Updated
Overview
France has 13 times the population of Ireland: 68.72 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
France's economy is 4.7 times the size of Ireland's, at $3.37T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $48,986 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $721.70B | 2025 | $3.16T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $48,986 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 2.2% | 2025 | 2.0% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $5,024 | Higher: $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,036 | Higher: $2,579 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.0 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 264 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.9% in France and 2.2% in Ireland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in France: a price level of 77 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $5,024 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Ireland is the younger society: median age 39.0 versus 42.3 years.
France is considerably more urbanized: 79% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, France is 9.2 times the size of Ireland: 643,801 km² versus 70,273 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
France spends 49 times as much on defence as Ireland: $64.68B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, France carries the heavier military burden: 2.1% of GDP versus 0.2%.
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Ireland?
- France is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so France is 9.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or Ireland?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $48,986. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.37T for France versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Ireland?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).