The French 'Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen' of 1789 is the world's first universal declaration of human rights, applying not only to French citizens or "free men", but to all people in the world. Culture France is famous for its literature. Notable authors include Honoré de Balzac, Alexandre Dumas, Jules Vernes, Marcel Proust, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Architecture Named after its designer, the Eiffel Tower was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. Much criticised by the public when it was built, the tower has become the most prominent symbol of Paris. Sport The Tour de France is one of the most popular bicycle races in the world, with competitors covering more than 2,200 miles of road.
Fun Fact French was the official language of England for over 300 years (from 1066 until the early 15th century). Economy The French economy is the 8th largest in the world in terms of PPP. Agriculture Although France is the world's second-largest agricultural producer and contains about 17% of all agricultural land within the EU-27, agriculture accounts for only 1.8% of GDP.
Demographics Though France's demographic profile continues to age, its fertility rate has been rising since the 1990s and is now close to replacement level. Pension In 2010, the French government said it plans to increase the retirement age from 60 to 62 by 2018. Labour Market While the French labour market has undergone some significant reforms, it is still highly rigid with a low participation rate and a high minimum wage.
Unemployment France has been struggling with high unemployment rates for decades. After reaching a low of 7.2% in June 2008, the unemployment rate has risen steeply and stood at 9.5% as of May 2010. Tourism With at least 75 million foreign tourists a year, France is the most visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism.