Country Guide

Ecuador Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru


Geographic coordinates:
2 00 S, 77 30 W


Map references:
South America


Area:
total:283,561 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 74
land:276,841 sq km
water:6,720 sq km
note:includes Galapagos Islands


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Nevada


Land boundaries:
total:2,237 km
border countries:Colombia 708 km, Peru 1,529 km


Coastline:
2,237 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:200 nm
continental shelf:100 nm from 2,500-m isobath


Climate:
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands


Terrain:
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:Chimborazo 6,267 m
note:due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea-level


    Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:4.51%
permanent crops:5.38%
other:90.11% (2011)


Irrigated land:
8,534 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
424.4 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
424.4 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective:Ecuadorian


Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Afroecuadorian 7.2%, Amerindian 7%, white 6.1%, other 0.4% (2010 census)


Languages:
Spanish (Castillian) 93% (official), Quechua 4.1%, other indigenous 0.7%, foreign 2.2%


Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%


Demographic profile:
Ecuador's high poverty and income inequality most affect indigenous, mixed race, and rural populations. The government has increased its social spending to ameliorate these problems, but critics question the efficiency and implementation of its national development plan. Nevertheless, the conditional cash transfer program, which requires participants' children to attend school and have medical check-ups, has helped improve educational attainment and healthcare among poor children. Ecuador is stalled at above replacement level fertility and the population most likely will keep growing rather than stabilize.


Population:
15,654,411 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 68


Age structure:
0-14 years:28.5% (male 2,275,448/female 2,184,706)
15-24 years:18.6% (male 1,478,184/female 1,439,288)
25-54 years:38.9% (male 2,968,757/female 3,124,938)
55-64 years:7.1% (male 544,097/female 562,326)
65 years and over:6.7% (male 514,549/female 562,118) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:56.9 %
youth dependency ratio:46.5 %
elderly dependency ratio:10.5 %
potential support ratio:9.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:26.7 years
male:26 years
female:27.3 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.37% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 88


Birth rate:
18.87 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 95


Death rate:
5.04 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 185


Net migration rate:
-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 116


Urbanization:
urban population:67.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
Guayaquil 2.287 million; QUITO (capital) 1.622 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.92 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
21.1


    Maternal mortality rate:
110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:17.93 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 98
male:21.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female:14.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:76.36 yearscountry comparison to the world: 81
male:73.4 years
female:79.46 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.29 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 94


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
72.7% (2004)


Health expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.69 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 91.6% of population
rural: 75.2% of population
total: 86.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8.4% of population
rural: 24.8% of population
total: 13.6% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 86.5% of population
rural: 75.9% of population
total: 83.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 13.5% of population
rural: 24.1% of population
total: 16.9% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 62


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
52,300 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 60


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,700 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 53


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
21.4% (2008)country comparison to the world: 86


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
6.2% (2004)country comparison to the world: 82


Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2012)country comparison to the world: 94

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:91.6%
male:93.1%
female:90.2% (2011 est.)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:11.1%country comparison to the world: 105
male:9%
female:15% (2011)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form:Ecuador
local long form:Republica del Ecuador
local short form:Ecuador


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Quito
geographic coordinates:0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference:UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe


Independence:
24 May 1822 (from Spain)


National holiday:
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)


Constitution:
many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008; amended 2011 (2011)


Legal system:
civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in indigenous communities


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18-65 years of age, universal and compulsory; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, voluntary


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Jorge GLAS Espinel (since 24 May 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Jorge GLAS Espinel (since 24 May 2013)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:the president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another consecutive term; election last held on 17 February 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
election results:President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 57.2%, Guillermo LASSO 22.7%, Lucio GUTIERREZ 6.8%, Mauricio RODAS 3.9%, other 9.4%


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (137 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 17 February 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAIS 100, CREO 11, PSC 6, AVANZA 5, MUPP 5, PSP 5, other 5; note - defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges including the chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office:justices of National Court of Justice elected by the Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; judges elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the executive, legislative, and Citizen Participation branches of government; judges appointed for 9-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years
subordinate courts:Fiscal Tribunal; Election Dispute Settlement Courts, provincial courts (one for each province); cantonal courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Alianza PAIS movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]
Avanza Party or AVANZA [Ramiro GONZALEZ]
Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO [Guillermo LASSO]
Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]
Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP [Rafael ANTUNI]
Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]
Popular Democracy Movement or MPD [Luis VILLACIS]
Roldosist Party or PRE
Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]
Socialist Party [Fabian SOLANO]
Society United for More Action or SUMA [Mauricio RODAS]
Warrior's Spirit Movement [Jaime NEBOT]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Humberto CHOLANGO]


