Updated
Overview
France has 11 times the population of Denmark: 68.72 million people against 6.01 million (2025).
France's economy is 7.3 times the size of Denmark's, at $3.37T versus $462.53B.
Per person, Denmark is the wealthier of the two: $76,970 against $48,986 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Denmark | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $462.53B | 2025 | $3.16T / $429.46B |
| GDP per capita | $48,986 | Higher: $76,970 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 1.9% | 2025 | 2.0% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 5.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 92 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $5,024 | Higher: $6,992 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,036 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 6.01 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 6.05 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 41.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 43,094 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 139.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 264 Mt | Lower: 28 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 4.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $9.96B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 15,000 | 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
Denmark is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.9% in France and 1.9% in Denmark.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in France: a price level of 77 versus 92 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Denmark: $6,992 against $5,024 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 42.3 (France) and 41.3 (Denmark).
Denmark is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 79%.
Internet adoption is higher in Denmark (100% vs 89% of the population).
Geography
By land area, France is 15 times the size of Denmark: 643,801 km² versus 43,094 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
France spends 6.5 times as much on defence as Denmark: $64.68B versus $9.96B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Denmark?
- France is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Denmark covers 43,094 km², so France is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or Denmark?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 6.01 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Denmark?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Denmark is richer: $76,970 against $48,986. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.37T for France versus $462.53B for Denmark.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Denmark?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $9.96B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).