UK vs France: Population Comparison 2026
UK
FranceThe United Kingdom has 3,185,128 more people than France (1.0× as many): 69.9 million vs 66.7 million in 2026. Median age is 40.2 in the United Kingdom and 42.5 in France; fertility is 1.53 vs 1.64 children per woman.
United Kingdom
2026- Median age
- 40.2
- Fertility (TFR)
- 1.53
- Working age (15–64)
- 63.3%
- Trend
- Growing (+0.55%)
France
2026- Median age
- 42.5
- Fertility (TFR)
- 1.64
- Working age (15–64)
- 61.1%
- Trend
- Growing (+0.14%)
Population pyramids, 2026
Total Population
United Kingdom
69.9M
France
66.7M
Youth (0-14)
United Kingdom
16.7%
France
16.0%
Elderly (65+)
United Kingdom
19.9%
France
22.9%
Where the two pyramids differ
The pyramids are overlaid so you can read the difference by age and sex: the longer bar in each band marks the country with more people of that age.
📊 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):
Demographic comparison, 2026
| Indicator | United Kingdom | France | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2026) | 69,931,529 | 66,746,401 | United Kingdom has 3.2 million more (1.0×) |
| Change 2025–2026 | +0.5% (Growing) | +0.1% (Growing) | |
| Median age (2026) | 40.2 | 42.5 | France older by 2.2 yrs |
| Total fertility rate | 1.53 — 0.57 below replacement | 1.64 — 0.46 below replacement | |
| Fertility rate, 2030 (UN projection) | 1.52 | 1.64 | |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.7 | 9.5 | |
| Population 2050 (UN projection) | 75.5 million (+8.0%) | 68.2 million (+2.2%) | |
| Peak population | Peaks 2072 | Peaks 2095 |
Differences by age group, 2026
| Age | United Kingdom (M / F) | France (M / F) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1807K / 1717K | 1676K / 1603K | United Kingdom has 7.4% more people aged 0-4 |
| 5-9 | 1992K / 1892K | 1785K / 1707K | United Kingdom has 11.2% more people aged 5-9 |
| 10-14 | 2197K / 2089K | 1984K / 1895K | United Kingdom has 10.5% more people aged 10-14 |
| 15-19 | 2205K / 2100K | 2128K / 2031K | United Kingdom has 3.5% more people aged 15-19 |
| 20-24 | 2124K / 2024K | 2175K / 2075K | France has 2.5% more people aged 20-24 |
| 25-29 | 2263K / 2140K | 2030K / 1958K | United Kingdom has 10.4% more people aged 25-29 |
| 30-34 | 2380K / 2294K | 1834K / 1839K | United Kingdom has 27.2% more people aged 30-34 |
| 35-39 | 2293K / 2300K | 1931K / 1996K | United Kingdom has 17.0% more people aged 35-39 |
| 40-44 | 2288K / 2335K | 1944K / 2045K | United Kingdom has 15.9% more people aged 40-44 |
| 45-49 | 2125K / 2168K | 2035K / 2083K | United Kingdom has 4.3% more people aged 45-49 |
| 50-54 | 2176K / 2203K | 2103K / 2152K | United Kingdom has 2.9% more people aged 50-54 |
| 55-59 | 2189K / 2386K | 2055K / 2180K | United Kingdom has 8.0% more people aged 55-59 |
| 60-64 | 2054K / 2249K | 2012K / 2185K | United Kingdom has 2.5% more people aged 60-64 |
| 65-69 | 1822K / 1988K | 1859K / 2093K | France has 3.7% more people aged 65-69 |
| 70-74 | 1521K / 1734K | 1663K / 1973K | France has 11.7% more people aged 70-74 |
| 75-79 | 1409K / 1604K | 1490K / 1854K | France has 11.0% more people aged 75-79 |
| 80-84 | 881K / 1129K | 854K / 1166K | France has 0.5% more people aged 80-84 |
| 85-89 | 489K / 683K | 507K / 823K | France has 13.5% more people aged 85-89 |
| 90-94 | 193K / 331K | 233K / 516K | France has 43.0% more people aged 90-94 |
| 95-99 | 42K / 99K | 54K / 183K | France has 68.5% more people aged 95-99 |
| 100+ | 4K / 15K | 5K / 30K | France has 85.9% more people aged 100+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more people, UK or France?
The United Kingdom has more: 69.9 million vs 66.7 million in 2026 — 1.0× as many, 3.2 million more people.
Which country is older?
France, with a median age of 42.5 vs 40.2 in the United Kingdom (2026).
Which has higher fertility?
France, at 1.64 children per woman vs 1.53 in the United Kingdom. Replacement is 2.1, so both are below it.
How will UK and France compare in 2050?
By 2050 the UN projects the United Kingdom at 75.5 million (+8.0% from 2026) and France at 68.2 million (+2.2%).
Are UK and France growing or shrinking?
The United Kingdom is growing (+0.5% in 2026); France is growing (+0.1%).
