France Population Clock
France has an estimated population of about 68.7 million, which makes it the 23rd most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is close to flat, changing by 0.25% a year — births, deaths and migration very nearly cancel out.
The capital is Paris.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2016–2025 (World Bank)
How France's population is changing
France records about 1,825 births and 1,769 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 56 people per day, or about 20,454 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 91,737 over the reported period, with more people arriving than leaving. That is equivalent to about 449% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, France would take roughly 282 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2016 to 2025, the population rose from 66.7 million to 68.7 million — a gain of 2.00 million, or 3.0%.
Where people live in France
With about 127 people per square kilometre, France is moderately populated, roughly 2.0× the world average of 62. That ranks 41st of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Syria and Benin.
France covers about 538,950 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 68.7 million into that density figure.
About 78.8% of people live in urban areas, making France highly urbanised, above the world average of 57.8%. That works out to roughly 54.2 million town and city dwellers and 14.5 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in France
France has one of the world’s oldest populations: about 16.2% are under 15 and 22.5% are 65 or older. Over-65s now outnumber under-15s, which is the classic marker of a population that has finished its demographic transition.
The total fertility rate is about 1.61 births per woman, below the ~2.1 replacement level, so without net immigration the population would eventually decline. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 83.0 years, roughly 9.5 years above the global average of 73.5.
France at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 68.7 million | 2025 |
| World rank by population | #23 | 2025 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.25% | 2025 |
| Population density | 127 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 538,950 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 78.8% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.0 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 1.61 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 16.2% | 2025 |
| Population 65 and over | 22.5% | 2025 |
| Net migration | 91,737 | 2025 |
| Births per day | 1,825 | 2025 |
| Deaths per day | 1,769 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
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Where do these France figures come from?
Current local time in France
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2025. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank