Updated
Overview
France has about 40% more people than Spain: 68.72 million against 49.36 million (2025).
France's economy is about 75% larger than Spain's, at $3.37T versus $1.91T.
Per person, France is the wealthier of the two: $48,986 against $38,627 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Spain | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $1.91T | 2025 | $3.16T / $1.72T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $48,986 | $38,627 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 2.7% | 2025 | 2.0% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 7.5% | 10.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $5,024 | $3,574 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,036 | $1,561 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 49.36 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 47.28 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 45.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.0 yrs | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 505,992 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 97.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 264 Mt | Lower: 220 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 4.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $24.62B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 199,000 | 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
Spain is growing faster: 2.8% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.9% in France and 2.7% in Spain.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Spain: a price level of 65 versus 77 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $3,574 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
France is the younger society: median age 42.3 versus 45.9 years.
Geography
By land area, France is 27% larger than Spain: 643,801 km² versus 505,992 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
France spends 2.6 times as much on defence as Spain: $64.68B versus $24.62B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 199,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Spain?
- France is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Spain covers 505,992 km², so France is 27% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, France or Spain?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 49.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Spain?
- Measured by GDP per capita, France is richer: $48,986 against $38,627. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.37T for France versus $1.91T for Spain.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Spain?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $24.62B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).