I visited France once—Paris to be exact.
It was 1999, and I remember spending a night in a cheap hostel with even cheaper wine. The next day, as I walked along the Seine River, appreciating beauty played second fiddle to contending with nausea.
I’ve come a long way since then, and here’s what I’ve learned—numbers style—about the country I “saw.”
1789
The year the French Revolution began, eventually resulting in the beheading of King Louis XVI and the establishment of the First Republic. A lot has happened since then—Napoleon, world wars, et cetera—and the country is apparently on its Fifth Republic.
68 million
The population of France (including overseas territories), good for 20th in the world.
$3.1 trillion
The nominal GDP of France, seventh-largest in the world. On a per-capita basis, the ranking falls to number 23.
12
The number of time zones in France, the most of any country. This feat owes itself, of course, to overseas possessions in or near South America, the Caribbean, Canada, Oceania, and the Indian Ocean.
1
The number of official languages in France, namely French. That said, even on the mothership (i.e. mainland France), there are many regional languages that might have been frowned upon in the past but maintain some degree of vitality. Examples include Alsatian (east), Basque (southwest), Breton (northwest), Catalan (south), and Flemish (north) among others.
51%
The proportion of the country that has no religion. Christianity is next at 38%, followed by Islam at 10%.
100 million
The number of foreign tourists who visited France in 2023, making it the most visited country in the world ahead of Spain and the US.
6
The number of times France has hosted the Olympics—three in the summer and three in the winter. The 2030 Winter Olympics will drive the total up to seven.
0
The number of cities in France besides Paris that Americans can name. The next four most populated metropolitan areas in descending order are Lyon, Marseilles, Lille, and Toulouse. Here’s a map.
3
The number of Michelin stars—as awarded by a French publication called the Michelin Guide—that restaurants aspire to. The fact that Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A, and Taco Bell have yet to be recognized reflects anti-American bias.
C’mon now—I haven’t come that far.
4 Responses
While in Paris must try out the Indian restaurants with delicious food!
Yes! Perhaps my next visit will be more upscale.
Nice to know facts about in such an organized manner,
Thank you. Glad it was useful.