France and Italy are two developed countries in Europe. Both these countries rank among the most popular travel destinations in the world. The following is a comparison between these two countries. Let’s read.
France and Italy – country comparison
Which country has a larger area, France or Italy?
France is a larger country as compared with Italy. France (Metropolitan) covers an area of approximately 551,500 sq km while Italy covers an area of approximately 301,320 sq km.
- Area of France – approximately 551,500 sq km (220,668 sq miles) (Metropolitan France)
- Area of Italy – approximately 301,320 sq km (116,340 sq miles)
Which country is more populous, France or Italy?
France has a higher population compared with Italy.
- Population of France – 64.9 million (2024 estimate) (Metropolitan France)
- Population of Italy – 58.7 million (2024 estimate)
Economy
| 2023 (IMF) | France | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Euro | Euro |
| GDP (nominal) | $3.05 trillion | $2.3 trillion |
| GDP per capita | $46.31 thousand | $39.01 thousand |
| GDP (PPP) | $4.21 trillion | $3.49 trillion |
Life
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (UN/2023) | 83.33 | 83.72 |
| Human Development Index rank (2022) | 28th | 30th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.910 | 0.906 |
Overview
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 551,500 sq km (220,668 sq miles) (Metropolitan France) | approximately 301,320 sq km (116,340 sq miles) |
| Population | 64.9 million (2024 estimate) (Metropolitan France) | 58.7 million (2024 estimate) |
| Capital city | Paris | Rome |
| Largest city | Paris | Rome |
| Most spoken language | French | Italian |
| Type of government | Unitary semi-presidential republic | Unitary parliamentary republic |
| Most popular sport | Football (Soccer) | Football (Soccer) |
Geography
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Continent | Europe | Europe |
| Bordering countries | Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Monaco, and Andorra (not considering overseas territories) | France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Vatican City, and San Marino. |
| Highest mountain peak | Mont Blanc/Monte Bianco (4,806 m/15,766 ft) | Mont Blanc/Monte Bianco (4,806 m/15,766 ft) |
| Largest island | Grande Terre | Sicily |
| Major Rivers | Loire, Seine, Rhône, Garonne, Dordogne, Rhine, etc. | Po, Adige, Tiber, Adda, Oglio, Tanaro, etc. |
| Forest cover (2022) | 31.8% | 32.7% |
Fun fact: The land border between France and Italy is approximately 515 km (320 miles) long.
Tourism
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Word tourism ranking (2023) | 1 | 4 |
| Popular landmarks | The Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles, French Alps, etc | Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Roman Forum, Pantheon, etc |
| Number of UNESCO world heritage sites | 53 | 60 |
| Busiest airport | Charles de Gaulle Airport, Roissy-en-France | Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, Fiumicino |
(Also read: 5 reasons to visit France | Why do so many people visit France?)
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