The Human Truth Foundation

France (French Republic)

https://www.humantruth.info/france.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#france

France
French Republic
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index17th best
CapitalParis
Land Area 547 660km21
LocationEurope, The Mediterranean
Population65.0m2
Life Expectancy82.50yrs (2017)3
GNI$45 937 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesFR, FRA, 2505
Internet Domain.fr6
CurrencyEuro (EUR)7
Telephone+338

1. Overview

#france #germany

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-8, 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 take French forces out of 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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverFrance seduces travellers with its unfalteringly familiar culture woven around cafe terraces, village-square markets and lace-curtained bistros with their plat du jour chalked on the board. Few countries provoke such passion as La Belle France. Love it or loathe it, everyone has their own opinion about this Gallic Goliath. Snooty, sexy, superior, chic, infuriating, arrogant, officious and inspired in equal measures, the French have long lived according to their own idiosyncratic rules, and if the rest of the world doesn´t always see eye-to-eye with them, well, tant pis (too bad) - it´s the price you pay for being a culinary trendsetter, artistic pioneer and cultural icon.

If ever there was a country of contradictions, this is it. France is a deeply traditional place: castles, chateaux and ancient churches litter the landscape, while centuries-old principles of rich food, fine wine and joie de vivre underpin everyday life. Yet it is also a country that has one of Western Europe´s most multicultural make-ups, not to mention a well-deserved reputation for artistic experimentation and architectural invention. Enjoy!

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. France National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
25Austria0.916
26UAE0.911
27Spain0.905
28France0.903
29Cyprus0.896
30Italy0.895
31Estonia0.890
32Czechia0.889
Europe Avg0.87
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
23Australia$49 238
24Canada$46 808
25Saudi Arabia$46 112
26France$45 937
27UK$45 225
28S. Korea$44 501
29New Zealand$44 057
30Italy$42 840
Europe Avg$40 512
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
14Ireland39.8
15Belgium42.1
16Japan42.2
17France42.8
18Luxembourg44.3
19Taiwan44.5
20Spain45.4
21Italy46.9
Europe Avg59.3
World Avg87.9
q=196.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. France's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

France's population is predicted to rise to 68.47 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.99. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
19Iran81.8m
20Thailand69.4m
21UK67.1m
22France65.0m
23Italy60.6m
24S. Africa57.8m
25Tanzania56.3m
26Myanmar (Burma)53.7m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
14Iceland82.7
15Canada82.7
16Luxembourg82.6
17France82.5
18New Zealand82.5
19Israel82.3
20Finland82.0
21Ireland82.0
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
6Australia1.96
7Uruguay2.05
8Norway1.95
9Myanmar (Burma)1.95
10Indonesia2.07
11Sweden1.93
12Tunisia1.93
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
171Canada38.5
172Croatia39.7
173Malta39.9
174=France40.5
174=Austria40.5
176Greece41.3
177Spain41.4
178Netherlands41.9
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
44Spain12.8%
45Iceland12.5%
46Libya12.4%
47France12.2%
48Barbados12.1%
49Djibouti12.1%
50Netherlands12.1%
51Slovenia11.8%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
141Spain3.0%
142Central African Rep.2.9%
143Angola2.8%
144France2.8%
145Costa Rica2.7%
146Rwanda2.6%
147Pakistan2.5%
148Vietnam2.5%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #France #france_human_rights #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
10Finland23.8
11Australia23.9
12Hong Kong24.3
13France24.7
14Germany24.8
15Belgium25.9
Europe Avg51.4
World Avg87.9
q=199.
France performs very well in ensuring human rights and freedom compared to most other countries. France performs the best in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports18. It comes in the best 20 when it comes to freethought19 (amongst the lowest in Europe), LGBT equality20, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)21, its nominal commitment to Human Rights22 and in opposing gender inequality23. It does better than average when it comes to speed of uptake of HR treaties24, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms25 and in supporting press freedom26. In 2017, Human Rights Watch singled out Emmanuel Macron (France's President) in particular as embracing and supporting human rights visibly and explicitly, and his success in the polls indicates that his stance is widely accepted27. They also say that France's support of women's rights at home and internationally has been notable28. But, there's bad news too. France does worse than average in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice29. In some cases, anti-terrorism laws are being used to bypass judicial process, and, France's dealing with the Calais area migration camps have resulted in "dire living conditions" and the French ombudsman states that police behaviour has been abusive.30.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. France's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2020)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Monaco13.0
2Norway61.0
3=Finland65.3
...
25Croatia82.9
26=Poland83.5
27Czechia83.6
28France83.8
29=Bosnia & Herzegovina84.0
29=Albania84.0
31Turkey84.5
32Estonia85.3
33=Ireland87.4
Europe Avg82.5
q=46.
Health (2020)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
61=Canada83.5
61=Poland83.5
63Czechia83.6
64France83.8
65=Bosnia & Herzegovina84.0
65=Albania84.0
67Turkey84.5
68Australia84.6
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives32. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau32.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean32, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa32.

