LOCATION
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;

AREA
Total: 643,801 sq km
Land: 640,427 sq km
Water: 3,374 sq km

LAND BOUNDARIES
Andorra 55 km, Belgium 556 km, Germany 418 km, Italy 476 km, Luxembourg 69 km, Monaco 6 km, Spain 646 km, Switzerland 525 km

COASTLINE
3,427 km

CLIMATE
Generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral;

POPULATION
67,364,357 (July 2018 est.)

CAPITAL
Paris