The following is a comparison between France and Italy, two neighboring countries in Europe. Let’s read.
France and Italy – country comparison
GDP
France has a larger GDP and a higher GDP per capita than Italy. The table below compares key economic indicators of the two countries.
| 2026 (IMF) | France | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Euro | Euro |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $3.55 trillion | $2.7 trillion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $51.45 thousand | $45.89 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $4.76 trillion | $3.9 trillion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $68.85 thousand | $66.22 thousand |
| Real GDP growth | 0.4% | 0.8% |
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Population
France has a larger population than Italy. However, Italy is more densely populated. The table below compares the population, total fertility rate (TFR), and the percentage of the population in different age groups in the two countries.
| 2025 estimate | France | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66.7 million | 59.2 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 16% | 12% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 61% | 63% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 23% | 25% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.6 | 1.2 |
Source: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Life
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 83.33 | 83.72 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 26th | 29th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.920 | 0.915 |
Overview
France is a larger country compared to Italy. Metropolitan France is about 1.8 times the size of Italy.
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 551,500 sq km (220,668 sq miles) (Metropolitan France) | approximately 301,320 sq km (116,340 sq miles) |
| Population | 66.7 million (2025 estimate) (Metropolitan France) | 59.2 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | Paris | Rome |
| Largest city | Paris | Rome |
| Most spoken language | French | Italian |
| Most popular sport | Football (Soccer) | Football (Soccer) |
Geography
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Forest cover (2023) | 32.5% | 32.9% |
| Total number of time zones | 12 | 1 |
| 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 | Corsica (Metropolitan France) (8,720 sq km); Grande Terre of New Caledonia (Overseas France) (16,370 sq km) | Sicily (25,710 sq km) |
| Major rivers | Loire, Seine, Rhône, Garonne, Dordogne, Rhine, etc. | Po, Adige, Tiber, Adda, Oglio, Tanaro, etc. |
Fun fact: The land border between France and Italy is approximately 515 km (320 miles) long.
Tourism
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 102 million (2024) | 57.7 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO world heritage sites | 56 | 62 |
| Popular places to visit | Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles, French Alps, Arc de Triomphe, Mont Saint-Michel, etc. | Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Pompeii, Alps, Amalfi Coast, etc. |
| Busiest airport | Charles de Gaulle Airport, Roissy | Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport, Fiumicino |
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