| Factbook | |
|---|---|
| Capital (and largest city): | Paris |
| Official languages: | French |
| EU accession: | March 25, 1957 |
| Currency: | euro (EUR) | 1EUR = 0.93GBP (last updated on 12. March 2009) |
| Calling code: | +33 |
| Time zone: | UTC+1 |
| Area: | Total 674,843 km² (40th) 260,558 sq mi |
| Coastline: | 3,427 km |
| Population: | 2008 estimate 64,473,140(20th) |
| Climate: | 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 |
| Terrain: | mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east |