France
At a glance
- Official language
- French
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Government
- Semi-presidential system
- Legislature
- French Parliament
- Demonym
- French
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +33
- Internet TLD
- .fr
- ISO 3166
- FR
- Established
- 481
- Highest point
- Mont Blanc (4,806 m (15,768 ft))
- National anthem
- La Marseillaise
Facts via Wikidata.
Economy and developmentHigh income
Ranks are among sovereign countries with data; ★ marks a top-5% finish. Sources: World Bank Open Data and Our World in Data (UNDP, UN, V-Dem; CC BY 4.0). Each figure is the most recent year available.
Leadership History88 leaders · click to expand
Fifth Republic
Emmanuel Macron✦ Current
2017–PresentPresident
Francois Hollande
2012–2017President
⚠️ Nicolas Sarkozy
2007–2012President
⚠️ Jacques Chirac
1995–2007President
Francois Mitterrand
1981–1995President
Valery Giscard d'Estaing
1974–1981President
Georges Pompidou
1969–1974President
Charles de Gaulle
1959–1969President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel Macron✦ Current | President | 2017–Present |
| Francois Hollande | President | 2012–2017 |
| ⚠️ Nicolas Sarkozy | President | 2007–2012 |
| ⚠️ Jacques Chirac | President | 1995–2007 |
| Francois Mitterrand | President | 1981–1995 |
| Valery Giscard d'Estaing | President | 1974–1981 |
| Georges Pompidou | President | 1969–1974 |
| Charles de Gaulle | President | 1959–1969 |
Fourth Republic
René Coty
1954–1959President (4th Republic)
Vincent Auriol
1947–1954President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| René Coty | President (4th Republic) | 1954–1959 |
| Vincent Auriol | President | 1947–1954 |
Provisional Government
Georges Bidault
1946–1946President (GPRF)
Félix Gouin
1946–1946President (GPRF)
Charles de Gaulle
1944–1946President (GPRF)
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Georges Bidault | President (GPRF) | 1946–1946 |
| Félix Gouin | President (GPRF) | 1946–1946 |
| Charles de Gaulle | President (GPRF) | 1944–1946 |
Vichy France
⚠️ Philippe Pétain
1940–1944Head of State (Vichy)
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ⚠️ Philippe Pétain | Head of State (Vichy) | 1940–1944 |
Third Republic
Albert Lebrun
1932–1940President
Paul Doumer
1931–1932President
Gaston Doumergue
1924–1931President
Alexandre Millerand
1920–1924President
Paul Deschanel
1920–1920President
Raymond Poincare
1913–1920President
Armand Fallieres
1906–1913President
Emile Loubet
1899–1906President
Felix Faure
1895–1899President
Jean Casimir-Perier
1894–1895President
Sadi Carnot
1888–1894President
Jules Grevy
1879–1887President
Patrice de Mac-Mahon
1873–1879President
Adolphe Thiers
1871–1873President
Government of National Defense
1870–1871Head of State (Provisional)
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Lebrun | President | 1932–1940 |
| Paul Doumer | President | 1931–1932 |
| Gaston Doumergue | President | 1924–1931 |
| Alexandre Millerand | President | 1920–1924 |
| Paul Deschanel | President | 1920–1920 |
| Raymond Poincare | President | 1913–1920 |
| Armand Fallieres | President | 1906–1913 |
| Emile Loubet | President | 1899–1906 |
| Felix Faure | President | 1895–1899 |
| Jean Casimir-Perier | President | 1894–1895 |
| Sadi Carnot | President | 1888–1894 |
| Jules Grevy | President | 1879–1887 |
| Patrice de Mac-Mahon | President | 1873–1879 |
