Military
Military branches: Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval
Air), Air Force (includes Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:
males age 15-49: 14,666,286 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,203,675 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 411,911 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $39.831 billion (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.5% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and French Guiana; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu