France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-7, the G-20, the EU, and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to withdraw French forces from NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion - became French regions and were made part of France proper.

Source: The CIA World Factbook - France



Your advisors at the Chamber of Commerce

Alissa Dörr

Contact us: europe@cc.lu


Key indicators

Area
643,801 km2
Population
68,084,217 (July 2021 est.)
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Languages
French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard)
GDP
$2.503 trillion (2020 est.)
Growth rate
-8.1% (2020 est.)
HDI
26
Capital
Paris

Macroeconomic indicators

Economic growth is set to return to a solid pace of close to 2% over 2018-19 thanks to strong external demand and robust business confidence. Gradual corporate tax cuts and supportive financing conditions will underpin business investment growth. Lower labour taxes and labour market reforms should encourage job creation and boost household consumption and inclusiveness. Inflation is projected to pick up, supported by the firming of the economy and an increase in wages.

The fiscal stance is projected to be broadly neutral. High growth, lower wage and housing subsidies, as well as tighter controls on sub-central government spending, should broadly compensate a decline in household and business taxes. However, further cuts in non-priority spending and an improved effectiveness of social expenditures and infrastructure investment will be needed to sustainably finance lower taxes. At the same time, medium-term growth will depend on continuing to implement structural reforms to improve skills, reduce labour market segmentation and raise competitive pressures in services sectors.

Source: OECD - Economic Forecast

 

IMF Statistics:

Subject descriptor 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Gross domestic product, constant prices

Percent change

1.725

1.249

1.263

1.338

1.391

Gross domestic product, current prices

Percent change

(Billions)

2,780.152

2,707.074

2,771.622

2,876.227

2,983.803

Gross domestic product per capita, current prices

Percent change

(Units)

42,953.266

41,760.606

42,643.949

44,132.785

45,657.022

Inflation, average consumer prices

Percent change

2.102

1.167

1.332

1.426

1.591

Volume of imports of goods and services

Percent change

1.209

2.352

3.375

3.594

3.332

Volume of exports of goods and services

Percent change

3.468

2.332

2.905

3.580

3.503

Unemployment rate

Percent change

9.050

8.620

8.431

8.287

8.200

Current account balance

Percent change

(Billions)

-16.160

-13.741

-13.738

-12.469

-10.522

Current account balance

Percent change

-0.581

-0.508

-0.496

-0.434

-0.353

Estimates

Source: IMF Statistics - France


Relationships with Luxembourg

Existing conventions and agreements

Non double taxation agreement

In order to promote international economic and financial relations in the interest of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Luxembourg government negotiates bilateral agreements for the avoidance of double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on fortune with third countries.

  • Convention from 01.04.1958 (Memorial 1959, A No.43, p.1064)
  • Effective as of 01.01.1957 (Memorial 1959, A No.43, p.1064)
  • Amendment to the Convention from 08.09.1970 (Memorial 1971, A No.64, p.1756)
  • Effective as of 01.01.1971 (Memorial 1971, A No.64, p.1756)
  • 2nd Amendment to the Convention from 21.11.2007 (Memorial 2007, A No.213, p. 3698)
  • Effective as of 01.01.2008 (Memorial 2007, A No.213, p. 3698)
  • 3rd Amendment to the Convention from 03.06.2009 (Memorial 2010, A No.51, p.896)
  • Effective as of 01.01.2007 (Memorial 2010, A No.51, p.896)
  • 4th Amendment of the Convention from 05.09.2014 (Memorial 215, A No.232, p.5095)
  • Effective as of 01.01.2017 (Memorial 215, A No.232, p.5095)
  • Law from 22.01.2016 (Memorial 2016, A No.6, p.211)

Air Services agreement

  • Agreement from 29.03.1962 (Memorial 1965, A, p. 294 )
  • Effective as of 04.27.1965 (Memorial 1965, A, p. 969)

Source: Administration des contributions directes


Further information

Foreign Trade

The Statec Foreign Trade statistics provide information on the trade of goods - by product and by country. This information is collected respectively through the INTRASTAT declaration and on the basis of customs documents.

You can see the statistics on the website of the Statec.

Contact points in France

Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in France

Ambassador with residence in Paris: Ms Martine SCHOMMER

33 Avenue Rapp
F-75007 Paris
France

Tel.: (+33 -1) 45 55 13 37
Fax: (+33 -1) 45 51 72 29
E-Mail: paris.amb@mae.etat.lu 
Website: paris.mae.lu

Consul general

Consul General with jurisdiction over the Regions of Alsace and the Territory of Belfort:

Mr Stephan MULLER

65, allée de la Robertsau
F-67000 Strasbourg
France

Tel.: (+33) 3 88 15 26 36
Fax: (+33) 3 88 15 26 37
E-Mail: strasbourg.rp@mae.etat.lu 

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 09h00-12h00 and 15h00-17h00

Honorary consuls

Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Region of Aquitaine:

Ms Sylvie CAZES

9, Cours de Gourgue
F-33000 Bordeaux
France

Tel.: (+33) 5 56 00 90 20
E-Mail: bordeaux@consul-hon.lu 

Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Region of Hauts-de-France:

Mr Eric DELFLY

120, rue de l’Hôpital Militaire
F-59000 Lille
France

Tel.: (+33) 3 28 52 00 01
E-Mail: lille@consul-hon.lu 

Honorary Consul with jurisdiction in the Region of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes: 

Ms Marie-Christine HERRBACH (born as LAVERRIÈRE)

6, rue Grolée
F-69002 Lyon
France

Tel.: (+33) 7 85 79 13 47
E-Mail: lyon@consul-hon.lu 

Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Regions of Ardennes, Aube Marne, Haut-Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, and Grand Est:

Mr Yves WENDLING

26, rue de Raigecourt
F-57070 Metz
France

Tel.: (+33) 3 87 63 10 75
E-Mail: metz@consul-hon.lu 

Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Regions of Bretagne and Pays-de-Loire:

Mr Aymeric de VASSELOT

15, rue Alain Barbe Torte
F-44203 Nantes
France

Tel.: (+33) 6 32 03 37 12
E-Mail: nantes@consul-hon.lu 

Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Region of Alpes-Côte d'Azur:

Mr Cyril DARY

400, Promenade des Anglais
F-06200 Nice
France

Tel.: (+33) 06 01 74 87 80
E-Mail: nice@consul-hon.lu 

Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Region of Normandie:

Mr Jean-Philippe CARPENTIER

36, rue de l’Avalasse
F-76000 Rouen
France

Tel.: (+33) 6 60 54 78 00
E-Mail: rouen@consul-hon.lu 

Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées:

Mr Davy ATLAN 

26, rue St Antoine du T
F-31000 Toulouse
France

Tel.: (+33) 5 62 30 44 59
E-Mail: toulouse@consul-hon.lu 

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg

Economic and Commercial AttachéMrs Laurence SDIKA

33 Avenue Rapp
F-75007 Paris
France

Tel.: (+33) 1 45 55 13 37
Fax: (+33) 1 45 51 72 29
E-Mail:  laurence.sdika@mae.etat.lu  /  laurence.sdika@cc.lu

 

Country risk as defined by Office du Ducroire for France

Ducroire is the only credit insurer covering open account deals in over 200 countries. A rating on a scale from 1 to 7 shows the intensity of the political risk. Category 1 comprises countries with the lowest political risk and category 7 countries with the highest. Macroeconomics experts also assess the repayment climate for all buyers in a country.

Link: Ducroire Office - Country risk for France

Other useful links


Chamber of Commerce and the country