Capital

Frankreich

name: Paris

geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

time zone note: applies to metropolitan France only; for its overseas regions the time difference is UTC-4 for Guadeloupe and Martinique, UTC-3 for French Guiana, UTC+3 for Mayotte, and UTC+4 for Reunion

etymology: name derives from the Parisii, a Celtic tribe that inhabited the area from the 3rd century B.C., but who were conquered by the Romans in the 1st century B.C.; the Celtic settlement became the Roman town of Lutetia Parisiorum (Lutetia of the Parisii); over subsequent centuries it became Parisium and then just Paris

Lesotho

name: Maseru

geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: in the Sesotho language the name means "[place of] red sandstones"

Haiti

name: Port-au-Prince

geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

etymology: according to tradition, in 1706, a Captain de Saint-Andre named the bay and its surrounding area after his ship Le Prince; the name of the town that grew there means, "the Port of The Prince"

Citizenship

Frankreich

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of France

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Lesotho

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Haiti

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Haiti

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Legal system

Frankreich

civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts

Lesotho

mixed legal system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal

Haiti

civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code

Suffrage

Frankreich

18 years of age; universal

Lesotho

18 years of age; universal

Haiti

18 years of age; universal

Area

Frankreich

total: 643,801 sq km ; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France)

land: 640,427 sq km ; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France)

water: 3,374 sq km ; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France)

note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion

Lesotho

total: 30,355 sq km

land: 30,355 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Haiti

total: 27,750 sq km

land: 27,560 sq km

water: 190 sq km

Land use

Frankreich

agricultural land: 52.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 33.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 29.2% (2018 est.)

other: 18.1% (2018 est.)

Lesotho

agricultural land: 76.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 65.9% (2018 est.)

forest: 1.5% (2018 est.)

other: 22.4% (2018 est.)

Haiti

agricultural land: 66.4% (2018 est.)

arable land: 38.5% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 10.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 17.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 3.6% (2018 est.)

other: 30% (2018 est.)

Location

Frankreich

metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain;

French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname;

Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico;

Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago;

Mayotte: Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about halfway between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique;

Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Lesotho

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Haiti

Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Age structure

Frankreich

0-14 years: 18.04% (male 6,322,021/female 6,040,773)

15-64 years: 60.53% (male 20,846,592/female 20,632,418)

65 years and over: 21.42% (2023 est.) (male 6,409,883/female 8,270,287)

Lesotho

0-14 years: 32.4% (male 360,327/female 355,863)

15-64 years: 62.21% (male 688,373/female 686,911)

65 years and over: 5.39% (2023 est.) (male 44,313/female 74,859)

Haiti

0-14 years: 29.68% (male 1,695,357/female 1,709,344)

15-64 years: 65.76% (male 3,733,899/female 3,808,453)

65 years and over: 4.56% (2023 est.) (male 228,800/female 294,408)

Birth rate

Frankreich

10.9 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Lesotho

23 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Haiti

21.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Frankreich

9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Lesotho

10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Haiti

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Frankreich

French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard); note - overseas departments: French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili dialect)

major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Lesotho

Sesotho (official) (southern Sotho), English (official), Phuthi, Xhosa, Zulu

Haiti

French (official), Creole (official)

major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, sous endispansab pou enfomasyon debaz. (Haitian Creole)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

Frankreich

total population: 82.5 years (2023 est.)

male: 79.7 years

female: 85.5 years

Lesotho

total population: 59.9 years (2023 est.)

male: 57.9 years

female: 62 years

Haiti

total population: 64.8 years (2023 est.)

male: 63 years

female: 66.7 years

Major urban areas - population

Frankreich

11.208 million PARIS (capital), 1.761 million Lyon, 1.628 million Marseille-Aix-en-Provence, 1.079 million Lille, 1.060 million Toulouse, 1.000 million Bordeaux (2023)

Lesotho

202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018)

Haiti

2.987 million PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) (2023)

Median age

Frankreich

total: 42.4 years (2023 est.)

male: 40.9 years

female: 44 years

Lesotho

total: 23.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 23.2 years

female: 24.2 years

Haiti

total: 24.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 24.4 years

female: 24.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Frankreich

28.9 years (2020 est.)

Lesotho

20.9 years (2014 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Haiti

22.4 years (2016/7 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Net migration rate

Frankreich

1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Lesotho

-4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Haiti

-1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Frankreich

much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second

Lesotho

relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru, and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people as shown in this population distribution map

Haiti

fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas

Population growth rate

Frankreich

0.21% (2023 est.)