International organization participation:
CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Saskia Nathalie CELY Suarez (since 2 December 2011)
chancery:1050 30th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:[1] (202) 465-8140
FAX:[1] (202) 333-2893
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Haven (CT), New Orleans, New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Adam E. NAMM (since 26 April 2012)
embassy:Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
mailing address:Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras
telephone:[593] (2) 398-5000
FAX:[593] (2) 398-5100
consulate(s) general:Guayaquil


Flag description:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Columbia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice


National symbol(s):
Andean condor


National anthem:
name:'Salve, Oh Patria!' (We Salute You Our Homeland)

lyrics/music:Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
note:adopted 1948; Juan Leon MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung

Economy

Economy - overview:
Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and approximately two-fifths of public sector revenues in recent years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador's economy suffered from a banking crisis, with GDP contracting by 5.3% and poverty increasing significantly. In March 2000, the Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew an average of 4.3% per year, the highest five-year average in 25 years. After moderate growth in 2007, the economy reached a growth rate of 6.4% in 2008, buoyed by high global petroleum prices and increased public sector investment. President Rafael CORREA Delgado, who took office in January 2007, defaulted in December 2008 on Ecuador's sovereign debt, which, with a total face value of approximately US$3.2 billion, represented about 30% of Ecuador's public external debt. In May 2009, Ecuador bought back 91% of its 'defaulted' bonds via an international reverse auction. Economic policies under the CORREA administration - for example, an announcement in late 2009 of its intention to terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties, including one with the United States - have generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment. China has become Ecuador's largest foreign lender since Quito defaulted in 2008, allowing the government to maintain a high rate of social spending; Ecuador contracted with the Chinese government for more than $9.9 billion in forward oil sales, project financing, and budget support loans as of December 2013. Foreign investment levels in Ecuador continue to be the lowest in the region as a result of an unstable regulatory environment, weak rule of law, and the crowding-out effect of public investments. In 2013, oil output marginally reversed a declining trend and production is expected to increase slightly in 2014, although prices will likely remain lower than in previous years. Faced with a 2013 trade deficit of $1.1 billion, Ecuador erected technical barriers to trade in December 2013, causing tensions with its largest trading partners. Ecuador also decriminalized intellectual property rights violations in February 2014.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$157.6 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$151.5 billion (2012 est.)
$144.2 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.41 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
5.1% (2012 est.)
7.8% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,600 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$9,600 (2012 est.)
$9,200 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
26% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
21.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
19.7% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:62.4%
government consumption:13.4%
investment in fixed capital:26.6%
investment in inventories:0.3%
exports of goods and services:29.4%
imports of goods and services:-32.1%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:5.9%
industry:35.1%
services:59% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; fish, shrimp; balsa wood


Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals


Industrial production growth rate:
3.1%
country comparison to the world: 94
note:excludes oil refining (2013 est.)


Labor force:
6.953 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:27.8%
industry:17.8%
services:54.4% (2012)


Unemployment rate:
4.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
4.2% (2011 est.)


    Population below poverty line:
25.6% (December 2013 est)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.4%
highest 10%:38.3%
note:data for urban households only (2010 est.)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.5 (December 2013)
country comparison to the world: 23
50.5 (December 2010)
note:data are for urban households


Budget:
revenues:$37 billion
expenditures:$39.3 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
40.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104


Public debt:
23.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
21% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
4.5% (2011 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
8.17% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 32
8.68% (31 December 2010)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.7% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
8.17% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$8.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$7.801 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$27.75 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$24.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$25.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$22.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$5.911 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$827.1 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
-$177 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$25.48 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$24.65 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, wood, fish


Exports - partners:
US 37.3%, Chile 8.1%, Peru 6.5%, Japan 4.5%, Russia 4.5%, Colombia 4% (2012)


