| Area |
547,030 square kilometer |
| National Capital |
Paris |
| Coastline |
3,427 kilometers |
| Geography |
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 |
| Terrain |
Mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east |
| Time Zone |
GMT + 1 Hour |
| Elevation Extremes |
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m; highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m |
| Poplulation |
60,424,213 (July 2004 est.) |
| Language |
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) |
| Currency |
EURO |
| Climate |
Generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean |
| Natural Resources |
Coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash. |
| Religion |
Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6% |
| Government |
Republic |
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