France Quick answerFrance is a country in Western Europe, with a population of 68,720,337 (2025). Its capital is Paris, its official language is French, and its currency is the Euro (EUR). It covers 551,695 square kilometres (213,011 square miles), and its time zone is Europe/Paris.
France is the largest country in Western Europe, home to about 68.7 million people. Its capital is Paris, its official language is French, and its currency is the euro.
Key facts
| Capital | Paris |
|---|---|
| Population | 68,720,337 (2025) · 68.7 million |
| Population density | 126.3 people per km² (land area) |
| Area | 551,695 km² (213,011 sq mi) total · 543,940 km² (210,016 sq mi) land |
| Official language | French (official) |
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Time zone | Europe/Paris |
| Government | Semi-presidential republic |
| Coastline | 3,427 km |
| Highest point | Mont Blanc, 4,810 m |
| Life expectancy | 83 years (2024) |
| Calling code | +33 |
| Driving side | Right |
| Internet domain | .fr |
Overview
France sits at the western edge of Europe, with coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea, and land borders with eight countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain and Andorra. Metropolitan France covers 551,695 square kilometres, making it the largest country in the European Union by area. Its landscapes range from the flat plains of the north and west to the Alps in the east and the Pyrenees in the south, where Mont Blanc rises to 4,810 metres. Beyond Europe, France also includes five overseas departments and several overseas territories, which stretch its presence across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
About 68.7 million people lived in France in 2025, according to the World Bank, and most of them live in cities and towns. Paris, the capital, anchors a metropolitan area of about 13.3 million people, while Lyon and Marseille each anchor metropolitan areas of roughly two million. French is the official language, spoken across the country alongside regional languages such as Breton, Occitan and Alsatian. Life expectancy at birth reached 83.0 years in 2024, among the highest in Europe.
France is a semi-presidential republic. The president is head of state, and the prime minister leads the government. The country was a founding member of the European Union and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Its economy, worth about $3.2 trillion in 2024, is one of the largest in the world, built on services, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. France is known for its food and wine, fashion, art and literature, and for landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in Paris, the chateaux of the Loire Valley and the beaches of the French Riviera. It is also a major centre of science and engineering, from high-speed rail to aerospace and nuclear energy.
Notable facts
- Metropolitan France covers 551,695 square kilometres, making it the largest country in the European Union by area.
- France shares land borders with eight countries: Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain and Switzerland.
- Mont Blanc, at 4,810 metres, is the highest point in France and in the Alps.
- France's population was 68,720,337 in 2025, according to the World Bank.
- Life expectancy at birth in France was 83.0 years in 2024, among the highest in Europe.
How France compares
Comparison table — France next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).
| Country | Population | Area | Density | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France ★ | 68,720,337 (2025) | 551,695 km² | 126.3 people per km² | Paris |
| Germany | 83,467,117 (2025) | 357,114 km² | 238.9 people per km² | Berlin |
| Monaco | 38,857 (2025) | 2.084 km² | 18645.4 people per km² | Monaco |
| Spain | 49,801,559 (2026) | 505,992 km² | 99.8 people per km² | Madrid |
Cities in France
- Paris 2,103,778 people (2023) · Capital Known for Eiffel Tower
- Marseille 886,040 people (2023) Known for France's largest port
- Lyon 519,127 people (2023) Known for French gastronomy
- Nice 357,737 people (2023) Known for French Riviera (Côte d'Azur)
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of France?
The capital of France is Paris. It is the country's largest city, with about 2.1 million people inside the city limits and about 13.3 million in the wider metropolitan area (2023). Paris sits on the River Seine in northern France and is home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
What is the population of France?
France had a population of 68,720,337 in 2025, according to the World Bank. That makes it one of the most populous countries in Europe, behind only Germany and the United Kingdom. Most French people live in cities and towns, with the largest urban areas around Paris, Lyon and Marseille.
What language is spoken in France?
French is the official language of France and is spoken by almost everyone in the country. It is the language of government, schools and the media. Several regional languages are also spoken, including Breton in Brittany, Occitan in the south, Alsatian in the east and Basque near the Spanish border.
What currency is used in France?
France uses the euro (EUR, symbol €). France adopted the euro in 1999 for electronic payments and in 2002 for cash, replacing the French franc. The euro is shared by 20 European Union countries, so the same currency works across much of Europe.
Where is France?
France is in Western Europe, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Belgium and Luxembourg to the north, Germany and Switzerland to the east, Italy and Monaco to the south-east, and Spain and Andorra to the south. The United Kingdom lies across the English Channel to the north-west.
What time zone is France in?
Metropolitan France uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. The IANA time zone name is Europe/Paris. France's overseas territories use other time zones.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Paris — capital of France
- Marseille — city in France
- Lyon — city in France
- Nice — city in France
- Andorra — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Belgium — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Germany — neighbouring country
- Italy — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Luxembourg — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Monaco — neighbouring country
- Spain — neighbouring country
- Switzerland — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Marie Curie — Polish-French science figure
- Pierre Curie — French science figure
- “I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.” — quote by Marie Curie
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- World Bank, World Development Indicators
- CIA World Factbook — France
- Wikipedia — France
- Wikipedia — Metropolitan France
- INSEE (via Wikipedia city and country pages)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.