Country profile

France

🇫🇷 Western Europe · French Republic

68,720,337

Population

#23 of 193

551,695 km²

Land area

#48 of 195

$3.37T

GDP (nominal)

🏆 #7 of 192

0.920

HDI

#25 of 191

How France ranks globally

Population68,720,337 #23 of 193

Land area551,695 km² #48 of 195

GDP (nominal)$3.37T 🏆 #7 of 192

Life expectancy83.0 yrs #19 of 193

HDI0.920 #25 of 191

About France

France (officially French Republic) is a country in Western Europe, with Paris as its capital. It is home to roughly 68.72 million people, giving a population density of about 125 people per square kilometre. The country covers 551,695 km² of land and shares land borders with 8 neighbouring countries. Its economy is valued at approximately $3.37T in nominal GDP (2025), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.920. The official currency is the Euro (EUR), and the main language is French.

Key indicators

World Bank · UNDP

💹 Economy

$4.29T

GDP (PPP)

$62,557

GDP/capita (PPP)

0.8%

GDP growth

0.9%

Inflation

7.5%

Unemployment

👥 People

83.0 yrs

Life expectancy

1.61

Fertility rate

0.2%

Pop. growth

78.8%

Urban population

3.4

Infant mortality /1k

🌍 Quality of Life

88.7%

Internet users

3.28

Physicians /1k

16.2%

Renewable energy

GDP over time

France's GDP over time (nominal, US$)

How France measures up

Development profile (each axis 0–100%, higher is stronger)

How France is governed

🏛 Semi-presidential republic

Head of State

President

Powerful head of state; sets foreign & defence policy, appoints PM.

Head of Government

Prime Minister

Runs domestic government; answerable to parliament.

Legislature

Parliament

Bicameral — National Assembly — 577 elected deputies; Senate — indirectly elected

Who holds the power?

France has a semi-presidential system that splits executive power between a directly elected President and a Prime Minister. The President is unusually powerful for a head of state — commanding the military, directing foreign policy and appointing the PM — while the Prime Minister runs day-to-day government and must retain the confidence of the National Assembly. When the President and the Assembly majority are from opposing camps, France enters 'cohabitation,' with the two executives forced to share power.