France, officially the French Republic (French: République française, pronounced: [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a state in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as L’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. It is bordered (clockwise starting from the northeast) by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco; with Spain and Andorra to the south. France's overseas departments and collectivities also share land borders with Brazil and Suriname (bordering French Guiana), and the Netherlands Antilles (bordering Saint-Martin). France is linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel.

France is a founding member state of the European Union and is the largest one by area. France has been a major power for several centuries with strong economic, cultural, military and political influence in Europe and abroad. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonised great parts of North America; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second largest empire of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Pacific islands.

France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its main ideals expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. France is one of the most developed countries and possesses the fifth largest economy by nominal GDP and seventh largest economy by purchasing power parity. France enjoys a high standard of living as well as a high public education level, and has also one of the world's highest life expectancies. It is the most visited country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists annually. France is a founding member of the United Nations, and a member of the Francophonie, the G8, G20, NATO, OECD, WTO, and the Latin Union. It is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and possesses the third largest nuclear weapons stockpile in the world.

French Republic
République française (French)
Flag National Emblem (unofficial)
Motto: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
(Liberty, Equality, Fraternity)
Anthem: La Marseillaise
Location of Metropolitan France (dark green)– on the European continent (light green & dark grey)– in the European Union (light green) — [Legend]
Location of Metropolitan France (dark green)

– on the European continent (light green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (light green) — [Legend]
Territory of the French Republic in the world(excl. Antarctica where sovereignty is suspended)

Territory of the French Republic in the world
(excl. Antarctica where sovereignty is suspended)
Capital
(and largest city)		 Paris
48°51.4′N 2°21.05′E / 48.8567°N 2.35083°E / 48.8567; 2.35083
Official language(s) French
Regional languages
(both official
and not official)
Demonym French
Government Unitary semi-presidential republic
- President Nicolas Sarkozy (UMP)
- Prime Minister François Fillon (UMP)
Legislature Parliament
- Upper House Senate
- Lower House National Assembly
Formation
- Traditional date 496 (baptism of Clovis)
- Western Francia 10 August 843 (Treaty of Verdun)
- Current constitution 5 October 1958 (5th Republic)
EU accession 25 March 1957
Area
- Total 674,843 km2 (43rd)
260,558 sq mi
- Metropolitan France

- IGN 551,695 km2 (47th)
213,010 sq mi

- Cadastre 543,965 km2 (47th)
210,026 sq mi
Population

(1 January 2010 estimate)
- Total[3] 65,447,374 (20th)
- Metropolitan France 62,793,432 (22nd)
- Density[8] 115/km2 (89th)
299/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate
- Total $2.108 trillion
- Per capita $33,678
GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate
- Total $2.676 trillion
- Per capita $42,747
Gini (2002) 26.7
HDI (2007) ▲ 0.961 (very high) (8th)
Currency Euro, CFP Franc
(EUR, XPF)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Drives on the right
Internet TLD .fr[13]
Calling code 331