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Europe
French Republic
🗺️ Paris, France
Capital city
📍 48.8566°, 2.3522°View larger map →
📍 Essential Info
CapitalParis
TimezoneUTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Population68.5M
Governmentsemi-presidential republic
🔌 Practical Info
Driving SideRight
Electrical PlugsType C, E (230V)
Internet Codemetropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re
Internet Users87%
GDP per Capita$54,500
🌍 Geography
Locationmetropolitan France: 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 SpainFrench Gui...
Size Comparisonslightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas
Climatemetropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral
Terrainmetropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in eastFrench Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to...
👥 People & Culture
Ethnic GroupsCeltic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African (Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian), Indochinese, Basque minorities
ReligionsRoman Catholic 47%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 2%, Buddhist 2%, Orthodox 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 33%, unspecified 9% (2021 est.)
Median Age42.7 years
Life Expectancy82.6 years
National HolidayFête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
🎎 Cultural Tips
Greetings
Light kisses on both cheeks (la bise) are common among friends. A handshake is appropriate for business settings.
Dining
Keep hands visible on the table. Bread goes directly on the table, not on a plate. Don't ask for substitutions.
Key Phrases
Hello: BonjourThank you: MerciExcuse me: Excusez-moiPlease: S'il vous plaitGoodbye: Au revoir
Destinations in France
Data sourced from the CIA World Factbook