United Kingdom vs France: Population Comparison 2025

Compare UK and France population pyramids. Demographic analysis of historic rivals including birth rates, immigration patterns, and contrasting approaches to population growth.

United Kingdom

2025
0
Total Population

France

0
Total Population
France leads by 2.9M people
Gap is 4.17% of United Kingdom's population
Fertility Rate
1.56vs1.68
France +0.12
Median Age
41.1vs43.2
United Kingdom younger
Density /km²
7vs20
France 2.9x denser
Working Age %
63.3%vs61.2%
Ages 15-64
United Kingdom: Growing Population
France: Stable Population
Replacement Level: 2.1

Population Pyramids Comparison

Total Population

United Kingdom

69.6M

vs

France

66.7M

Youth (0-14)

United Kingdom

17.0%

vs

France

16.2%

Elderly (65+)

United Kingdom

19.7%

vs

France

22.5%

Demographic Analysis: United Kingdom vs France

In 2025, United Kingdom has a population of 70M, while France has 67M. This represents a difference of 3M, with United Kingdom having 1.0 times the population of the other. United Kingdom ranks #22 globally by population size, while France ranks #23.

The median age reveals significant demographic differences: United Kingdom has a median age of 41.1 years, compared to 43.2 years in France. This 2.1-year difference indicates that France has a significantly older population, with important implications for workforce dynamics, healthcare needs, and economic development. The dependency ratio in United Kingdom is 57.9%, while in France it is 63.3%, showing the relative burden of non-working age populations on the workforce.

Gender balance differs between the two countries: United Kingdom has a sex ratio of 97.06 males per female, while France has 94.10. United Kingdom shows a higher proportion of males, which can affect marriage markets, labor force composition, and social dynamics. These ratios reflect various factors including sex-selective practices, differential mortality rates, and migration patterns.

Comprehensive Demographic Comparison 2025

IndicatorUnited KingdomFranceDifference / Ratio
Population Metrics
Total Population (2025)70M67M1.0x larger
World Population Ranking#22#231 places apart
Population Growth Rate (5-year)+0.64%+0.23%0.42pp difference
Projected Growth (2025-2050)0.00%0.00%0.00pp difference
Age Structure
Median Age41.1 years43.2 years2.1 years younger
Youth (0-14) Population17.0%16.2%0.7pp difference
Working Age (15-64) Population63.3%61.2%2.1pp difference
Elderly (65+) Population19.7%22.5%2.8pp difference
Youth Bulge (15-29)18.2%18.4%0.1pp difference
Prime Workforce (25-54)38.8%36.1%2.7pp difference
Demographic Indicators
Total Dependency Ratio57.9%63.3%5.4pp difference
Child Dependency Ratio26.8%26.5%0.3pp difference
Old-Age Dependency Ratio31.1%36.8%5.7pp difference
Sex Ratio (males per 100 females)97.194.13.0 difference
Total Fertility Rate1.56 children/woman1.68 children/woman0.12 difference
Estimated Birth Rate10.2 per 1,00010.0 per 1,0000.2 difference
Aging Index (65+/0-14)116.1%138.9%22.8pp difference
Population Pyramid TypeconstrictiveconstrictiveSame type

📊 Understanding the Population Difference Chart

This visualization shows where and by how much the populations differ between United Kingdom and France for each age group, split by gender:

Left Side (Males)

Blue = United Kingdom has more males

Green = France has more males

Right Side (Females)

Pink = United Kingdom has more females

Orange = France has more females

💡 How to Read: Each age group shows up to 2 bars - one on the left (male difference) and one on the right (female difference). The bar's color tells you which country has more people, and the bar's length shows by how much. For example, if you see a green bar on the left, it means France has more males in that age group.

Notable Differences (>20% variance):

Ages 30-34: United Kingdom has 26.6% more people
Men: 539K more in United KingdomWomen: 450K more in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: 2.4M men, 2.3M womenFrance: 1.9M men, 1.9M women
Population Ratio
4.7M
3.7M
Ages 90-94: France has 31.0% more people
Men: 40K more in FranceWomen: 191K more in France
United Kingdom: 187K men, 326K womenFrance: 227K men, 517K women
Population Ratio
513K
743K
Ages 95-99: France has 39.8% more people
Men: 11K more in FranceWomen: 80K more in France
United Kingdom: 40K men, 98K womenFrance: 51K men, 178K women
Population Ratio
138K
229K
Ages 100+: France has 44.6% more people
Men: 1K more in FranceWomen: 14K more in France
United Kingdom: 4K men, 15K womenFrance: 5K men, 28K women
Population Ratio
18K
33K
195020252025

Population Difference

2.9M

United Kingdom larger

Growth Since 1950

United Kingdom

+38.8%

France

+59.1%

Population Ratio

1 : 0.96

United Kingdom : France

Total Population

United Kingdom

69.6M

France

66.7M

Difference: +4.4%

Median Age

United Kingdom

41.1 years

France

43.2 years

Difference: -2.1

Youth Population (0-14)

United Kingdom

11.8M

17.0%

France

10.8M

16.2%

Difference: +9.1%

Working Age (15-64)

United Kingdom

44.0M

63.3%

France

40.8M

61.2%

Difference: +7.9%

Elderly Population (65+)

United Kingdom

13.7M

19.7%

France

15.0M

22.5%

Difference: -8.8%

Total Dependency Ratio

United Kingdom

57.9 per 100

France

63.3 per 100

Difference: -5.4

Youth Dependency Ratio

United Kingdom

26.8 per 100

France

26.5 per 100

Difference: +0.3

Old-Age Dependency Ratio

United Kingdom

31.1 per 100

France

36.8 per 100

Difference: -5.7

Sex Ratio

United Kingdom

97.1 M/100F

France

94.1 M/100F

Difference: +3.0

Note: Dependency ratios represent the number of dependents (youth + elderly) per 100 working-age individuals. Higher ratios indicate greater economic burden on the working population.

Current Gap
0.12
births per woman
Below Replacement Level
Both
Population decline risk
2030 Projection Gap
0.12
Both trending below replacement

Note: The replacement fertility rate of 2.1 is the level at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.Both countries are experiencing demographic transitions as they develop economically. Countries below 2.1 face potential population decline without immigration, while those above 2.1 continue growing naturally.

🏆

Historic Milestone: 2023

France became the world's most populous country, ending United Kingdom's centuries-long reign

United Kingdom: 75-Year Journey

1950 Population:50M
2025 Population:70M
Total Growth:+19M (38.8%)
Peak Year:Still growing

France: 75-Year Journey

1950 Population:42M
2025 Population:67M
Total Growth:+25M (59.1%)
Projected Peak:Still growing

Growth Rate by Period

1950-1975
United Kingdom: 0.46%/yr
France: 0.93%/yr
1975-2000
United Kingdom: 0.20%/yr
France: 0.48%/yr
2000-2025
United Kingdom: 0.66%/yr
France: 0.46%/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

Brexit ended freedom of movement between the UK and EU, reducing European migration to the UK by over 60% since 2016. The UK's 69.6 million population now grows primarily through non-EU immigration and natural increase. France's 66.7 million benefits from continued EU labor mobility, receiving workers from across Europe. Post-Brexit, UK immigration shifted toward Asia and Africa, while France maintains traditional European migration patterns plus its former African colonies.