France vs Italy
Every indicator for France and Italy side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | France | Italy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 68,720,337 | 58,915,656 | +16.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 3,366 | 2,552 | +31.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 48,986 | 43,309 | +13.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.0 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 606,410 | 302,070 | +100.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 113 | 195 | −41.9% |
| Median age (years) | 42.3 | 48.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 88.7 | 89.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 7.5 | 6.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.9 | 1.5 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 78.8 | 69.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 64,675 | 37,965 | +70.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.05 | 1.61 | +27.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.59 | 3.18 | +12.9% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 941 | 644 | +46.0% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 304,000 | 338,000 | −10.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.4 | 5.7 | −22.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.00 | 1.35 | −25.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of France relative to Italy; a positive value favors France. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
France is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Italy leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in area, about 2.0 times; they are closest on armed forces personnel (2020).
Key differences
- France's area (606,410) is about 2.0 times Italy's (302,070).
- On population density, Italy is %72 higher than France: 195 against 113.
- On military expenditure (2024), France is %70 higher than Italy: 64,675 against 37,965.
- On military expenditure per capita, France is %46 higher than Italy: 941 against 644.
- On armed forces as a share of the labor force, Italy is %35 higher than France: 1.35 against 1.00.
Frequently asked questions
Where do France and Italy differ most?
In area. France records 606,410 against Italy's 302,070 — a ratio of roughly 2.0 to one.
Where are France and Italy most alike?
In armed forces personnel (2020), at 338,000 and 304,000 — a gap of only %11.
On how many indicators is France ahead of Italy?
France is higher on 8 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Italy on 4. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
FranceItaly
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 Italy.
France profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Italy profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI