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''Modified after public domain information from [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3842.htm US department of States info on France]'' __TOC__{{topics}}* {{region_churches}}* {{region_denominationsreturnto}} - [[Roman Catholic Church in France|Roman CatholicismChristianity]] * Regions - > [[Alsace]] | [[Aquitaine]Places] | [[Auvergne (région)|Auvergne]] | [[Basse-Normandie]] | [[Bourgogne]] (Burgundy) | [[Bretagne]] (Brittany) | [[Centre (France)|Centre]] | [[Champagne-Ardenne]] | [[Corsica|Corse]] (Corsica) | [[Franche-Comté]] | [[Haute-Normandie]] | [[Île-de-France (région)|Île-de-France]] | [[Languedoc-Roussillon]] | [[Limousin (région)|Limousin]] | [[Lorraine (région)|Lorraine]] | [[Nord-Pas de Calais]] | [[Pays-de-la-Loire]] | [[Picardie]] | [[Poitou-Charentes]] | [[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]] | [[Rhône-Alpes]]* Major cities - [[Paris]]* Places of religious significance - [[Lourdes]]* {{region_radio}}* {{region_bible_college}}* {{region_schools}} {{opinions}} {{returnto}} > [[Europe]]
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{{Infobox_Contents |topic_name = France [[Image:Christians at lourdes.jpg|thumb|center|Christians marching in a procession at [[Lourdes]], in France, an important site in Roman Catholicism.]]|''Synopsis:'' subtopics = * {{region_churches}}* {{region_denominations}} - [[Roman Catholic Church in France is a country in Western |Roman Catholicism]] * Regions - [[Alsace]], [[Aquitaine]], [[EuropeAuvergne (région)|Auvergne]] with a population of about 60 million. It is predominantly a non, [[Basse-religious countryNormandie]], although traditionally its people have mostly been [[Roman Catholicism|Roman CatholicsBourgogne]]. In recent years there has been widespread immgration with a growing (Burgundy), [[MuslimBretagne]] Arab populationwhich has caused some tension. ==History=====PEOPLE===Since prehistoric times(Brittany), [[Centre (France has been a crossroads of trade)|Centre]], travel[[Champagne-Ardenne]], and invasion. Three basic European ethnic stocks[[Corsica|Corse]] (Corsica), [[Franche-Comté]], [[Haute-CelticNormandie]], Latin, and Teutonic [[Île-de-France (Frankishrégion)|Île-de-have blended over the centuries to make up its present population. France's birth rate was among the highest in Europe from 1945 until the late 1960s. Since then]], its birth rate has fallen but remains higher than that of most other west European countries. Traditionally[[Languedoc-Roussillon]], France has had a high level of immigration. More than 1 million Muslims immigrated in the 1960s and early 1970s from North Africa[[Limousin (région)|Limousin]], especially Algeria. About 85% of the population is Roman Catholic[[Lorraine (région)|Lorraine]], 10% Muslim[[Nord-Pas de Calais]], less than 2% Protestant[[Pays-de-la-Loire]], and about 1% Jewish. However[[Picardie]], the government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation[[Poitou-Charentes]], and according to a January 2007 poll[[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]], 51% [[Rhône-Alpes]]* Major cities - [[Paris]]* Places of respondents describe themselves as Catholic, and another 31% describe themselves as having no religious affiliation. In 2004, there were over 6 million Muslims, largely of North African descent, living in France. France is home to both the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Europe. significance - [[Lourdes]]* {{region_radio}}* {{region_bible_college}}Education is free, beginning at age 2, and mandatory between ages 6 and 16. The public education system is highly centralized. Private education is primarily Roman Catholic. Higher education in France began with the founding of the University of Paris in 1150. It now consists of 91 public universities and 175 professional schools, including the post-graduate Grandes Ecoles. Private, college-level institutions focusing on business and management with curriculums structured on the American system of credits and semesters have been growing in recent years. * {{region_schools}} |opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} |}} {| class="videos" style="width: 20em; float:right; clear:right; font-size:95%" cellspacing="4"
!<big>'''Paris France!'''</big>
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France is a country in Western [[Europe]] with a population of about 60 million. It is predominantly a non-religious country, although traditionally its people have mostly been [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholics]]. In recent years there has been widespread immgration with a growing [[Muslim]] Arab population which has caused some tension.
