# Berjou

> commune in Orne, France

**Wikidata**: [Q384673](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q384673)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berjou)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/berjou

## Summary
Berjou is a commune located in the Orne department of Normandy, France, specifically within the arrondissement of Argentan. It functions as a territorial subdivision for municipalities under the French administrative system. The entity is situated at specific geographic coordinates and has recorded various population figures in recent history.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Commune of France (a territorial subdivision for municipalities).
- **Location**: Orne department, Normandy, France.
- **Administrative Division**: Arrondissement of Argentan.
- **Coordinates**: 48.849444444444° N, -0.48194444444444° E.
- **Population Data Points**: 488, 482, 487, 461, 454, 451, 446, 437, 427, 417 (historical figures).
- **Department Inception**: Orne was established on March 4, 1790.
- **Commune Inception**: The administrative category "commune of France" was established in 1789.
- **National Capital**: Paris (France).
- **National Population**: 68,605,616 (2025 estimate for France).
- **National Government**: Semi-presidential republic led by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
- **National Currency**: Euro (EUR) in metropolitan France; CFP Franc in overseas territories.

## FAQs
**Where is Berjou located?**
Berjou is situated in the Orne department within the Normandy region of France. It falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Argentan.

**What type of administrative division is Berjou?**
Berjou is classified as a commune of France, which serves as a territorial subdivision for municipalities. This administrative level was established during the French Revolution in 1789.

**What are the geographic coordinates of Berjou?**
The commune is located at a latitude of 48.849444444444 and a longitude of -0.48194444444444.

**What country does Berjou belong to?**
Berjou is part of France, a unitary semi-presidential republic located primarily in Western Europe, with additional territories in the Americas, Africa, and Oceania.

## Why It Matters
Berjou matters as a fundamental administrative unit within the French Republic, representing the local governance structure of the Orne department in Normandy. As a commune, it is the lowest level of administrative division in France, playing a crucial role in the decentralized administration of the state. Its existence ties the local population to the broader historical and political framework of France, a nation with significant global influence as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a founding member of the European Union. The commune's location in Normandy places it within a region historically significant to the formation of the French state, particularly following the reorganization of territories during the Revolution in 1790.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Hierarchy**: Being part of the arrondissement of Argentan within the Orne department.
- **Demographic Data**: Possessing specific historical population records ranging from 417 to 488 inhabitants.
- **Geographic Specificity**: Defined by precise coordinates in the northwestern sector of France.
- **National Integration**: Operating under the legal and administrative frameworks of the Fifth French Republic.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Berjou is geographically positioned at coordinates 48.849444444444° latitude and -0.48194444444444° longitude. It is located within the arrondissement of Argentan, which is a subdivision of the Orne department in the Normandy region of France. The Orne department itself was established on March 4, 1790. France, the sovereign state encompassing Berjou, is located primarily in Western Europe and extends its presence to other continents through overseas territories in the Americas (e.g., French Guiana), Africa (e.g., Réunion), and Oceania (e.g., New Caledonia). Metropolitan France shares borders with Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland. The country's highest point is Mont Blanc (4,808.72 meters), and the lowest point is Étang de Lavalduc (-10 meters).

### Administrative Structure
As a commune of France, Berjou is part of a territorial subdivision system for municipalities that originated in 1789. The commune is the basic level of administrative division in the country. France operates as a unitary semi-presidential republic with a decentralized administration. The current constitution, establishing the Fifth Republic, was founded on October 4, 1958. The executive branch is shared between the Head of State, President Emmanuel Macron, and the Head of Government, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The legislative branch is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate. The judiciary is headed by the Court of Cassation, the Council of State, and the Constitutional Council.

### Demographics and Society
Berjou has recorded population figures of 488, 482, 487, 461, 454, 451, 446, 437, 427, and 417. In the broader national context, France has an estimated population of 68,605,616 as of January 1, 2025. French society is highly urbanized, with an urban population of approximately 55.4 million compared to a rural population of 12.5 million (2022 data). The official language is French, though regional languages such as Basque, Occitan, Catalan, Breton, and Alsatian are recognized. The age of majority and marriageable age is 18. Compulsory education is required for children between the ages of 6 and 16, and the retirement age is set at 62 years (with a full rate at 67).

### Economy and Finance
The local economy of Berjou is integrated into the national economy of France, which has a nominal GDP of $2.78 trillion USD (2022). The French government budget for 2023 was €455.2 billion. The standard VAT rate is 20%, with reduced rates of 10% and 5.5%, and a specific rate of 2.1% for medication. The currency used in metropolitan France is the Euro (€), while overseas territories like New Caledonia and French Polynesia use the CFP Franc. The central bank is the Bank of France, and public debt stood at 117.4% of GDP in the third quarter of 2025.

### Infrastructure and Standards
Berjou follows the infrastructure standards of France. The country operates on Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and observes Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00). The driving side is right, and speed limits are generally 130 km/h on highways, 110 km/h on dual carriageways, 90 km/h on other roads, and 50 km/h in built-up areas. The electrical grid supplies 230 volts at 50 Hz using Europlug and Type E plugs. The international calling code is +33, and the top-level internet domain is .fr. ISO codes for the country include FR (Alpha-2), FRA (Alpha-3), and 250 (Numeric).

### Symbols and Culture
As part of France, Berjou falls under the national symbols of the French Republic. The national flag is the tricolore (blue, white, red), and the motto is "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (Liberty, equality, fraternity). The national anthem is "La Marseillaise." Public holidays observed include New Year's Day, Easter Monday, International Workers' Day (May 1), Victory in Europe Day (May 8), Bastille Day (July 14), Assumption of Mary (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Armistice Day (November 11), and Christmas (December 25).

### International Relations and History
Berjou is located within France, a founding member of the European Union (March 25, 1957) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (since October 24, 1945). France is also a member of NATO (since April 4, 1949), the G7, the G20, the World Trade Organization, the Schengen Area, and the Council of Europe. The nation possesses nuclear weapons, a status attained in 1960. Historically, the origins of the French state trace back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, which established West Francia, and the First French Empire was proclaimed in 1804. The administrative framework that includes the commune system was solidified during the transition from the Kingdom of France to the modern republic.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Annuaire de service-public.fr
7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
8. Populations légales 2016
9. Populations légales 2017
10. Populations légales 2018
11. Populations légales 2019
12. Populations légales 2020
13. Populations légales 2021
14. Populations de référence 2022
15. Populations de référence 2023
16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
18. GeoNames
19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
20. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)