Updated
Overview
France has 6.4 times the population of Portugal: 68.72 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
France's economy is 9.7 times the size of Portugal's, at $3.37T versus $346.64B.
Per person, France is the wealthier of the two: $48,986 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $346.64B | 2025 | $3.16T / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $48,986 | $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 2.3% | 2025 | 2.0% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $5,024 | $1,426 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,036 | $1,147 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 89% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 264 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.0 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 52,000 | 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
Portugal is growing faster: 1.9% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.9% in France and 2.3% in Portugal.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 77 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
France is the younger society: median age 42.3 versus 46.9 years.
France is considerably more urbanized: 79% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Geography
By land area, France is 7.0 times the size of Portugal: 643,801 km² versus 92,090 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
France spends 14 times as much on defence as Portugal: $64.68B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Portugal?
- France is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so France is 7.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or Portugal?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, France is richer: $48,986 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.37T for France versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Portugal?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).