===People===
Since prehistoric times, France has been a crossroads of trade, travel, and invasion. Three basic European ethnic stocks--Celtic, Latin, and Teutonic (Frankish)--have blended over the centuries to make up its present population. France's birth rate was among the highest in Europe from 1945 until the late 1960s. Since then, its birth rate has fallen but remains higher than that of most other west European countries. Traditionally, France has had a high level of immigration. More than 1 million Muslims immigrated in the 1960s and early 1970s from North Africa, especially Algeria. About 85% of the population is Roman Catholic, 10% Muslim, less than 2% Protestant, and about 1% Jewish. However, the government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation, and according to a January 2007 poll, 51% of respondents describe themselves as Catholic, and another 31% describe themselves as having no religious affiliation. In 2004, there were over 6 million Muslims, largely of North African descent, living in France. France is home to both the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Europe.
Education is free, beginning at age 2, and mandatory between ages 6 and 16. The public education system is highly centralized. Private education is primarily Roman Catholic. Higher education in France began with the founding of the University of Paris in 1150. It now consists of 91 public universities and 175 professional schools, including the post-graduate Grandes Ecoles. Private, college-level institutions focusing on business and management with curriculums structured on the American system of credits and semesters have been growing in recent years.
The French language derives from the vernacular Latin spoken by the Romans in Gaul, although it includes many Celtic and Germanic words. Historically, French has been used as the international language of diplomacy and commerce. Today it remains one of six official languages at the United Nations and has been a unifying factor in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean.
===HISTORYHistory===
France was one of the earliest countries to progress from feudalism to the nation-state. Its monarchs surrounded themselves with capable ministers, and French armies were among the most innovative, disciplined, and professional of their day. During the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715), France was the dominant power in Europe. But overly ambitious projects and military campaigns of Louis and his successors led to chronic financial problems in the 18th Century. Deteriorating economic conditions and popular resentment against the complicated system of privileges granted the nobility and clerics were among the principal causes of the French Revolution (1789-94). Although the revolutionaries advocated republican and egalitarian principles of government, France reverted to forms of absolute rule or constitutional monarchy four times--the Empire of Napoleon, the Restoration of Louis XVIII, the reign of Louis-Philippe, and the Second Empire of Napoleon III. After the Franco-Prussian War (1870), the Third Republic was established and lasted until the military defeat of 1940.
In May 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy was elected as France's sixth president under the Fifth Republic, signaling French approval of widespread economic and social reforms, as well as closer cooperation with the United States.
===GOVERNMENTGovernment===
The constitution of the Fifth Republic was approved by public referendum on September 28, 1958. It greatly strengthened the powers of the executive in relation to those of Parliament. Under this constitution, presidents were elected directly for a 7-year term since 1958. Beginning in 2002, the presidential term of office was reduced to 5 years. The president names the prime minister, presides over the cabinet, commands the armed forces, and concludes treaties. Traditionally, presidents under the Fifth Republic have tended to leave day-to-day policy-making to the Prime Minister and government; the five-year term of office is expected to make presidents more accountable for the results of domestic policies. Sarkozy, however, has been a hands-on manager and policymaker.
Traditionally, decision-making in France has been highly centralized, with each of France's departments headed by a prefect appointed by the central government. In 1982, the national government passed legislation to decentralize authority by giving a wide range of administrative and fiscal powers to local elected officials. In March 1986, regional councils were directly elected for the first time, and the process of decentralization continues, albeit at a slow pace.
===ECONOMYEconomy===
With a GDP of approximately $2 trillion, France is the sixth-largest economy. It has substantial agricultural resources, a large industrial base, and a highly skilled work force. A dynamic services sector accounts for an increasingly large share of economic activity and is responsible for nearly all job creation in recent years. Real GDP increased 2.2% in 2006. According to initial projections, 2007 GDP growth will hit 1.9%,
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=d4VBwB7wp70&rel=1&feature=related YouTube Video on Paris, France]