For more, see:

Health:

France does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. France comes in the best 20 in its fertility rate13 (the lowest in Europe) and in its average life expectancy11. It does better than average in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance33 and in its adolescent birth rate23. France does not succeed in everything, however. France does worse than average when it comes to its immunizations take-up34 and in its smoking rate35 (still low for Europe). And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of its suicide rate36 and in its alcohol consumption rate37. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in France improved by +5.9yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
14Iceland82.7
15Canada82.7
16Luxembourg82.6
17France82.5
18New Zealand82.5
19Israel82.3
20Finland82.0
21Ireland82.0
Europe Avg78.36
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
37
Pos.2016
Per Capita37
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
176Belgium12.1
177Portugal12.3
178=Slovenia12.6
178=France12.6
180Romania12.7
181=Bulgaria12.7
182Latvia12.9
183=Luxembourg13.0
Europe Avg10.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
6Australia1.96
7Uruguay2.05
8Norway1.95
9Myanmar (Burma)1.95
10Indonesia2.07
11Sweden1.93
12Tunisia1.93
Europe Avg1.61
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
35
Pos.201435
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
118Australia 956
119Mongolia 957
120Bahrain 969
121France 993
122Brunei1 023
123Algeria1 024
124Latvia1 041
125USA1 083
Europe Avg1 648
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate36
Pos.2013
Per 100k36
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
70Poland30.5
71Austria30.9
72Uruguay32.3
73France33.2
74Moldova35.7
75Switzerland36.2
76Croatia36.4
77Estonia37.9
Europe Avg26.99
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
20Kuwait20
21Japan21
22Spain22
23France23
24Italy24
25Qatar25
26Oman26
27Estonia27
Europe Avg47.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
38
Pos.2016
%38
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
133=Iceland59.1
134Montenegro59.4
135=Belarus59.4
136France59.5
137=Belgium59.5
138Lithuania59.6
139=Croatia59.6
140El Salvador59.9
Europe Avg58.5
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
23
Pos.2015
Per 100023
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
26Spain8.4
27Bosnia & Herzegovina8.6
28Saudi Arabia8.8
29France8.9
30Croatia9.5
31Israel9.7
32Canada9.8
33Kuwait9.8
Europe Avg14.6
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
34
Pos.2015
Avg %34
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
98USA92.8
99Latvia92.8
100Romania92.7
101France92.6
102=El Salvador92.4
102=Swaziland92.4
104Palau92.4
105Vietnam92.3
Europe Avg92.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. France's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #food #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Europe (2023)39
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank39
1Greece50.4
2Italy51.8
3Germany55.8
4=Norway56.0
4=Sweden56.0
6Portugal57.0
7=Spain57.6
8Switzerland60.8
9=France61.8
9=Denmark61.8
11Luxembourg64.2
12Netherlands65.8
13=Austria66.6
Europe Avg79.9
q=43.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)39
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank39
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
27Switzerland60.8
28=Tunisia61.0
28=Paraguay61.0
30France61.8
31=Denmark61.8
32Mauritius62.3
33Indonesia62.4
34S. Korea62.8
World Avg85.7
q=188.
France is 30th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 7 data sets. France does the second-best in terms of its environmental performance40. It comes in the best 20 in terms of its score on the Green Future Index41. It does better than average when it comes to its forested percent change 2000-202042, energy to GDP efficiency43, how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population44. France still has work to do. France does worse than average in annual meat consumption per person45.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
42
Pos.Total42
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
23Jamaica14.1%
24Italy13.8%
25Fiji12.9%
26France12.5%
27Moldova11.9%
28Palestine11.5%
29Kyrgyzstan11.1%
30Serbia10.6%
Europe Avg8.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
40
Pos.201840
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
6UK79.9
7Luxembourg79.1
8Austria79.0
9Ireland78.8
10Finland78.6
11Iceland78.6
12Spain78.4
Europe Avg69.6
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better43
Pos.201443
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
48=Algeria10.00
48=Macedonia10.00
48=Croatia10.00
51France09.90
52=Lebanon09.90
53Hungary09.80
54=Latvia09.80
55Poland09.71
Europe Avg09.80
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
64Micronesia1994 Sep 18
65Malaysia1994 Sep 22
66Benin1994 Sep 28
67France1994 Sep 29
68Netherlands1994 Oct 10
69=Pakistan1994 Oct 24
69=Kenya1994 Oct 24
71Finland1994 Oct 25
Europe Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better44
Pos.2011
%44
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
69Cameroon39.0%
70Uganda38.6%
71Sierra Leone38.6%
72France38.4%
73Mongolia38.4%
74Hungary38.0%
75Mauritania38.0%
76Croatia37.8%
Europe Avg33.6%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
45
Pos.2021
kg45
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
157Panama85.0
158Luxembourg85.8
159Antigua & Barbuda85.8
160France86.1
161Barbados86.4
162Canada86.9
163New Caledonia87.5
164Montenegro88.4
Europe Avg71.1
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in France was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.45