Imports:
$26.22 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$24.58 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods


Imports - partners:
US 28.4%, China 11.3%, Colombia 8.8%, Peru 4.5% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.625 billion (.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$2.483 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$19.91 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$17.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$17.89 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$17.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$6.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$6.33 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Exchange rates:
the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001

Energy

Electricity - production:
22.85 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71


Electricity - consumption:
19.38 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72


Electricity - exports:
14.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90


Electricity - imports:
1.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
5.243 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
55.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
42.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


Crude oil - production:
526,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31


Crude oil - exports:
413,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22


Crude oil - imports:
154,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
8.24 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19


Refined petroleum products - production:
207,300 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
280,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45


Refined petroleum products - exports:
28,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69


Refined petroleum products - imports:
135,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42


Natural gas - production:
240 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76


Natural gas - consumption:
330 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92


Natural gas - imports:
25,000 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.994 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
29.13 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
2.31 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 54


Telephones - mobile cellular:
16.457 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 56


Telephone system:
general assessment:elementary fixed-line service, but increasingly sophisticated mobile-cellular network
domestic:fixed-line services provided by multiple telecommunications operators; fixed-line teledensity stands at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular use has surged and subscribership has reached 100 per 100 persons
international:country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM and South America-1 submarine cables that provide links to the west coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
Ecuador has multiple TV networks and many local channels, as well as more than 300 radio stations; many TV and radio stations are privately owned; the government owns or controls 5 national TV stations and multiple radio stations; broadcast media required by law to give the government free air time to broadcast programs produced by the state (2007)


Internet country code:
.ec


Internet hosts:
170,538 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 76


Internet users:
3.352 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 64

Transportation

Airports
432 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 20


Airports - with paved runways
total:104
over 3,047 m:4
2,438 to 3,047 m:5
1,524 to 2,437 m:18
914 to 1,523 m:26
under 914 m:51 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:328
914 to 1,523 m:37
under 914 m:
291 (2013)


Heliports
2 (2013)


Pipelines
extra heavy crude 527 km; gas 71 km; oil 2,131 km; refined products 1,526 km (2013)


Railways
total:965 kmcountry comparison to the world: 90
narrow gauge:965 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:43,670 kmcountry comparison to the world: 84
paved:6,472 km
unpaved:37,198 km (2007)


Waterways
1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 53


Merchant marine
total:44country comparison to the world: 72
by type:cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 9, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 1
registered in other countries:4 (Panama 3, Peru 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Esmeraldas, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
river port(s):Guayaquil (Guayas)
container port(s) (TEUs):Guayaquil (1,405,762)

Military

Military branches
Ecuadorian Armed Forces: Ecuadorian Land Force (Fuerza Terrestre Ecuatoriana, FTE), Ecuadorian Navy (Fuerza Naval del Ecuador (FNE), includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2012)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for selective conscript military service; conscription has been suspended; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; Air Force 18-22 years of age, Ecadorian birth requirement; 1-year service obligation (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:3,728,906
females age 16-49:3,844,918 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:2,834,213
females age 16-49:3,269,535 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:152,593
female:147,143 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
2.83% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 25
3.2% of GDP (2011)
2.83% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border, which thousands of Colombians also cross to escape the violence in their home country


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):122,276 (Colombia) (2013)


    Illicit drugs
significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents (2008)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

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France Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
211 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
211 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
211 cu km (2011)


Environment - current issues:
some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


    Geography - note:
largest West European nation

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective:French


Ethnic groups:
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities


Languages:
French (official) 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)


Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%


Population:
66,259,012country comparison to the world: 22
note:the above figure is for metropolitan France and five overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233 (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:18.7% (male 6,337,877/female 6,053,185)
15-24 years:11.9% (male 4,018,044/female 3,837,191)
25-54 years:38.6% (male 12,851,278/female 12,719,073)
55-64 years:12.5% (male 4,012,614/female 4,290,624)
65 years and over:17.9% (male 5,197,519/female 6,941,607) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:57.4 %
youth dependency ratio:28.6 %
elderly dependency ratio:28.8 %
potential support ratio:3.5 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:40.9 years
male:39.3 years
female:42.4 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.45% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 158


