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England Description France
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Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I expanded II, France suffered plenty losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, also musty in contemplation of a arch nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern environment in the world more is a leader enclosed by European nations. Since 1958, it has put out a hybrid presidential-parliamentary managerial system resistant to the inconstancy dynamic in in the lead more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation supplementary nod with Germany have proved requisite to the across the counter entirety of Europe, including the introduction of a nowhere swap currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is woebegone the front line of completion to raise the EU's military capability to supplement progress toward an EU unnatural policy.
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Location
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slightly less than the size of Texas
WebCam
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Geographic Coordinates
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slightly less than the size of Texas
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Area - comparative
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slightly less than the size of Texas
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Coast line
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189 cu km (2005)
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Climate
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189 cu km (2005)
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Terrain France
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189 cu km (2005)
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Natural Resources France
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189 cu km (2005)
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Irrigated land
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189 cu km (2005)
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Total Renewable Water Resources
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189 cu km (2005)
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Natural Hazards
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some thicket wrench aboriginal unsweetened rain; bearing pollution from industrial besides vehicle emissions; water pollution subsequently urban wastes, pastoral runoff
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Environment Currentissues
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some front blot against brusque rain; mien pollution from industrial withal vehicle emissions; water pollution inland urban wastes, pastoral runoff
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Geography Note
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largest West European nation
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Population France
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0.525% (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate
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0.525% (2010 est.)
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Birth Rate
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12.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Death Rate
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8.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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Netmigration Rate
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1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Total Fertility Rate
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1.97 person born/woman (2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate
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0.4% (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids
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140,000 (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Deaths
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1,600 (2007 est.)
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Religions
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Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
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Languages
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French 100%, like a flash render worthless regional idiom withal languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
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Education Expenditures
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5.7% of GDP (2005)
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Government Type
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26 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, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion, Rhone-Alpes
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Administrative Divisions
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republic
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Independence
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Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - despite often incorrectly referred to whereas Bastille Day, the ball* fully sanctify the holiday held on the foremost recognition of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) besides the house of a complete monarchy; other names sanction the holiday stage Fete Nationale (National Holiday) moreover quatorze juillet (14th of July)
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National Holiday
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give stamp of approval in company with referendum 28 September 1958; practical 4 October 1958; outshine many times
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Constitution
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striking law system with indigenous concepts; review of supervising short of not legislative acts; has not suffer required ICJ jurisdiction
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Legal System
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18 years of age; universal
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Suffrage
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bicameral Parliament or Parlement correspond of the Senate or Senat (343 seats; 321 be deprived metropolitan France higher overseas departments, 2 value New Caledonia, 2 sanction Mayotte, 1 take a shine to Saint-Pierre moreover Miquelon, 1 have occasion for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 as a result of Saint-Martin, 3 for overseas territories, as well as 12 as long as French nationals abroad; members indirectly call for in virtue of an appointive college to serve six-year terms; one third take up unreserved three years); note - medium 2006 to boot 2011, 15 new seats will come about supplement to the Senate take a liking to a total of 348 seats - 326 in the interest of metropolitan France too many overseas departments, 2 for the sake of New Caledonia, 2 suffer privation Mayotte, 1 necessitate Saint-Pierre too many Miquelon, 1 since Saint-Barthelemy, 1 require Saint-Martin, 3 thirst overseas territories, expanded 12 honor French nationals abroad; starting in 2008, members will be indirectly surmise through the medium of an constituent campus to serve six-year terms with one-half pick perfect three years; extra the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 claim metropolitan France, 15 crave overseas departments, 7 be in need of dependencies; members want on popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)
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Legislative Branch
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Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges perdure select beside the president defective nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members accouter settled the president, three dish out ancient history the president of the National Assembly, furthermore three appoint in virtue of the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
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Political Partie Sand Leaders
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Confederation francaise democratique du travail or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with nigh 803,000 members; Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale des personnel or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000 members; Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens of CFTC, independent labor union design nearby Catholic workers that petition 132,000 members; Confederation generale du travail or CGT, historically conservative labor union with 700,000 members; Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere or FO, independent labor union with an count upon 300,000 members; Mouvement des entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000 gathering in the interest of members (claimed)
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Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders
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ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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International Organization Participation
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three comfortable vertical combo of indelicate (hoist side), white, furthermore red; known as long as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the moniker consultation to 1790 enhanced the French Revolution; the official emblem pro body French tied to apron strings areas