Green Future Index
Higher is better
41
Pos.2023
Score41
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
4=Sweden6.3
4=Denmark6.3
6Netherlands6.2
7UK6.1
8S. Korea6.0
9France6.0
10=Spain5.9
10=Germany5.9
12Belgium5.8
Europe Avg5.6
World Avg4.8
q=76.

The 2023 edition of the Green Futures Index noted that France's nuclear contribution to its energy sector was the highest in the world, helping it avoid harmful carbon emissions.46

7. France's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)47
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank47
1Finland8.4
2Switzerland15.1
3Estonia15.8
...
17Luxembourg24.4
18Netherlands24.7
19Latvia28.2
20France28.8
21Poland34.6
22Lithuania35.0
23Spain37.1
24Italy38.5
25Slovakia39.5
Europe Avg41.2
q=49.
Modernity & Learning (2020)47
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank47
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
24Netherlands24.7
25Singapore27.9
26Latvia28.2
27France28.8
28USA29.3
29Israel32.2
30Hong Kong32.6
31Poland34.6
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2948
2Israel4.1148
3Japan3.5848
...
11USA2.7449
12Belgium2.4648
13Slovenia2.3948
14France2.2648
15Australia2.2550
16=Singapore2.0049
16=Czechia2.0048
18Netherlands1.9748
Europe Avg1.32
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
51
Pos.201851
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
52Belgium84.8%
53UK84.5%
54Jordan84.0%
55France83.5%
56Sri Lanka82.8%
57Bosnia & Herzegovina81.2%
58Malaysia80.8%
59Cyprus80.3%
Europe Avg88.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
52
Pos.2021
Years52
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
39Austria16.0
40Estonia15.9
41Thailand15.9
42France15.8
43Palau15.8
44Russia15.8
45Kazakhstan15.8
46UAE15.7
Europe Avg16.1
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
21Germany21
22Grenada22
23Poland23
24France24
25S. Africa25
26Singapore26
27Greece27
28Serbia28
Europe Avg31.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading
Higher is better
53
Pos.2015
Score53
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
...
22=Australia1507
23UK1499
24Portugal1491
25=France1487
25=Sweden1487
27Austria1477
28Russia1476
29Spain1475
Europe Avg1417
World Avg1389
q=70.
Religiosity
Lower is better
54
Pos.2018
%54
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
9=Japan10
9=Finland10
11Latvia11
12=France11
12=Belgium11
14Austria12
15Hungary14
16Albania15
Europe Avg25.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better55
Pos.200655
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
23=Andorra98
23=Czechia98
23=Spain98
23=France98
23=Australia98
23=Denmark98
23=USA98
23=Latvia98
Europe Avg96.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
56
Pos.201656
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
24Germany88%
25Aruba88%
26Switzerland87%
27France86%
28S. Korea86%
29Australia85%
30Bahamas85%
31Puerto Rico83%
Europe Avg76.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security
Lower is better
57
Pos.201357
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
46Indonesia1.05
47British Virgin Islands1.08
48Mali1.12
49France1.13
50Italy1.15
51Vietnam1.15
52Nigeria1.18
53Mauritania1.19
Europe Avg0.80
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
58
Pos.2017
Ratio58
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
9Ireland26.1
10UK24.7
11Japan22.1
12France18.8
13Canada18.3
14Peru18.3
15Ecuador18.2
16Estonia17.6
Europe Avg8.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

France has an excellent long-term record on keeping corruption low.

