France

Capital: Paris

Time: +1 GMT

Area: 547,030 sq km

Population: 58,804,944 (estimated on July 1998)

Currency: French franc

Form of government: parliamentary republic; the bicameral Paliament consists of the Senate (321 seats; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms) and the National Assemby (577 seats; members are elected under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms). The President is elected by popular vote for a seven-year vote. The Prime Minister is appointed by the president.

Official language: French

Religion: Roman Catholic (90%), Protestant (2%), Jewish (1%), Muslim (1%), unaffilated (6%)

National holiday: National Day, 14 July (1789) - (Taking of The Bastille)