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. Moreover, France is the largest country in western Europe.
- Area of France – approximately 551,500 sq km (220,668 square miles) (Metropolitan France)
- Area of Italy – approximately 301,320 sq km (116,340 square 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) | $3.03 trillion | $2.26 trillion |
| GDP per capita | $46 thousand | $38.33 thousand |
| GDP (PPP) | $3.87 trillion | $3.25 trillion |
Overview
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 551,500 sq km (220,668 square miles) (Metropolitan France) | approximately 301,320 sq km (116,340 square 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 |
| Life expectancy at birth (UN/2023) | 83.33 | 83.72 |
| 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 (4,805.59 m/15,766.4 ft) | Mont Blanc/Monte Bianco (4,805.59 m/15,766.4 ft) |
| Largest island | Grande Terre | Sicily |
| Major Rivers | Loire, Seine, Rhône, Garonne, Dordogne, Rhine, etc. | Po, Adige, Tiber, Adda, Oglio, Tanaro, etc. |
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?)
Flags
Read more