Lesotho

0.76% (2023 est.)

Haiti

1.23% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Frankreich

1.9 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Lesotho

2.88 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Haiti

2.49 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Frankreich

urban population: 81.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Lesotho

urban population: 30.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Haiti

urban population: 59.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Frankreich

5.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Lesotho

8.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Haiti

1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Frankreich

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 16 years (2020)

Lesotho

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2017)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Frankreich

-2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Lesotho

-6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Haiti

-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Frankreich

6.98% (2021 est.)

Lesotho

8.52% (2021 est.)

Haiti

-2.48% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Frankreich

31.132 million (2021 est.)

Lesotho

955,600 (2021 est.)

Haiti

5.01 million (2021 est.)

note: shortage of skilled labor; unskilled labor abundant

Population below poverty line

Frankreich

13.6% (2018 est.)

Lesotho

49.7% (2017 est.)

Haiti

58.5% (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

Frankreich

8.06% (2021 est.)

8.01% (2020 est.)

8.41% (2019 est.)

note: includes overseas territories

Lesotho

24.6% (2021 est.)

24.56% (2020 est.)

22.44% (2019 est.)

Haiti

15.73% (2021 est.)

15.45% (2020 est.)

13.91% (2019 est.)

note: widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs

Public debt

Frankreich

123.01% of GDP (2020 est.)

104.99% of GDP (2019 est.)

101.62% of GDP (2018 est.)

note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Lesotho

33.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

36.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Haiti

31.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

33.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Frankreich

1.64% (2021 est.)

0.48% (2020 est.)

1.11% (2019 est.)

Lesotho

6.05% (2021 est.)

4.98% (2020 est.)

5.19% (2019 est.)

Haiti

16.84% (2021 est.)

22.8% (2020 est.)

18.7% (2019 est.)

Exports

Frankreich

$920.864 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$751.384 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$892.016 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Lesotho

$1.08 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$902.123 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.093 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Haiti

$1.241 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.014 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.733 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

Frankreich

Germany 13%, Italy 8%, Belgium 8%, United States 7%, Spain 7% (2021)

Lesotho

United States 29%, Belgium 26%, South Africa 25%, Switzerland 6% (2019)

Haiti

United States 83%, Canada 4%, Mexico 3%, India 1%, Hong Kong 1% (2021)

Imports

Frankreich

$957.717 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$796.353 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$916.214 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Lesotho

$2.221 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.98 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.23 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Haiti

$5.222 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$4.206 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.161 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

Frankreich

Germany 17%, Italy 9%, Belgium 9%, Spain 8%, Netherlands 8% (2021)

Lesotho

South Africa 85%, China 5% (2019)

Haiti

United States 26%, Dominican Republic 23%, China 19%, Turkey 3%, Indonesia 3% (2021)

Airports

Frankreich

464 (2021)

Lesotho

24 (2021)

Haiti

14 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Frankreich

total: 30.627 million (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.)

Lesotho

total: 5,060 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.)

Haiti

total: 31,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.3 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Frankreich

total: 55.9 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 86% (2021 est.)

Lesotho

total: 1.104 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 48% (2021 est.)

Haiti

total: 4.29 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 39% (2021 est.)

Railways

Frankreich

total: 27,860 km (2020) 16,660 km electrified

narrow gauge: -5 km

Roadways

Frankreich

total: 1,053,215 km (2011)

urban: 654,201 km (2011)

non-urban: 399,014 km (2011)

Lesotho

total: 5,940 km (2011)

paved: 1,069 km (2011)

unpaved: 4,871 km (2011)

Haiti

total: 4,102 km (2011)

paved: 600 km (2011)

unpaved: 3,502 km (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

Frankreich

total subscriptions: 38 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2021 est.)

Lesotho

total subscriptions: 9,559 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

Haiti

total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2021 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

Frankreich

total subscriptions: 73 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)

Lesotho

total subscriptions: 1,821,374 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (2021 est.)

Haiti

total subscriptions: 7.3 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Frankreich

metropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km navigable by craft up to 3,000 metric tons) (2010)

Disputes - international

Frankreich

Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia

Lesotho

Lesotho-South Africa: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration

 

Haiti

Haiti-Dominican Republic: the Dominican Republic has increased security along the Haitian border to prevent unauthorized migration and smuggling, including constructing a fence and deploying military troops; some disputes over border limits, particularly along the Massacre River

Haiti-US: Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island