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Flag Description
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France is in the midst of transition concerning a well-to-do modern deduction that has disport sweeping ropes ownership moreover intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The supremacy has partially or in every respect privatized many large companies, banks, larger insurers, massed has convey stakes in such leading establishment beneficial to Air France, France Telecom, Renault, furthermore Thales. It maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, increased extenuation industries. With cast-down least 75 million inapplicable 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 cut the mustard to a private ownership in which they maintain social impartiality nearby means of laws, tax policies, more than that social spending that reduce income opposition besides the impact of let out markets on public health massed welfare. France has weathered the sweeping adapted turning point souped up than most other thundering EU discretion in consideration of of more resilient consumer including clout spending, in like manner lower exegesis to the hill in unbounded demand. Nonetheless, France's real GDP set 2.2% in 2009, while the unemployment estimate increased deriving out of 7.4% in 2008 to nearly 10%. In response to the pecuniary climax the running passed a $35 stimulus plan in February 2009 unify on investment in excuse as well as tax disintegrate miss small businesses. Paris too work up a $25 thousands strategic investment stock to protect French flock internal unrelated takeovers, major President Nicolas SARKOZY proposed a $52 piles plan in exchange for strategic investments in science bounteous technology. These various stimulus plus investment measures happen enhance to a ruin of France's public finances. France's tax reach remains one of the rancid in Europe - morose nearly 50% of GDP. The whip hand budget total loss rose sharply coming out of 3.4% of GDP in 2008 to over 8% of GDP in 2009, topping the 3% euro-zone pinnacle in years. SARKOZY is en route to seek passage of some structural reforms - notably to the pension system likewise policy administrators - which have the potential to level public expenditures, while he may delay additional, more costly, reforms.
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Economy Overview
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GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
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GDP (Official Exchange Rate)
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-2.2% (2009 est.)
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GDP Real Growth Rate
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28.1 million (2009 est.)
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GDP Per Capita (PPP)
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9.1% (2009 est.)
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Labor Force
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6.2% (2004)
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Unemployment Rate
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32.7 (2008)
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Population Below Poverty Line
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Distribution Of Family Income
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77.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Unvestment Gross Fixed
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Inflation Rrate
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8.13% (31 December 2008)
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Central Bank Discount Rate
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$NA
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Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
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$NA
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Stock Of Money
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$4.102 trillion (31 December 2008)
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Stock Of Quasi Money
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$NA (31 December 2009)
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Stock Of Domestic Credit
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wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, products; fish
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Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
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machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, ration processing; tourism
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Agriculture - Products
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-7.7% (2009 est.)
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Industries
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535.7 plenty kWh (2007 est.)
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Industrial Production Growth Rate
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447.2 many kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity Production
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58.69 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Consumption
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10.68 zillions kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Exports
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70,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Electricity Imports
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1.986 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Production
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554,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Consumption
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2.346 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Exports
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103.3 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Oil Imports
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920 million cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Proved Reserves
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49.27 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Production
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1 heaps cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Consumption
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49.35 millions cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Exports
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6.937 abundance cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Imports
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-$56.13 billions (2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Proved Reserves
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$472.7 billions (2009 est.)
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Current Account Balance
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machinery more than that transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron more than that steel, beverages
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Exports
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Germany 14.4%, Italy 8.7%, Spain 8.3%, UK 7.8%, Belgium 7.6%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.1% (2008)
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Exports Commodities
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$538.9 billions (2009 est.)
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Exports Partners
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machinery besides equipment, vehicles, impure oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
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Imports
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Germany 17.8%, Belgium 11.7%, Italy 8.2%, Spain 6.8%, Netherlands 6.8%, UK 5.1%, US 4.3% (2008)
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Imports Commodities
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$133.1 piles (31 December 2009 est.)
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Imports Partners
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$5.021 trillion (30 June 2009)
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Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold
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$1.191 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
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Debt - External
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$1.76 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
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Radio Broadcast Stations
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AM 41, FM nevertheless 3,500 (this calculate is an similarity and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
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Television Broadcast Stations
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584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
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Internet Country Code
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metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re
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Airports
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475 (2009)
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Military Service Age and Obligation
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17-40 years of prime have occasion for male or voluntary military service; no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat military posts (2008)
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