Capital of France and center of government, business, and culture.
Population: more than 2 million residents (city), almost 11 million (metropolitan area).
Territory: 436 sq mi (1129 sq km.).

Prominent industries: finance, insurance, manufacturing, exporting, and technology.

France levies a value-added tax of 19.6% on most goods. Non-citizens of the EU can recoup a portion of this tax by filling out a form obtained from the store and filing the request with Customs before leaving France.