Key facts about France
5 to 10 facts that help explain what makes the country distinctive.
The most visited country in the world
With 102 million international visitors in 2024, France is the world's leading tourist destination, ahead of Spain and the United States.
The most awarded country in literature
With 16 laureates, France has won more Nobel Prizes in Literature than any other country, ahead of the United Kingdom and the United States.
The country with the most time zones
Thanks to its overseas departments and collectivities, France spans 12 time zones, a world record ahead of Russia and the United States (11 each).
An electricity mix dominated by nuclear power
Nuclear power supplied about 65% of the electricity generated in France in 2023, a unique case among major economies — which largely explains its low CO₂ emissions per capita.
Laïcité, a founding principle since 1905
The law of 9 December 1905 separates the Churches and the State: the Republic does not recognise, pay or subsidise any religion.
The world's leading luxury nation
French houses account for more than 30% of the luxury sector's global revenue, far ahead of their Italian, Swiss or American competitors.