Updated
Overview
France has about 50% more people than Argentina: 68.72 million against 45.85 million (2025).
France's economy is 4.9 times the size of Argentina's, at $3.37T versus $683.10B.
Per person, France is the wealthier of the two: $48,986 against $14,898 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Argentina | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $683.10B | 2025 | $3.16T / $633.27B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $48,986 | $14,898 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 4.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 219.9% | 2025 / 2024 | 2.0% / — |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 7.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $5,024 | $811 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,036 | $297 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.91 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 45.85 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 45.42 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 32.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.50 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 77.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 90% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 2,780,400 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 16.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 264 Mt | Lower: 171 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.0 t | Lower: 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $4.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 0.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 103,000 | 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
Argentina is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Argentina at 219.9%, while the other economy sits at 0.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Argentina: a price level of 46 versus 77 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $811 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Argentina is the far younger society: median age 32.9 versus 42.3 years.
Life expectancy is 5.4 years longer in France (83.0 vs 77.5).
Argentina is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 79%.
Geography
By land area, France is 77% smaller than Argentina: 643,801 km² versus 2,780,400 km².
France is far more densely settled: 107 people per km² against 16.
Military
France spends 15 times as much on defence as Argentina: $64.68B versus $4.18B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, France carries the heavier military burden: 2.1% of GDP versus 0.6%.
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 103,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Argentina?
- Argentina is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Argentina covers 2,780,400 km², so Argentina is 4.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or Argentina?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 45.85 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Argentina?
- Measured by GDP per capita, France is richer: $48,986 against $14,898. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.37T for France versus $683.10B for Argentina.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Argentina?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $4.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).