The following is a comparison between France and the United Kingdom (UK), two developed countries in Europe. Let’s read.
France and UK – country comparison
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GDP
| 2025 (IMF) | France | UK |
|---|
| Currency | Euro | Pound sterling |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $3.37 trillion | $4 trillion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $48.93 thousand | $57.61 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $4.56 trillion | $4.55 trillion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $66.28 thousand | $65.52 thousand |
Population
| 2025 estimate | France | UK |
|---|
| Population | 66.7 million | 69.6 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 16% | 17% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 61% | 63% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 23% | 20% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.6 | 1.5 |
Life
| France | UK |
|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 83.33 | 81.3 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 26th | 13th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.920 | 0.946 |
Overview
• France is slightly more than twice as large as the United Kingdom.
• The United Kingdom has both a larger population and a higher population density than France.
| France | UK |
|---|
| Area | approximately 551,500 sq km (Metropolitan France) | approximately 243,600 sq km |
| Population | 66.7 million (2025 estimate) (Metropolitan France) | 69.6 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | Paris | London |
| Largest city | Paris | London |
| Largest metropolitan area | Paris Metropolitan area | London metropolitan area |
| Most spoken language | French | English |
| Most popular sport | Football (Soccer) | Football (Soccer) |
Geography
| France | UK |
|---|
| Forest cover (2023) | 32.5% | 13.3% |
| Total number of time zones | 12 | 9 |
| Highest mountain | Mont Blanc (4,806 m/15,766 ft) | Ben Nevis (1,345 m/4,413 ft) |
| Largest island | Corsica (Metropolitan France) (8,720 sq km); Grande Terre of New Caledonia (Overseas France) (16,372 sq km) | Great Britain (209,331 sq km) |
| Major rivers | Loire, Seine, Garonne, Rhône, Dordogne, Charente, Adour, etc. | Thames, Trent, Severn, Great Ouse, Wye, Tay, etc. |
Tourism
| France | UK |
|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 102 million (2024) | 38.2 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 54 | 35 |
| Busiest airport | Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
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