France | Geography | People | Economy | Innovation, and Problems

France, officially the French Republic is a beautiful western European country and the most important economic and social hub of the world. Paris, the capital city of France is the most visited city in the world.

Original Post: France | Geography, Economy, Tourism, People, and Problems

Geography

In terms of land area, France is the third-largest country in the European continent with a total land area of 551,695 square kilometers. This country is bordered by Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and the United Kingdom. France is not only located in western Europe but also there are some overseas island territories over the globe which stretch from the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and Toulouse are the major cities of France. The geography of France mostly consists of plain terrain whereas the hilly and mountainous region of the Alps mountain range in the East is also situated here. Montblanc is the highest point in France which is 4807 meters above sea level. Seine, Rhine, and Rhône are the major rivers of France.

• European Metropolitan Territory:- Main Land on the peninsula of Europe.
• Overseas Territories:- 13 Distinct territories outside the European Mainland

Fact:- Monaco, the second smallest country in the world, is located inside France on 3 sides and one side by the Mediterranean sea.

Demographics

France is the fourth most populous country on the European continent after Russia, Germany, and The United Kingdom with around 65.4 million people in 2021. The majority of the population is considered as French ancestry whereas Italian German and Swiss are also predominant ethnic groups here. In terms of religion, Roman Catholic is the largest religion in France and the majority of the people are Christians.

French is the major language of France and it is spoken all over Metropolitan France and other foreign territories.

France is a developed country that offers high quality of life to its people. Life expectancy in France is 82.5 years which is considerably better. In fact, France has the world’s best healthcare system.

Fact:- French people Eat 25,000 Tons of Snails each year.

Economy

France has a highly developed free-market economy with nominal GDP of 2.78 Trillion US$ in 2021. It makes France the 6th the richest country in the world.

The economy of France mostly depends upon the services, manufacturing, and tourism sectors. The agricultural sector also contributes to the economy because France has fertile plain land over the country and agro-products are produced and exported on a massive scale.

France is the largest producer of wine and sugar beets. Whereas Automobiles, Chemicals, Electronics, Aircraft, and Food processing equipment are produced and exported worldwide. The United States, Germany, and Italy are the largest trade partners of France.

Fact: France is the second-largest producer of Nuclear Electricity in the world

Tourism

France is the most visited country in the world, explored by nearly 90 million people in 2019 (Before the pandemic). Tourism is an important factor in the French economy. There are many beautiful places in France to visit. Some of the popular tourist destinations are listed below.

• Eiffel Tower of Paris
• Louvre Museum. Louvre Museum
• Bonifacio city of Corsica Island
• Reims Cathedral
• Bordeaux Wine Regions
• Bridge of Pont du Gard
• Nimes Roman Monuments
• Mont Saint-Michel
• The Palace of Versailles
• Ski Resort of Chamonix Valley
• Old Historic City of Carcassonne
• Disneyland Paris
• Le Puy-en-Velay

Paris, the capital city of France is famous for its tourism, economic, historic, and modern lifestyle. France is considered a romantic country. It is the most popular honeymoon destination in the world. Literally, the whole of Paris city is romantic. :)

You can explore the beautiful french countryside which looks eye-catching to the visitors. Make sure to learn basic french before coming here because French people love their language.

In terms of coastal tourism, France has the perfect coastal destinations. French Riviera is the beautiful coastline in the southeast corner where you can enjoy the Mediterranean oceanic climate.

France is home to countless museums, remains of world war and other ancient things which are still preserved in french museums.

Do you know? The famous Painting of Monalisa is still kept in the Louvre Museum of Paris.

Fact: Paris has only one Stop Sign in the entire city.

Innovations

France has a great contribution in the field of innovation, art, literature, science, and technology.

Some famous french people are Marie Curie, Louis Pasteur, Blaise Pascal, Antoine Lavoisier and Pierre Curie.

Here are some innovations of France listed below:-

• Modern Parachute
• The Photograph
• Pasteurization
• Modern Pencil
• Modern Stethoscope
• Modern Hydrometer
• Electrometer

Nature and Wildlife

France is a naturally diverse country. There are mostly flat plains or rolling hills in the north and west and mountainous landscape in the south of the country. There is plenty of agricultural land and natural resources.

Animals like Red Deer, Roe Deer, Bear, Green Lizard, European Wild Cats, and Wild Boar are commonly found in France.

Around 31% of land in France is covered by forest which is the second largest after Finland in the European Union.

International Relations

France is the second-largest contributor to the European Union and they have trade, cultural, and freedom of movement relations with other European Union countries.

Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are the closest friends of France in Africa.

In Asia, India, Japan and South Korea are the closest friends and they share their technology and do have good trade partnerships.

In the past, France had fought with many nations during world war but now they all are good friends of each other but some disputes are still prevailing for territories.

Problems

In spite of being a rich country, there are some problems with France. The major problem is the high unemployment rate. In 2021, the Unemployment rate of France is around 8.1% which is comparatively higher than the average of the European Union.

Another problem is protests, Strikes, and labor unrest are getting common in France. Student protests also have some relationship to the young people having in finding good jobs. This might cause unnecessary disturbance to the public and labor market imbalance.