| | WESTERN FRANCE | FRANCE |
| POPULATION | | |
| Surface | 57 890 sq. km
(22 352 sq. miles) | 543 965 sq. km
(210 116 sq. miles) |
| Population (year 2006) | 5 139 000 | 61 167 000 |
| Population density | 88.77 inh/sq.km. | 112.44 inh/sq.km. |
| Population growth from 1996 to 2006 | + 7.33% | + 5.57% |
| Number of urban areas of more than 100 000 people | 7 | 57 |
| Population under 29 years old | 37.2% | 38.1% |
| ECONOMY | | |
| Gross Domestic Product (year 2006) | 116 515 Million euros | 1 566 660 Million euros |
Employment
(year 2006) | 1 311 000 | 16 232 000 |
Employment growth
(from 1998 to 2006) | + 17.6% | + 13% |
| Unemployment rate | 7% | 8% |
| Number of days lost on strike (for 1000 employees) | 15 | 14 |
| INNOVATION and EDUCATION | | |
| Nber of science parks | 6 | 72 |
| Nber of universities | 6 | 91 |
| Nber of engineering schools | 23 | 230 |
| Nber of business and management schools and institutes | 19 | 223 |
| Nber of students | 152 565 | 2 254 386 |
| Nber of researchers | 7 284 | 208 384 |
| Number of public and private R&D employees | 13 453 | 346 078 |
| INFRASTRUCTURES | | |
| Nber of airports | 16 | |
| Nber of airports with regular international flights | 2
(3rd international airport planned for 2012) | |
| Nber of ports and marinas | 53 | |
| Nber of commercial ports | 8 | |
| Length of coastline | 818 kms | |
| Nber of islands | 5 | |
| Highest area | Mont des Avaloirs 417 meters
(1368 feet high) | |