World Giving Index
Higher is better
59
Pos.2022
%59
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
102=Spain32.0
102=Benin32.0
102=Jordan32.0
102=France32.0
102=Greece32.0
107Georgia31.0
108=Morocco31.0
108=Zimbabwe31.0
Europe Avg39.0
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
60
Pos.2022
Points60
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
18UK73.0
19=Japan73.0
19=Belgium73.0
21France72.0
22Austria71.0
23Seychelles70.0
24USA69.0
25=Taiwan68.0
Europe Avg57.61
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness
Higher is better
61
Pos.2018
Score61
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
20UAE6.8
21Czechia6.7
22Malta6.6
23France6.5
24Mexico6.5
25Chile6.5
26Taiwan6.4
27Panama6.4
Europe Avg6.06
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
11UK11
12Portugal12
13Finland13
14France14
15Germany15
16Slovenia16
17Latvia17
18Barbados18
Europe Avg35.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
14Germany14
15Albania15
16Togo16
17France17
18Singapore18
19Malaysia19
20Nicaragua20
21Portugal21
Europe Avg42.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
62
Pos.2023
Score62
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
64Cyprus1.90
65Serbia1.92
66Armenia1.93
67France1.94
68Panama1.94
69Paraguay1.94
70=Liberia1.95
70=Trinidad & Tobago1.95
Europe Avg1.70
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
50Ireland50
51Norway51
52Finland52
53France53
54Australia54
55Italy55
56Mauritius56
57Zambia57
Europe Avg84.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
13Belgium13
14Italy14
15Spain15
16France16
17Cyprus17
18Slovenia18
19New Zealand19
20Luxembourg20
Europe Avg37.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
63
Pos.2019
Score63
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
112Iran4.72
113Chad4.76
114Russia4.90
115France5.01
116Indonesia5.07
117Nepal5.09
118Burundi5.10
119Palestine5.18
Europe Avg1.62
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better64
Pos.201964
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
24Denmark3.60
25Australia3.70
26=Austria3.70
27France3.80
28=Germany3.80
29UK4.10
30Hungary4.20
31=Croatia4.30
Europe Avg4.86
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
65
Pos.2017
%65
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
35Switzerland32.3
36Bangladesh32.4
37Mauritania32.6
38=France32.7
38=Estonia32.7
40Nepal32.8
41=Tunisia32.8
42Mali33.0
Europe Avg31.5
World Avg38.1
q=152.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #universalism

Religiosity (2018)54
Pos.Lower is better
%54
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
9=Japan10
9=Finland10
11Latvia11
12=France11
12=Belgium11
14Austria12
15Hungary14
16Albania15
17=Lithuania16
17=S. Korea16
17=Russia16
20Australia18
21=Vietnam18
22Bulgaria19
23=Norway19
24Netherlands20
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)66
Pos.Higher is better
%66
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
6Denmark48
7France44
8Belgium43
9=Netherlands42
9=Germany42
9=UK42
12Cuba40
13Slovenia35
14Bulgaria34
15Hungary32
16Norway31
17S. Korea30
18Finland28
19Russia27
20Australia25
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below67:

Christian63%
Muslim7.5%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.5%
Folk Religion0.3%
Jewish0.5%
Unaffiliated28%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 71% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (44%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 71.9% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 11% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%. overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, pagan68.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on France69. Despite the large numbers of Christians, not many have traditional beliefs in the afterlife - just 4%. More people don't know what to believe (32%). Even more people believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (39%). Also, 1% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 5% believe in reincarnation.

France is a highly secular country, and even amongst those who declare themselves to be religious there is a high degree of non-belief. 51% of the French people are Catholic, but only half of those Catholics actually say they believe in God. Of the god-believers, only 18% of them have Catholic beliefs about God. These statistics led scholar Nikolai G. Wenzel (2011)70 to ask "what does it really mean to be Catholic any more?".71. Those statistics from 2007 have been verified by later data:

The movement to remove the privileges of institutionalized religion in France started earliest out of all Europe. Dobbelaere (2011)72 records that...:

In France, the secularist movement started at the end of the eighteenth century with laws introducing gradually the separation of church and state... state schools were compelled by law to be 'laïque' and 'neutral' towards the different creeds.

"The Meaning and Scope of Secularization" by Karel Dobbelaere (2011)73

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)74, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for France is one of the shortest of all countries (a good sign). It states:

The constitution and other laws, including the 1905 law on the "Separation of the Churches and the State", ensure state secularism (laïcité) and protect freedom of religion or belief. There are some exceptions to the policy of strict secularism. For example the French government owns and maintains free of charge all the Roman Catholic churches built before 1905, but no other religious building. And the law of 1905 does not completely apply to regions that (re)joined France after 1905. For example, there are still blasphemy laws on the book in the regions of Alsace and Moselle, as Articles 166 and 167 of the local penal code, although no convictions have been registered.

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)75

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