Birth rate:
12.49 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 159


Death rate:
9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 65


Net migration rate:
1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 59


Urbanization:
urban population:85.8% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
PARIS (capital) 10.62 million; Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 14,890,100; Lyon 1.488 million; Lille 1.042 million; Nice-Cannes 991,000; Toulouse 933,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.74 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
28.1 (2010 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:3.31 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 214
male:3.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female:2.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:81.66 yearscountry comparison to the world: 15
male:78.55 years
female:84.91 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.08 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 112


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
76.4%


Health expenditures:
11.6% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
3.38 physicians/1,000 population (2011)


Hospital bed density:
6.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 78


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
150,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 34


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,700 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 62


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
18.2% (2008)country comparison to the world: 108


Education expenditures:
5.9% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 43

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:16 years
male:16 years
female:16 years (2011)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:23.8%country comparison to the world: 43
male:23.9%
female:23.7% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form:France
local long form:Republique francaise
local short form:France


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Paris
geographic coordinates:48 52 N, 2 20 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note:applies to metropolitan France only, not to its overseas departments, collectivities, or territories


Administrative divisions:
27 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy), Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica), Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Martinique, Mayotte, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion, Rhone-Alpes


Dependent areas:
Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna


Independence:
no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)


National holiday:
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)


Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2013)


Legal system:
civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012)
head of government:Prime Minister Manuel VALLS (since 1 April 2014)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister
elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 April and 6 May 2012 (next to be held in the spring of 2017); prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Francois HOLLANDE elected; first round: percent of vote - Francois HOLLANDE 28.6%, Nicolas SARKOZY 27.2%, Marine LE PEN 17.9%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON 11.1%, Francois BAYROU, 9.1%, others 6.1%; second round: HOLLANDE 51.6%, SARKOZY 48.4%


Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (348 seats; 328 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for French Polynesia, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 1 for Wallis and Futuna, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms; one third elected every three years); and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 for metropolitan France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for overseas dependencies; members elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)
elections:Senate - last held on 25 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2014); National Assembly - last held on 10 and 17 June 2012 (next to be held in June 2017)
election results:Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS/Greens 140, UMP 132, UDF 31, PCF/MRC 21, PRG 17, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PS 48.5%, UMP 33.6%, miscellaneous left wing parties 3.8%, Greens 3.0%, miscellaneous right wing parties 2.6%, NC 2.1%, PRG 2.1%, FDG 1.7%, other 2.6%; seats by party - PS 280, UMP 194, miscellaneous left wing parties 22, Greens 17, miscellaneous right wing parties 15, NC 12, PRG 12, FDG 10, other 15


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of the court president, 6 divisional presiding judges, 120 trial judges, and 70 deputy judges organized into 6 divisions - 3 civil, 1 commercial, 1 labor, and 1 criminal); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members)
judge selection and term of office:Court of Cassation judges appointed by the president of the republic from nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary, presided by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judge term of appointment NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic and 3 each by the National Assembly and Senate presidents; members serve 9-year, non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years
subordinate courts:appellate courts or Cour d'Appel; regional courts or Tribunal de Grande Instance; first instance courts or Tribunal' d'instance


    Political parties and leaders:
Europe Ecology - The Greens or EELV [Emmanuelle COSSE]
French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT]
Left Front Coalition or FDG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON]
Left Party or PG [Jean-Luc MELENCHON and Martine BILLARD]
Left Radical Party or PRG [Jean-Michel BAYLET] (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)
Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]
National Front or FN [Marine LE PEN]
New Anticapitalist Party or NPA [collective leadership; main spokesperson Christine POUPIN]
New Center or NC [Herve MORIN]
Radical Party [Jean-Louis BORLOO]
Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]
Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean-Luc LAURENT]
Socialist Party or PS [Haerlem DESIR]
United Republic or RS [Dominique DE VILLEPIN]
Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [Jean-Francois COPE]
Union des Democrates et Independants or UDI [Jean-Louis BORLOO] and Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for French Democracy or UDF); together known as UDI-Modem
Worker's Struggle (Lutte Ouvriere) or LO [collective leadership; spokespersons Nathalie ARTHAUD and Arlette LAQUILLER]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail (French Democratic Confederation of Labor) or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with approximately 875,000 members [Laurent BERGER, Secretary General]


