Regional Geography
of France
Outline
- Physical Characteristics
- Relative location
- Landscape and Physical
Environment
- Weather and climate
- Human Characteristics
- Population, Density
and Age/Sex characteristics
- Language and religion
- Cultural/ethnic groups
- Economic Characteristics
- Major economic
activities
- Imports and Exports
- GNP and GNP per capita
- References
Physical
Characteristics
France is located in western
Europe and surrounded by Belgium, Luxembourg,
Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. It
is also surrounded by two large bodies of water being the Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean Sea. Being so
close to these bodies of water it allowed France to be able to trade with North
America and the UK as well as other countries along the Mediterranean Sea.
From
mountains to beaches, France has quite a diverse landscape. In the southern region near the Spain
border the Pyrenees Mountains are located.
In the eastern region near Italy and Switzerland lie the Alps along with
the highest peak in Europe, Mont Blanc.
The northern region is a beach along the Atlantic ocean. The southeastern region is along the
Mediterranean Sea. Along the
southwestern and southeastern borders it is mainly dedicated to National Parks.
Depending
where you are in France determines how the weather will be. France is divided into 4 distinct
climactic areas. The oceanic
climate receives average rainfall and moderate temperatures of western
France. The continental climate has
cold winters and hot summers. The
Mediterranean climate has hot, dry summers and sunshine all year round in
southeastern France. The mountainous
climate has heavy rainfall and snow 3-6 months of the year (France FR).
Human
Characteristics
As of 2019 there are 65 million
citizens living in France. In 2019
the population growth rate is .38% according (Worldometers). There has been a very steady growth from
1960. Franc’s capital Paris,
is home to over 2 million people.
Which is in the top 10 highest populated cities in Europe. The population density of France is 117
people per km^2. However, in Paris
it’s roughly 22,000 people per km^2.
By the year 2100, France is expected to reach 75 million people living
there (Population Pyramid). Between
men and women each make up nearly 50% each side. Roughly 25% are 0-20 years old, from
20-65 makes up around 56%, then roughly 20% are over 65 years old.
The
official languages of France is French.
Near its borders with other countries there are dialects. Roughly 40% of the population can speak
English. Other languages spoken are
German, Italian and Portuguese. The
main religion in France is Roman Catholicism. Christianity makes up about 2/3 of the
90% that are Roman Catholics. The
rest of the population is a mix of Islamic/Muslim or non-religious and a very
small amount of Judaism followers.
Roughly
90% of the people that live in France are from French ancestry. Many people immigrate to France including;
North Africans, Germans, Portuguese, Italians, Russians and Americans to name
the major ones. Roughly 10% of the
population is from immigration.
Economic Characteristics
France’s
economy is doing quite well because it’s industries are doing very
well. These include agriculture,
energy, manufacturing and tourism.
This gives France the third largest economy in Europe and sixth largest
in the world (World Atlas).. With France being the most popular
tourist destination in the world it drives its economy.
France’s
primary exports are: machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel and beverages; totaling
$567 billion. France’s
primary imports are: machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft,
plastics and chemicals; totaling $641 billion (France Trade).
In
2017, France’s GNI was just shy of $3 trillion, this makes the GNI per
capita roughly $44,000. Which is
far less than here in the US being around 60 million. Compared to other European countries it’s
a little under average in the higher income countries (World Bank).
References
“France
Population (LIVE).” Worldometers, www.worldometers.info/world-population/france-population/.
France.fr.
“Geography and Climate.” France.fr, France FR, 8 Mar. 2019, us.france.fr/en/holiday-prep/geography-and-climate.
“Population
Pyramids of the World from 1950 to 2100.” PopulationPyramid.net, www.populationpyramid.net/france/2100/.
Sawe,
Benjamin Elisha. “Which Are the Biggest Industries in France?” WorldAtlas, 26 Sept. 2017,
www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-biggest-industries-in-france.html.
“France
Trade, Exports and Imports.” France Trade, Exports and Imports
| Economy Watch,
www.economywatch.com/world_economy/france/export-import.html.
“GNI per
Capita, PPP (Current International $).” Data, data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.PP.CD?locations=EU.
Submitted by Zach Coartney on 4-12.