Updated
Overview
France has 6.5 times the population of Sweden: 68.72 million people against 10.60 million (2025).
France's economy is 5.0 times the size of Sweden's, at $3.37T versus $669.00B.
Per person, Sweden is the wealthier of the two: $63,133 against $48,986 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Sweden | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $669.00B | 2025 | $3.16T / $610.12B |
| GDP per capita | $48,986 | Higher: $63,133 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 0.9% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 2.0% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 7.5% | 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $5,024 | $4,783 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,036 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.16 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 10.60 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 10.64 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.0 yrs | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 96% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 450,295 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 23.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 264 Mt | Lower: 38 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.0 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $12.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 15,000 | 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
Sweden is growing faster: 1.5% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.9% in France and 0.7% in Sweden.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in France: a price level of 77 versus 87 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $4,783 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Sweden is the younger society: median age 40.3 versus 42.3 years.
Life expectancy is 1.1 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 83.0).
Sweden is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 79%.
Geography
By land area, France is 43% larger than Sweden: 643,801 km² versus 450,295 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
France is far more densely settled: 107 people per km² against 24.
Military
France spends 5.4 times as much on defence as Sweden: $64.68B versus $12.04B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Sweden?
- France is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Sweden covers 450,295 km², so France is 43% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, France or Sweden?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 10.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Sweden?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sweden is richer: $63,133 against $48,986. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.37T for France versus $669.00B for Sweden.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Sweden?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $12.04B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).