Updated
Overview
France has about 90% more people than Poland: 68.72 million against 36.44 million (2025).
France's economy is 3.3 times the size of Poland's, at $3.37T versus $1.04T.
Per person, France is the wealthier of the two: $48,986 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Poland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $1.04T | 2025 | $3.16T / $914.70B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $48,986 | $28,420 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 3.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 3.8% | 2025 | 2.0% / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $5,024 | $2,302 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,036 | $1,241 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 36.44 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 38.75 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 42.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 60% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 89% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 312,679 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 116.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 264 Mt | 273 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 7.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $38.00B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 4.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 189,000 | 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
Poland is growing faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Poland runs the hotter price environment: 3.8% inflation versus 0.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Poland: a price level of 52 versus 77 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 42.3 (France) and 42.5 (Poland).
Life expectancy is 4.6 years longer in France (83.0 vs 78.4).
France is considerably more urbanized: 79% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, France is 2.1 times the size of Poland: 643,801 km² versus 312,679 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
France spends about 70% more on defence than Poland: $64.68B versus $38.00B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 2.1%.
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 189,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Poland?
- France is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Poland covers 312,679 km², so France is 2.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or Poland?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 36.44 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Poland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, France is richer: $48,986 against $28,420. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.37T for France versus $1.04T for Poland.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Poland?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $38.00B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).