Updated
Overview
France has 3.8 times the population of the Netherlands: 68.72 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
France's economy is 2.5 times the size of the Netherlands', at $3.37T versus $1.33T.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $48,986 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $1.33T | 2025 | $3.16T / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $48,986 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 3.3% | 2025 | 2.0% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $5,024 | Higher: $6,402 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,036 | Higher: $2,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 264 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 41,000 | 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
The Netherlands is growing faster: 1.8% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
The Netherlands runs the hotter price environment: 3.3% inflation versus 0.9%.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $5,024 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 42.3 (France) and 41.5 (the Netherlands).
Life expectancy is 1.0 years longer in France (83.0 vs 82.0).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 79%.
Geography
By land area, France is 15 times the size of the Netherlands: 643,801 km² versus 41,850 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 107.
Military
France spends 2.8 times as much on defence as the Netherlands: $64.68B versus $23.18B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than the Netherlands?
- France is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so France is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or the Netherlands?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $48,986. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.37T for France versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, France or the Netherlands?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $23.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).