United Kingdom vs France population
In 2025 the United Kingdom has 1.01× as many people as France: 69.5 million against 68.7 million. The difference is 767 thousand.
France is 99% the size of the United Kingdom.
How the two compare
In 2025 the United Kingdom has 1.01× as many people as France: 69.5 million against 68.7 million. The difference is 767 thousand. France is 99% the size of the United Kingdom. Together they hold 1.7% of the 8.19 billion counted here.
Then and now
In 1960 the order was the United Kingdom ahead, 52.4 million to 47.4 million, a ratio of 1.11×. Since then the United Kingdom has grown 1.33× and France 1.45×, averaging 0.44% and 0.57% a year.
The lines cross: France moves ahead of the United Kingdom in 1985. That already happened, so today's order is the result of the last 40 years.
Towards 2050
Projected to 2050, the United Kingdom reaches 74.9 million (7.8% more than today) and France reaches 69.7 million (1.4% more). By then the ratio is 1.08× in favour of the United Kingdom.
Land and people
Land changes the picture: the United Kingdom has 241,930 km² and 287 people per km², France has 538,950 km² and 128 per km². The United Kingdom is 2.25× more densely settled.
Behind the totals, fertility is 1.55 in the United Kingdom and 1.61 in France; life expectancy is 81.4 against 83 years; 19.7% against 22.5% of people are 65 or older. The younger the population, the longer it keeps growing after birth rates fall.
Where the numbers come from
Figures are the World Bank's "Population estimates and projections" series, built from United Nations and national statistics. Values up to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that assume current fertility, mortality and migration trends continue, so they are not forecasts of events such as wars or policy changes. Territories are listed as the World Bank lists them, and a small number of places have gaps in some years.
How the numbers are taken. Total population from the World Bank's population estimates and projections (built from United Nations and national statistics). Values to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that continue current fertility, mortality and migration trends. Sources and limits.