| Adolphe Thiers | President | 1871–1873 |
| Government of National Defense | Head of State (Provisional) | 1870–1871 |
Second Empire
⚠️ 👑 Emperor Napoleon III
1852–1870Emperor (Second Empire)
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ⚠️ 👑 Emperor Napoleon III | Emperor (Second Empire) | 1852–1870 |
Second Republic
⚠️ Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte
1848–1852President / Prince-President
Provisional Government of 1848
1848–1848Head of State (Provisional Government)
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ⚠️ Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte | President / Prince-President | 1848–1852 |
| Provisional Government of 1848 | Head of State (Provisional Government) | 1848–1848 |
July Monarchy
👑 Louis Philippe I
1830–1848Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Louis Philippe I | Monarch | 1830–1848 |
Bourbon Restoration
👑 Charles X
1824–1830Monarch
👑 Louis XVIII
1815–1824Monarch
👑 Louis XVIII
1814–1815Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Charles X | Monarch | 1824–1830 |
| 👑 Louis XVIII | Monarch | 1815–1824 |
| 👑 Louis XVIII | Monarch | 1814–1815 |
First Empire
⚠️ 👑 Emperor Napoleon I (Hundred Days)
1815–1815Monarch
⚠️ 👑 Emperor Napoleon I
1804–1814Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ⚠️ 👑 Emperor Napoleon I (Hundred Days) | Monarch | 1815–1815 |
| ⚠️ 👑 Emperor Napoleon I | Monarch | 1804–1814 |
First Republic
Napoleon Bonaparte (First Consul)
1799–1804First Consul
Executive Directory
1795–1799President of the Directory
Head of State (National Convention)
1792–1795Head of State (National Convention)
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Napoleon Bonaparte (First Consul) | First Consul | 1799–1804 |
| Executive Directory | President of the Directory | 1795–1799 |
| Head of State (National Convention) | Head of State (National Convention) | 1792–1795 |
House of Bourbon
👑 Louis XVI
1774–1792Monarch
👑 Louis XV (the Beloved)
1715–1774Monarch
👑 Louis XIV (the Sun King)
1643–1715Monarch
👑 Louis XIII (the Just)
1610–1643Monarch
👑 Henry IV (the Great)
1589–1610Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Louis XVI | Monarch | 1774–1792 |
| 👑 Louis XV (the Beloved) | Monarch | 1715–1774 |
| 👑 Louis XIV (the Sun King) | Monarch | 1643–1715 |
| 👑 Louis XIII (the Just) | Monarch | 1610–1643 |
| 👑 Henry IV (the Great) | Monarch | 1589–1610 |
House of Valois
👑 Henry III
1574–1589Monarch
👑 Charles IX
1560–1574Monarch
👑 Francis II
1559–1560Monarch
👑 Henry II
1547–1559Monarch
👑 Francis I
1515–1547Monarch
👑 Louis XII (Father of the People)
1498–1515Monarch
👑 Charles VIII (the Affable)
1483–1498Monarch
👑 Louis XI (the Prudent)
1461–1483Monarch
👑 Charles VII (the Victorious)
1422–1461Monarch
👑 Charles VI (the Mad)
1380–1422Monarch
👑 Charles V (the Wise)
1364–1380Monarch
👑 John II (the Good)
1350–1364Monarch
👑 Philip VI
1328–1350Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Henry III | Monarch | 1574–1589 |
| 👑 Charles IX | Monarch | 1560–1574 |
| 👑 Francis II | Monarch | 1559–1560 |
| 👑 Henry II | Monarch | 1547–1559 |
| 👑 Francis I | Monarch | 1515–1547 |
| 👑 Louis XII (Father of the People) | Monarch | 1498–1515 |
| 👑 Charles VIII (the Affable) | Monarch | 1483–1498 |
| 👑 Louis XI (the Prudent) | Monarch | 1461–1483 |
| 👑 Charles VII (the Victorious) | Monarch | 1422–1461 |
| 👑 Charles VI (the Mad) | Monarch | 1380–1422 |
| 👑 Charles V (the Wise) | Monarch | 1364–1380 |
