rance is the largest country in Western Europe (almost one fifth of the total area of the European Union) bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain.  Also, Great Britain is connected by regular ferries across the North Sea and a train tunnel under it.  The population of the French Republic is close to 60 million people on 211,000 sq. mi. area (slightly twice the size of Colorado).

France is 90% Roman Catholic, but there are other religions in small percentages (Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%).  Life Expectancy is about 74 years for males and 83 for females.  Labor Force is based on services (69%), industry (26%) and agriculture (5%).  Among the thriving industries are steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, aircraft, electronics, textiles, and tourism.  The agriculture sector grows wheat, cereals, sugar beets, wine grapes, and other products like dairy and fish.

Farms and forests cover 48 million hectares, i.e. 82% of the total area of metropolitan France.Some 27% of French territory is covered by forests, ranking France third in the European Union in forest land, behind Sweden and Finland. France boasts 136 different kinds of trees - exceptional for a European country - and the number of large animals is on the rise: in 20 years, the deer population has doubled and the number of roe deer has tripled.

In order to conserve and develop France's natural heritage, the government has established six national parks, 128 nature reserves, 430 designated areas for protected species and 299 protected coastal areas. France also has 29 regional nature parks covering more than 7% of the country.

France is party to many international treaties and conventions concerning the environment, among them United Nations agreements on climate, biodiversity and desertification.  There are three types of climate: Oceanic in the West, Mediterranean in the South and Continental in central and eastern France

Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro in January 1999. Presently, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a more unified.  The currency adopted in 2002 is the Euro, together with other European nations.