Updated
Overview
China has 20 times the population of France: 1.41 billion people against 68.72 million (2025).
China's economy is 5.8 times the size of France's, at $19.50T versus $3.37T.
Per person, France is the wealthier of the two: $48,986 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | France | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $3.37T | 2025 | $18.74T / $3.16T |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $48,986 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 0.9% | 2025 | 0.2% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 7.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 77 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $5,024 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $2,036 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 68.72 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 68.51 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 42.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 79% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 89% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 643,801 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 106.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 264 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 4.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $64.68B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 304,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
China is growing much faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.1% in China and 0.9% in France.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 77 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
China is the younger society: median age 40.1 versus 42.3 years.
Life expectancy is 5.0 years longer in France (83.0 vs 78.0).
France is considerably more urbanized: 79% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 15 times the size of France: 9,596,960 km² versus 643,801 km².
Military
China spends 4.8 times as much on defence as France: $313.66B versus $64.68B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 304,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than France?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while France covers 643,801 km², so China is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or France?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 68.72 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than France?
- Measured by GDP per capita, France is richer: $48,986 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $3.37T for France.
- Who spends more on their military, China or France?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $64.68B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).