International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Francois M. DELATTRE (since 18 February 2011)
chancery:4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:[1] (202) 944-6000
FAX:[1] (202) 944-6166
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mark A. TAPLIN; note - also accredited to Monaco
embassy:2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address:PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone:[33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX:[33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general:Marseille, Strasbourg


Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the 'Le drapeau tricolore' (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the 'ancient French color' of white was combined with the blue and red colors of the Parisian militia; the official flag for all French dependent areas


National symbol(s):
Gallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne


National anthem:
name:'La Marseillaise' (The Song of Marseille)

lyrics/music:Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
note:adopted 1795, restored 1870; originally known as 'Chant de Guerre pour l'Armee du Rhin' (War Song for the Army of the Rhine), the National Guard of Marseille made the song famous by singing it while marching into Paris in 1792 during the French Revolutionary Wars

Economy

Economy - overview:
The French economy is diversified across all sectors. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. However, the government maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. With at least 82 million foreign tourists per year, France is the most visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that mitigate economic inequality. France's real GDP stagnated in 2012 and 2013. The unemployment rate (including overseas territories) increased from 7.8% in 2008 to 10.2% in 2013. Youth unemployment in metropolitan France decreased from a high of 25.4% in the fourth quarter of 2012 to 22.8% in the fourth quarter of 2013. Lower-than-expected growth and high spending have strained France's public finances. The budget deficit rose sharply from 3.3% of GDP in 2008 to 7.5% of GDP in 2009 before improving to 4.1% of GDP in 2013, while France's public debt rose from 68% of GDP to nearly 94% over the same period. In accordance with its EU obligations, France is targeting a deficit of 3.6% of GDP in 2014 and 2.8% in 2015. The administration of President Francois HOLLANDE has implemented greater state support for employment, the separation of banks' traditional deposit taking and lending activities from more speculative businesses, increasing the top corporate and personal tax rates, including a temporary 75% tax on wages over one million euros, and hiring an additional 60,000 teachers during his five-year term. In January 2014 HOLLANDE proposed a “Responsibility Pact” aimed primarily at lowering labor costs in return for businesses’ commitment to create jobs. Despite stagnant growth and fiscal challenges, France's borrowing costs have declined in recent years because investors remain attracted to the liquidity of France’s bonds.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.276 trillion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$2.269 trillion (2012 est.)
$2.268 trillion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.739 trillion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
0.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0% (2012 est.)
2% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,700 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$35,800 (2012 est.)
$36,000 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
18.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
17.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
19% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:57.6%
government consumption:25.1%
investment in fixed capital:18.7%
investment in inventories:0.1%
exports of goods and services:27.3%
imports of goods and services:-28.8%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:1.9%
industry:18.7%
services:79.4% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish


Industries:
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism


Industrial production growth rate:
-0.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Labor force:
29.94 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:2.9%
industry:20.6%
services:76.4% (2012 est.)


Unemployment rate:
10.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
10.2% (2012 est.)
note:includes overseas territories


Population below poverty line:
7.9% (2011)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:3.5%
highest 10%:25.4% (2011)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.6 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 117
27.9 (1996)


    Budget:
revenues:$1.41 trillion
expenditures:$1.522 trillion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
51.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150


Public debt:
93.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
90.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
2% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
0.75% (31 December 2013)
country comparison to the world: 114
1.75% (31 December 2010)
note:this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.1% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
3.44% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$810.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$738.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders


Stock of broad money:
$2.299 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$2.273 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$3.687 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$3.631 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.762 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$58.97 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
-$45.22 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$578.6 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$567.1 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages


Exports - partners:
Germany 16.7%, Belgium 7.5%, Italy 7.5%, Spain 6.9%, UK 6.9%, US 5.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2012)


Imports:
$659.8 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$653.4 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals


Imports - partners:
Germany 19.5%, Belgium 11.3%, Italy 7.6%, Netherlands 7.4%, Spain 6.6%, UK 5.1%, China 4.9% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$198.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$188.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Debt - external:
$5.371 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$5.004 trillion (31 December 2011)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.103 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$1.095 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.489 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$1.497 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7634 (2013 est.)
0.7752 (2012 est.)
0.755 (2010 est.)
0.7198 (2009 est.)
0.6827 (2008 est.)

