France vs Japan
Every indicator for France and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | France | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 68,720,337 | 123,366,734 | −44.3% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 3,366 | 4,435 | −24.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 48,986 | 35,951 | +36.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.0 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 606,410 | 377,969 | +60.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 113 | 326 | −65.3% |
| Median age (years) | 42.3 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 88.7 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 7.5 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.9 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 78.8 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 64,675 | 55,274 | +17.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.05 | 1.37 | +49.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.59 | 3.25 | +10.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 941 | 448 | +110.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 304,000 | 261,000 | +16.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.4 | 2.1 | +109.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.00 | 0.38 | +163.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of France relative to Japan; a positive value favors France. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
France is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Japan leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in population density, about 2.9 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- Japan's population density (326) is about 2.9 times France's (113).
- France's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.00) is about 2.6 times Japan's (0.38).
- France's military expenditure per capita (941) is about 2.1 times Japan's (448).
- France's armed forces per 1,000 people (4.4) is about 2.1 times Japan's (2.1).
- On population (2025), Japan is %80 higher than France: 123,366,734 against 68,720,337.
Frequently asked questions
Where do France and Japan differ most?
Where are France and Japan most alike?
On how many indicators is France ahead of Japan?
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 Japan.
France profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.