France vs Spain
Every indicator for France and Spain side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | France | Spain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 68,720,337 | 49,355,143 | +39.2% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 3,366 | 1,906 | +76.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 48,986 | 38,627 | +26.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.0 | 83.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 606,410 | 505,976 | +19.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 113 | 98 | +16.2% |
| Median age (years) | 42.3 | 46.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 88.7 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 7.5 | 10.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.9 | 2.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 78.8 | 80.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 64,675 | 24,615 | +162.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.05 | 1.43 | +43.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.59 | 3.20 | +12.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 941 | 499 | +88.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 304,000 | 199,000 | +52.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.4 | 4.0 | +9.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.00 | 0.87 | +14.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of France relative to Spain; a positive value favors France. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
France records the higher figure on all 12 comparable indicators, Spain on none. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024); the two come closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- France's military expenditure (2024) (64,675) is about 2.6 times Spain's (24,615).
- On military expenditure per capita, France is %89 higher than Spain: 941 against 499.
- On gdp (nominal), France is %77 higher than Spain: 3,366 against 1,906.
- On armed forces personnel (2020), France is %53 higher than Spain: 304,000 against 199,000.
- On military expenditure as a share of gdp, France is %43 higher than Spain: 2.05 against 1.43.
Frequently asked questions
Where do France and Spain differ most?
In military expenditure (2024). France records 64,675 against Spain's 24,615 — a ratio of roughly 2.6 to one.
Where are France and Spain most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 4.4 and 4.0 — a gap of only %9.7.
On how many indicators is France ahead of Spain?
France is higher on 12 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Spain on 0. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
FranceSpain
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 France or Spain.
France profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Spain profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI