Updated
Overview
Germany has 21% more people than France: 83.49 million against 68.72 million (2025).
Germany's economy is about 50% larger than France's, at $5.05T versus $3.37T.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $48,986 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | France | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $3.37T | 2025 | $4.66T / $3.16T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $48,986 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.2% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 2.3% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.7% | 7.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 77 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $4,647 | Higher: $5,024 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,442 | $2,036 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 68.72 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 68.51 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 42.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 80.8 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 79% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 643,801 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 106.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 572 Mt | Lower: 264 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.8 t | Lower: 4.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $64.68B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 304,000 | 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
France is growing faster: 0.8% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.2% in Germany and 0.9% in France.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $4,647 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
France is the younger society: median age 42.3 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 2.2 years longer in France (83.0 vs 80.8).
Geography
By land area, Germany is 45% smaller than France: 357,114 km² versus 643,801 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Germany is far more densely settled: 234 people per km² against 107.
Military
Germany spends about 35% more on defence than France: $88.46B versus $64.68B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than France?
- France is larger by land area. Germany covers 357,114 km² while France covers 643,801 km², so France is 80% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Germany or France?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 68.72 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than France?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $48,986. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $3.37T for France.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or France?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $64.68B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).