France is an independent state in Western Europe, and a member of the United Nations. The long form of the name is French Republic. Paris is the capital.
By land area it covers 551,695 km², which ranks it 50th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Kenya and just ahead of Yemen. For scale, it is a fraction smaller than Kenya.
Around 68.6 million people live there, placing it 23rd of 250 by population — between Tanzania above it and South Africa below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 1st of 8 in size and 2nd in population.
Where France is and what surrounds it
The coordinates the dataset gives are 46.0° N, 2.0° E, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 5,121 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.
The prime meridian also passes close to it, so it straddles the line that divides east from west. Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Saint Pierre and Miquelon sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
8 countries share a land border with it: Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain and Switzerland. The largest of them by area is Spain, while the most populous is Germany. Together those neighbours hold about 213.0 million people.
With both a coast and land borders, it has the trade options a landlocked country does not.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Spread across 551,695 km², that works out at about 124 people per square kilometre, which makes it more crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
The demonym is French, so residents are French.
The one official language is French. French is one of the widely shared official languages here, listed by 45 other entries including Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso and Burundi.
Inside Europe it places 4th of 53 by population, and it accounts for 36% of everyone living in Western Europe.
Currency and codes
The currency is the Euro (€, EUR). That is a shared currency: 37 other entries use it, including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria and Croatia.
Its internet country code is .fr. To phone it from abroad you dial +33. In ISO terms it is fr in two letters and FRA in three.
Paris is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
As a sovereign state it is among the 193 UN members listed here. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
France shares borders with 8 countries:
Fun facts about France
- Ranked by land area, France is 50th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- Population density works out at roughly 124 people per square kilometre.
- Websites based there use the .fr domain.
- It is 23rd of 250 by population, with about 68.6 million residents.
- Its full official name is French Republic.
- Its currency, the Euro, is shared with 37 other entries.
- It lies about 5,121 km from the equator, in temperate latitudes.
- Its capital city is Paris.
France — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of France?
- The capital of France is Paris.
- Which countries border France?
- France borders 8 countries: Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain and Switzerland. Spain is the largest of them by area.
- Is France a country?
- Yes. France is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What is the population of France?
- France has a population of about 68.6 million, which makes it the 23rd most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Tanzania sits just above it and South Africa just below.
- What currency does France use?
- France uses the Euro, written € (currency code EUR). It is shared with 37 other entries.
- How big is France?
- France covers 551,695 km², ranking 50th of 250 by land area. That makes it a fraction smaller than Kenya.
- Where is France located?
- France is in Western Europe, part of Europe. Its reference coordinates are 46.0° north and 2.0° east, roughly 5,121 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.
- What language is spoken in France?
- The official language of France is French. It is also official in 45 other entries on this list.
