Updated
Overview
France has 2.5 times the population of Australia: 68.72 million people against 27.61 million (2025).
France's economy is about 85% larger than Australia's, at $3.37T versus $1.80T.
Per person, Australia is the wealthier of the two: $65,130 against $48,986 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Australia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $1.80T | 2025 | $3.16T / $1.75T |
| GDP per capita | $48,986 | Higher: $65,130 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 2.9% | 2025 | 2.0% / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 4.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 90 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $5,024 | $4,436 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,036 | Higher: $2,655 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.95 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 27.61 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 27.49 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 38.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.0 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 7,692,024 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 3.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 264 Mt | 387 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 14.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $33.82B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 60,000 | 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
Australia is growing faster: 1.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.9% in France and 2.9% in Australia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in France: a price level of 77 versus 90 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $4,436 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Australia is the younger society: median age 38.3 versus 42.3 years.
Geography
By land area, France is only about 1/12 the size of Australia: 643,801 km² versus 7,692,024 km².
France is far more densely settled: 107 people per km² against 4.
Military
France spends about 90% more on defence than Australia: $64.68B versus $33.82B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 60,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Australia?
- Australia is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Australia covers 7,692,024 km², so Australia is 12 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or Australia?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 27.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Australia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $48,986. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.37T for France versus $1.80T for Australia.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Australia?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $33.82B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).