Country Profile Presentation

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FRANCE M.K., A.K., Maj Kristensen, K.K., A.K.


Population and its trends Popula4on •  •  •

Total : 64, 768, 389.52 (62, 814, 233 in metropolitan) Paris (capital) – largest city, accommodates about one-­‐sixth of the country's populaIon Other ciIes with over a million people: Lyon, Marseille and Lille

Age structure •  •  •

0–14 years: 18.6% (male 6,129,729/female 5,838,925) 15–64 years: 65% (male 20,963,124/female 20,929,280) 65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,403,248/female 6,155,767)


Geographic Distributions •  largest land area of any Western European naIon •  total land area of over 211,000 square miles •  coastline of 2,130 miles •  area is about four-­‐fiVhs of the size of Texas •  lies between Mediterranean Sea on the southeast and Bay of Biscay and English Channel to the north and west •  shares borders with Andorra, Monaco, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain


Family Structure •  TradiIonal family structure evolved from extended family to nuclear family •  Average of 2.5 children in a family •  Since 1960’s marriages have decreased, divorces increased •  Increase in single parent families, unmarried coupes, childless couples •  PACS (“civil pact of solidarity”) –civil union between two adults (same-­‐sex or opposite-­‐sex) •  Same-­‐sex marriage not legally recognized – but President Hollande and legislaIve branch currently in process of wriIng an enacIng a law


Income •

GDP $2.773 trillion (2011)

GDP growth 1.7% (04.2012)

GDP by sector: •

agriculture (2.1%)

industry (19%)

services (78.9%)

GNI $2.3 trillion (2011)

GNP $2.8 million (2011)

HDI .88 (#20 on UN's Human Development Report of 2011)

Infla7on (CPI) 1.5%

Labor force 28.21 million Unemployment 10.8% (09.2012)


Currency •

Euro dollar

Current exchange rate: $1 USD = 0.77 Euro (as of 12/5/2012)


Language Official language •  French is the only official language of France

English, Spanish, Italian and German are the most commonly studied foreign languages in French schools

Regional languages •  English (34%) •  Spanish (13%) •  German (8%) •  Italian (2%)


Education •  Primary EducaIon: Children begin at ages 2 or 3 •  Secondary EducaIon: Age 11 •  At age 15, students choose between vocaIonal or academic path •  University EducaIon: If students pass Le Baccalaureate, they can go to one of France’s 77 universiIes for free. •  Must conInue to pass standard exams in order to maintain enrollment •  TerIary EducaIon: Top 5% of students enroll in a Grand Ecole where they pursue specialized disciplines for free.


Religions •  Catholicism •  83-­‐88% •  Islamic •  5-­‐10% (about five million) •  Protestant •  2% (about one million) •  Jewish •  1% (about 650,000) •  Millions of agnosIcs and atheists as well


Political System Semi-­‐presiden4al republic •  •  •

ConsItuIon of 1958 defines FiVh Republic, frequent amendments ConsItuIon doesn’t include Bill of Rights, but makes reference to DeclaraIon of the Rights of Man and of the CiIzen (1789) Momo: liberte, egalite, fraternite – “liberty, equality, brotherhood”


Separation of Powers: 3 branches Presiden4al Branch •  •

President (5 year term) & Council of Ministers (appointed by president) Prime Minister (appointed by president)

Legisla4ve Branch •  •  •

NaIonal Assembly (voted by general populaIon, 5 year term) Approves prime minister, can vote out enIre presidenIal branch Senate (appointed by electoral college, 6-­‐year term)

Judicial Branch


Current President

François Hollande As of May 15, 2012


Multiple Political Parties OVen form cooperaIve coaliIons Two major coaliIons represent parIes on leV and right -  LeV – PS (ParI Socialiste) -  Right – UMP (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire) -  Currently PS and allies in power •  •


Political System •  •  •

Founding member of European Union, abides by EU regulaIons & treaIes All French ciIzens over 18 eligible to vote Differs from most democracies by using two-­‐round voIng: large number of parIes in first round, two major coaliIons in second round


Culture •  The French are very formal -  The way they greet each other -  Mannerism -  Language – formal and informal forms of speaking, when referring to someone, “vous,” is formal and “tu” is informal. •  The French take a lot of pride in their language. •  If a foreigner cannot speak at least some French, he or she may be looked down upon.


Culture •  IniIal impression can view the French as stuffy and inhospitable, which can be an iniIal barrier in forming relaIonships with clients. •  Relaxed on Ime -  Being late to a meeIng is perfectly normal -  Can be frustraIng to the American where punctuality is viewed in high regards


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