The following is a comparison between France and Germany, two neighboring countries in Europe. Let’s read.
France vs Germany – country comparison
GDP
Germany has a larger GDP and a higher GDP per capita than France. Both countries have highly developed economies with major strengths in manufacturing, financial services, engineering, technology, and other services. The table below compares the GDP and GDP per capita of France and Germany.
| 2025 (IMF) | France | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Euro | Euro |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $3.37 trillion | $5.05 trillion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $48.93 thousand | $60.44 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $4.56 trillion | $6.18 trillion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $66.28 thousand | $74 thousand |
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Population
Although France is larger in area, Germany has a larger population, which also makes it 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 | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66.7 million | 84.1 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 16% | 14% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 61% | 62% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 23% | 24% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.6 | 1.5 |
Source: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Life
| France | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 83.33 | 81.38 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 26th | 5th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.920 | 0.959 |
Overview
France is the third largest country in Europe by area. It is about 1.5 times larger than Germany.
| France | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 551,500 sq km (Metropolitan France) | approximately 357,600 sq km |
| Population | 66.7 million (2025 estimate) | 84.1 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | Paris | Berlin |
| Largest city | Paris | Berlin |
| Largest metropolitan area | Paris metropolitan area | Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region |
| Most spoken language | French | German |
| Most popular sport | Football (Soccer) | Football (Soccer) |
(Also read: USA and Germany – country comparison | USA vs Germany)
Geography
| France | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Continent | Europe | Europe |
| Forest cover (2023) | 32.5% | 32.7% |
| Total number of time zones | 12 | 1 |
| Highest mountain | Mont Blanc (4,806 m/15,766 ft) | Zugspitze (2,962 m/9,718 ft) |
| Major rivers | Loire, Seine, Garonne, Rhône, Dordogne, Charente, Adour, etc. | Rhine, Elbe, Danube, Oder, Moselle, Main, Inn, etc. |
| Longest river | Loire | Rhine |
| Largest island | Corsica (Metropolitan France) (8,720 sq km); Grande Terre of New Caledonia (Overseas France) (16,372 sq km) | Rügen (925 sq km) |
(Also read: France and Spain – country comparison | France vs Spain)
Tourism
| France | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 102 million (2024) | 37.5 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 56 | 55 |
| Popular places to visit | Paris, Bordeaux, Nice, Provence, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon, etc. | Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Dresden, Düsseldorf, etc. |
| Busiest airport | Charles de Gaulle Airport (serves Paris Metropolitan area) | Frankfurt Airport |