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PEOPLE

Language
French is the official and predominant language. Several regional minorities speak their own language.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	62.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	61.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	61.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	61.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	60.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	60.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	59.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	59.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	59.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
67.7 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Most of the population stems from the integration of Europe's Nordic, Alpine and Mediterranean groups. Around 7 percent of the population is of foreign descent, mainly from northern Africa and other former French colonies.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Mainly Catholic (81 percent). There are Muslim, Protestant and Jewish minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	77.1 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	76.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	76.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	76.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	76.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	76.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	75.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	75.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1944
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
99 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	18.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	18.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	18.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	18.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	18.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	18.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
Standard Time GMT +1, Summer Time GMT +2

Climate description
Generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral.

Currency
Euro

Telephone dialling code
(+) 33

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	80.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	79.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	79.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	78.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	76.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	76.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	75.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	75.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	74.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	74.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	83.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	83.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	83.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	82.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	82.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	82.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	No data available percent
1996-2004	No data available percent
1995-2003	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	No data available percent
1995-2001	No data available percent
1995-2000	No data available percent

Maternal mortality

2005	8 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	17 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	10	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	16	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	16	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	16	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	17	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	12	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation
No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	564 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	564 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	556 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	553 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	556 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	563 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	570 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	573 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	575 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	935 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	897 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	842 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	788 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	735 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	692 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	645 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	622 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	491 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	512 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	512 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	496 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	432 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	394 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	363 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	302 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	263 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	143 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	23 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	19	Transparency International 2007
2006	18 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	18	Transparency International
2004	22 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	23 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	25 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	23	Transparency International
2000	21	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	38810 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	36710 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	34950 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	30570 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	25290 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	22470 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	23250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	24450 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	2589.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2267.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2146.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2061.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1800.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1457.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1339.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1328.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	1.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	2.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	1.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	1.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	2.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	2.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.8 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
25.1 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	337 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	337 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	330 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	303 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	14 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	14 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	14 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	15 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	15 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	15 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	16 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	16 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	101	UNHCR
2007	101	UNHCR
2006	82	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	286	UNHCR
2004	110	UNHCR
2003	110	UNHCR
2002	90	UNHCR
2001	44	UNHCR
2000	78	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	160017	UNHCR
2007	151789	UNHCR
2006	145996	UNHCR
2005	137316	UNHCR
2004	139852	UNHCR
2003	130838	UNHCR
2002	132182	UNHCR
2001	131601	UNHCR
2000	132508	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	5.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	6.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	5.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	5.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	5.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	8.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	7.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	7.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	7.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	7.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003