| 👑 John II (the Good) | Monarch | 1350–1364 |
| 👑 Philip VI | Monarch | 1328–1350 |
Capetian Dynasty
👑 Charles IV (the Fair)
1322–1328Monarch
👑 Philip V (the Tall)
1316–1322Monarch
👑 John I (the Posthumous)
1316–1316Monarch
👑 Louis X (the Quarrelsome)
1314–1316Monarch
👑 Philip IV (the Fair)
1285–1314Monarch
👑 Philip III (the Bold)
1270–1285Monarch
👑 Louis IX (Saint Louis)
1226–1270Monarch
👑 Louis VIII (the Lion)
1223–1226Monarch
👑 Philip II (Augustus)
1180–1223Monarch
👑 Louis VII (the Younger)
1137–1180Monarch
👑 Louis VI (the Fat)
1108–1137Monarch
👑 Philip I
1060–1108Monarch
👑 Henry I
1031–1060Monarch
👑 Robert II (the Pious)
996–1031Monarch
👑 Hugh Capet
987–996Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Charles IV (the Fair) | Monarch | 1322–1328 |
| 👑 Philip V (the Tall) | Monarch | 1316–1322 |
| 👑 John I (the Posthumous) | Monarch | 1316–1316 |
| 👑 Louis X (the Quarrelsome) | Monarch | 1314–1316 |
| 👑 Philip IV (the Fair) | Monarch | 1285–1314 |
| 👑 Philip III (the Bold) | Monarch | 1270–1285 |
| 👑 Louis IX (Saint Louis) | Monarch | 1226–1270 |
| 👑 Louis VIII (the Lion) | Monarch | 1223–1226 |
| 👑 Philip II (Augustus) | Monarch | 1180–1223 |
| 👑 Louis VII (the Younger) | Monarch | 1137–1180 |
| 👑 Louis VI (the Fat) | Monarch | 1108–1137 |
| 👑 Philip I | Monarch | 1060–1108 |
| 👑 Henry I | Monarch | 1031–1060 |
| 👑 Robert II (the Pious) | Monarch | 996–1031 |
| 👑 Hugh Capet | Monarch | 987–996 |
Carolingian Dynasty
👑 Louis V (the Indolent)
986–987Monarch
👑 Lothair
954–986Monarch
👑 Louis IV (d'Outremer)
936–954Monarch
👑 Rudolph (Raoul)
923–936Monarch
👑 Robert I
922–923Monarch
👑 Charles III (the Simple)
898–922Monarch
👑 Odo (Eudes)
888–898Monarch
👑 Charles the Fat
884–888Monarch
👑 Carloman II
879–884Monarch
👑 Louis III
879–882Monarch
👑 Louis II (the Stammerer)
877–879Monarch
👑 Charles II (the Bald)
843–877Monarch
👑 Louis I (the Pious)
814–840Monarch
👑 Charlemagne
768–814Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Louis V (the Indolent) | Monarch | 986–987 |
| 👑 Lothair | Monarch | 954–986 |
| 👑 Louis IV (d'Outremer) | Monarch | 936–954 |
| 👑 Rudolph (Raoul) | Monarch | 923–936 |
| 👑 Robert I | Monarch | 922–923 |
| 👑 Charles III (the Simple) | Monarch | 898–922 |
| 👑 Odo (Eudes) | Monarch | 888–898 |
| 👑 Charles the Fat | Monarch | 884–888 |
| 👑 Carloman II | Monarch | 879–884 |
| 👑 Louis III | Monarch | 879–882 |
| 👑 Louis II (the Stammerer) | Monarch | 877–879 |
| 👑 Charles II (the Bald) | Monarch | 843–877 |
| 👑 Louis I (the Pious) | Monarch | 814–840 |
| 👑 Charlemagne | Monarch | 768–814 |
Power over timeThe Power Atlas →
The powerline is the headline share of world power, running from the state’s first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.
Conflicts since 19457 interstate wars · click to expand
| Conflict | Years | Against | Combat deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persian Gulf War | 1990–1991 | — | |
| Chadian–Libyan War | 1978–1987 | Libya | 8,500+ |
| Western Sahara War● | 1975–1991 | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,Algeria | 10,000–20,000 |
| Bizerte crisis | 1961 | Tunisia | 654–657 |
| Ifni War | 1957–1958 | Morocco | 1,197+ |
| Suez Crisis | 1956 | Egypt | 2,848–4,198 |
| Korean War [ 9 ]● | 1950–1953 | North Korea,China,Soviet Union | 2,568,927–4,096,927 |
Bold = principal belligerent. Source: Wikipedia, “List of interstate wars since 1945.”