Energy

Electricity - production:
561.2 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8


Electricity - consumption:
462.9 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Electricity - exports:
73.4 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1


Electricity - imports:
29 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
124.3 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
22.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
50.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
14.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
6.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37


Crude oil - production:
72,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115


Crude oil - imports:
1.298 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
85.18 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71


Refined petroleum products - production:
1.55 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1.792 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13


Refined petroleum products - exports:
464,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15


Refined petroleum products - imports:
834,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7


Natural gas - production:
508 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


Natural gas - consumption:
47.99 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17


Natural gas - exports:
5.994 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Natural gas - imports:
47.71 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Natural gas - proved reserves:
10.7 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
374.3 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
39.29 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 7


Telephones - mobile cellular:
62.28 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 21


Telephone system:
general assessment:highly developed
domestic:extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive use of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international:country code - 33; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
overseas departments:country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe - 590; Martinique - 596; Mayotte - 262; Reunion - 262 (2011)



    Broadcast media:
a mix of both publicly operated and privately owned TV stations; state-owned France Televisions operates 4 networks, one of which is a network of regional stations, and has part-interest in several thematic cable/satellite channels and international channels; a large number of privately owned regional and local TV stations; multi-channel satellite and cable services provide a large number of channels; public broadcaster Radio France operates 7 national networks, a series of regional networks, and operates services for overseas territories and foreign audiences; Radio France Internationale (RFI), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a leading international broadcaster; a large number of commercial FM stations, with many of them consolidating into commercial networks (2008)


Internet country code:
metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re


Internet hosts:
17.266 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 7


Internet users:
45.262 million; 44.625 million (metropolitan France) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 8

Transportation

Airports
464 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 17


Airports - with paved runways
total:294
over 3,047 m:14
2,438 to 3,047 m:25
1,524 to 2,437 m:97
914 to 1,523 m:83
under 914 m:75 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:170
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:64
under 914 m:
105 (2013)


Heliports
1 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 15,322 km; oil 2,939 km; refined products 5,084 km (2013)


Railways
total:29,640 kmcountry comparison to the world: 9
standard gauge:29,473 km 1.435-m gauge (15,361 km electrified)
narrow gauge:167 km 1.000-m gauge (63 km electrified) (2008)


Roadways
total:1,028,446 km (metropolitan France; includes 11,416 km of expressways)country comparison to the world: 8
note:there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments (2010)


    Waterways



Merchant marine
total:162
country comparison to the world: 36
by type:bulk carrier 3, cargo 7, chemical tanker 34, container 27, liquefied gas 12, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 41, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11
foreign-owned:50 (Belgium 7, Bermuda 5, Denmark 11, French Polynesia 11, Germany 1, New Caledonia 3, Singapore 3, Sweden 4, Switzerland 5)
registered in other countries:151 (Bahamas 15, Belgium 7, Bermuda 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 16, Egypt 1, Hong Kong 4, Indonesia 1, Ireland 2, Italy 2, Luxembourg 15, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 7, Mexico 1, Morocco 3, Netherlands 2, Norway 5, Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 3, South Korea 2, Taiwan 2, UK 39, US 4, unknown 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Brest, Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes,
river port(s):Paris, Rouen (Seine); Strasbourg (Rhine); Bordeaux (Garronne)
container port(s):Le Havre (2,215,262)(2011)
cruise/ferry port(s):Calais, Cherbourg, Le Havre

Military

Military branches
Army (Armee de Terre; includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale), Air Force (Armee de l'Air (AdlA); includes Air Defense) (2011)


Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; 1-year service obligation; women serve in noncombat posts (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:14,563,662
females age 16-49:14,238,434 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:12,025,341
females age 16-49:11,721,827 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:396,050
female:377,839 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.8% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 47
1.9% of GDP (2013)
1.9% of GDP (2012)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):23,762 (Sri Lanka); 13,513 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 12,795 (Russia); 12,560 (Cambodia); 11,738 (Serbia); 10,867 (Turkey); 8,528 (Vietnam); 7,261 (Laos); 5,101 (Mauritania) (2013)
stateless persons:1,210 (2012)



Illicit drugs

 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook