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France vs Italy
Side-by-side comparison of France and Italy from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
France
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,183 years
Italy
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,550 years
In short
Italy scores 75.8 in the NationsTree Index (19th in the world) and France scores 74.8 (21st), a gap of 1.0 points. Their trees are 44 m and 41 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
France has 17% more people than Italy. France is 2.0 times larger than Italy by land area. The economy of France is 19% larger than that of Italy (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: France 68.7 million and Italy 58.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $63,975 in France and $62,803 in Italy (2025, international dollars). People in Italy live on average 1.0 years longer (84.0 vs 83.0 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, France ranks higher in the world on 25 and Italy on 11. France is clearly stronger in environment & energy. Italy is clearly stronger in main industries.
As a nation, Italy is the older of the two (statehood since 476, 1,550 years), compared with France (since 843). Over the last five years Italy improved faster (direction score 76 vs 33 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between France and Italy.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Italy overtook France in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
France overtook Italy in GDP per person (PPP) in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
France overtook Italy in GDP (PPP) in 1999 and has stayed ahead since.
Italy has been ahead of France in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
France has been ahead of Italy in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
FranceItaly All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | France | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 606,41045th/216 · 2024 | 302,07072nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 538,95048th/216 · 2024 | 295,72073rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 68.7 m23rd/217 · 2025 | 58.9 m25th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.25%158th/217 · 2025 | -0.06%174th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 127.288th/216 · 2024 | 199.467th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 78.8%65th/217 · 2025 | 69.7%92nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 16.2%162nd/217 · 2025 | 11.7%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 22.5%17th/217 · 2025 | 25.1%4th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.37 trn7th/210 · 2025 | $2.55 trn9th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $4.40 trn10th/199 · 2025 | $3.70 trn12th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $3.79 trn9th/199 · 2025 | $3.16 trn12th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $48,98634th/210 · 2025 | $43,30937th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $63,97534th/199 · 2025 | $62,80336th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $48,63029th/201 · 2025 | $42,08031st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.8%179th/210 · 2025 | 0.5%187th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.9%34th/180 · 2025 | 1.5%50th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 7.5%131st/187 · 2025 | 6.4%117th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 77.3%1992 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 115.5%178th/189 · 2025 | 137.1%182nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -5.1%150th/192 · 2025 | -3.1%110th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.4%161st/197 · 2025 | 2.1%145th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 16.8%150th/200 · 2025 | 22.6%108th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.5%104th/192 · 2025 | 15.0%42nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 70.9%32nd/200 · 2025 | 64.5%57th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.12 trn5th/182 · 2025 | $822.29 bn13th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.14 trn5th/182 · 2025 | $773.02 bn11th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 33.4%99th/183 · 2025 | 32.2%102nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 33.8%117th/183 · 2025 | 30.3%132nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 67.2%116th/183 · 2025 | 62.5%123rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%80th/170 · 2025 | 2.6%91st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 78.5%23rd/171 · 2025 | 78.5%22nd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 13.4%97th/171 · 2025 | 11.3%111th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.3%101st/171 · 2025 | 2.4%98th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 23.1%26th/168 · 2024 | 11.9%56th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.4%79th/191 · 2025 | 1.1%67th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.8%111th/196 · 2025 | 0.0%175th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%168th/209 · 2021 | 0.1%156th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.01%109th/197 · 2021 | 0.08%79th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%96th/197 · 2021 | 0.03%72nd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.03%139th/209 · 2021 | 0.01%154th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 31.3%26th/206 · 2024 | 23.5%43rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,93386th/183 · 2022 | 3,09382nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 117.1 m1st/194 · 2020 | 38.4 m6th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $35.96 bn3rd/175 · 2020 | $20.46 bn7th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 4.8%87th/168 · 2020 | 3.7%95th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 21.3 m11th/107 · 2020 | 21.4 m10th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 83.024th/217 · 2024 | 84.011th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 4.335th/196 · 2024 | 2.714th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.2854th/174 · 2022 | 4.1926th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 5.718th/145 · 2022 | 3.156th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 96%48th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 91.6%44th/153 · 2023 | 84.4%64th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 103.8%47th/173 · 2024 | 100.7%60th/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 36.8%12th/217 · 2025 | 39.7%5th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 11.5%13th/193 · 2024 | 8.4%53rd/193 · 2024 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 99.3%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 71.5%46th/150 · 2024 | 75.9%40th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.92026th/193 · 2023 | 0.91529th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 31.834th/108 · 2023 | 34.356th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.1%10th/108 · 2023 | 0.9%48th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 99.7%20th/150 · 2024 | 96.8%43rd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 90.0%38th/144 · 2024 | 78.2%53rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 88.7%66th/186 · 2024 | 89.2%63rd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 117100th/210 · 2023 | 13352nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 48.97th/208 · 2024 | 31.853rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.8019th/164 · 2022 | 3.8019th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 27,7167th/82 · 2021 | 17,30512th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 64.6 m18th/161 · 2023 | 20.3 m34th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 4.00134th/203 · 2024 | 5.08152nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 16.2%118th/212 · 2021 | 17.5%116th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 8.232nd/200 · 2023 | 14.378th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 32.9%106th/214 · 2024 | 31.8%109th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,18331st/149 · 2024 | 2,24852nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 77.130th/205 · 2025 | 71.342nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 73.125th/207 · 2025 | 59.860th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 74.637th/207 · 2025 | 68.359th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 64.0122nd/207 · 2025 | 73.682nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 72.535th/205 · 2025 | 65.852nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 79.026th/205 · 2025 | 77.634th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.354th/145 · 2023 | 0.615th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $68.01 bn9th/156 · 2025 | $48.14 bn12th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.0%62nd/156 · 2025 | 1.9%71st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.5%121st/154 · 2025 | 3.7%116th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 304,00023rd/170 · 2020 | 338,00020th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.00%68th/168 · 2020 | 1.35%46th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 236.0 m35th/163 · 2025 | 566.0 m18th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 3.4 bn2nd/65 · 2025 | 1.9 bn6th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 2.18%17th/110 · 2023 | 1.38%34th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 12,7518th/137 · 2024 | 9,12011th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 62,18011th/197 · 2023 | 82,7718th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, France or Italy?
France has the larger population: 68.7 m (2025) compared with 58.9 m for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, France or Italy?
France is larger: 606,410 km² (2024) compared with 302,070 km² for Italy (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, France or Italy?
France has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $4.40 trn intl. (2025) compared with $3.70 trn intl. for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, France or Italy?
France has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $63,975 intl. (2025) compared with $62,803 intl. for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in France or Italy?
Italy has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 83.0 years for France (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, France or Italy?
France spends more on the military: $68.01 bn (2025) compared with $48.14 bn for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, France or Italy?
Italy: 75.8 points (19th in the world); France: 74.8 points (21st). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
Mexico
South AfricaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). France vs Italy — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/france-vs-italy. Data as of 26 October 2026.