Billionaires54 · $582.1B combined · click to expand
| # | Name | Net worth | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Bernard Arnault & family(inherited) | $142.2B | Fashion & Retail |
| 22 | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & family(inherited) | $92.0B | Fashion & Retail |
| 51 | Alain Wertheimer(inherited) | $39.4B | Fashion & Retail |
| 51 | Gerard Wertheimer(inherited) | $39.4B | Fashion & Retail |
| 94 | Emmanuel Besnier(inherited) | $26.4B | Food & Beverage |
| 96 | François Pinault & family | $26.1B | Fashion & Retail |
| 188 | Xavier Niel & family | $15.2B | Telecom |
| 287 | Carrie Perrodo & family(inherited) | $11.3B | Energy |
| 312 | Vincent Bolloré & family(inherited) | $10.6B | Finance & Investments |
| 379 | Jean-Michel Besnier(inherited) | $9.2B | Food & Beverage |
| 379 | Marie Besnier Beauvalot(inherited) | $9.2B | Food & Beverage |
| 398 | Patrick Drahi | $8.9B | Telecom |
| 412 | Laurent Dassault(inherited) | $8.5B | Diversified |
| 417 | Marie-Hélène Habert-Dassault(inherited) | $8.5B | Diversified |
| 417 | Thierry Dassault(inherited) | $8.5B | Diversified |
| 461 | Jacques Saadé Jr(inherited) | $7.9B | Logistics |
| 461 | Rodolphe Saadé(inherited) | $7.9B | Logistics |
| 461 | Tanya Saadé Zeenny(inherited) | $7.9B | Logistics |
| 593 | Mohed Altrad | $6.7B | Construction & Engineering |
| 708 | Alain Merieux & family(inherited) | $5.8B | Healthcare |
| 788 | Michel Leclercq & family(inherited) | $5.4B | Fashion & Retail |
| 925 | Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere | $4.6B | Finance & Investments |
| 941 | Anne Beaufour(inherited) | $4.5B | Healthcare |
| 975 | Bernard Fraisse & family | $4.4B | Healthcare |
| 1030 | Danielle Bellon & family(inherited) | $4.2B | Service |
| 1056 | Martin Bouygues(inherited) | $4.1B | Construction & Engineering |
| 1073 | Olivier Bouygues(inherited) | $4.0B | Construction & Engineering |
| 1080 | Norbert Dentressangle & family | $4.0B | Logistics |
| 1136 | Louis Le Duff | $3.8B | Food & Beverage |
| 1321 | Gilles Martin | $3.2B | Healthcare |
| 1382 | Olivier Pomel | $3.1B | Technology |
| 1527 | Christian Latouche & family | $2.8B | Finance & Investments |
| 1539 | Francois Feuillet & family(inherited) | $2.7B | Automotive |
| 1601 | Daniel Rocher(inherited) | $2.6B | Fashion & Retail |
| 1602 | Bris Rocher(inherited) | $2.6B | Fashion & Retail |
| 1674 | Charles Edelstenne & family | $2.5B | Manufacturing |
| 1682 | Alain Taravella | $2.5B | Real Estate |
| 1862 | Helena Dassault(inherited) | $2.2B | Diversified |
| 1862 | Remi Dassault(inherited) | $2.2B | Diversified |
| 1892 | Natacha Nikolajevic(inherited) | $2.2B | Diversified |
| 2040 | Alex Bouaziz | $2.0B | Technology |
| 2083 | Philippe Ginestet & family | $2.0B | Fashion & Retail |
| 2252 | Stephane Courbit | $1.8B | Media & Entertainment |
| 2254 | Jean-Pierre Cayard & family(inherited) | $1.8B | Food & Beverage |
| 2256 | Stéphane Bancel | $1.8B | Healthcare |
| 2292 | Arthur Mensch(inherited) | $1.8B | Technology |
| 2292 | Guillaume Lample(inherited) | $1.8B | Technology |
| 2292 | Timothée Lacroix(inherited) | $1.8B | Technology |
| 2629 | Eric Hémar | $1.5B | Logistics |
| 2740 | Yves-Loic Martin | $1.4B | Healthcare |
| 3067 | Edouard Carmignac | $1.2B | Finance & Investments |
| 3166 | Christian Louboutin | $1.1B | Fashion & Retail |
| 3171 | Laurent Junique | $1.1B | Technology |
| 3209 | Jacques Merceron-Vicat & family(inherited) | $1.1B | Construction & Engineering |
Source: Forbes real-time billionaires (via the rtb-api project). Net worth as of the latest monthly snapshot.
National Teams
France on the international stage. Click a card for the full record.
National Teams Champions
Every major championship won by France's national teams, newest first. 48 in total.
League Hubs
Domestic league portals that operate in France: 4 leagues.
Constituents and territories
11 entries listed under France. Click any to see its own metros.
Regions
13 entries listed under France. Click any to see its metros and footprint.
France metro footprint
116 metrosPolygons shaded by composite tier. Hover for rank, click to open the metro page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.