Asia A satellite composite image of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of the continent of Eurasia, defined by subtracting the European peninsula from Eurasia. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ...

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