Germany vs France
Every indicator for Germany and France side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Germany | France | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 83,491,249 | 68,720,337 | +21.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 5,051 | 3,366 | +50.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,496 | 48,986 | +23.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.8 | 83.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 357,680 | 606,410 | −41.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 233 | 113 | +106.0% |
| Median age (years) | 46.7 | 42.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.5 | 88.7 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.7 | 7.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.2 | 0.9 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 82.1 | 78.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 88,458 | 64,675 | +36.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.89 | 2.05 | −7.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.93 | 3.59 | +9.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,059 | 941 | +12.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 183,000 | 304,000 | −39.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 4.4 | −50.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.42 | 1.00 | −58.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Germany relative to France; a positive value favors Germany. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Germany is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while France leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in armed forces as a share of the labor force, about 2.4 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- France's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.00) is about 2.4 times Germany's (0.42).
- Germany's population density (233) is about 2.1 times France's (113).
- France's armed forces per 1,000 people (4.4) is about 2.0 times Germany's (2.2).
- On area, France is %70 higher than Germany: 606,410 against 357,680.
- On armed forces personnel (2020), France is %66 higher than Germany: 304,000 against 183,000.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Germany and France differ most?
Where are Germany and France most alike?
On how many indicators is Germany ahead of France?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Germany or France.
Germany profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
France profile →
All statistics, series, and details.