Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in France instead of United Kingdom, you would:

Health

be 22.3% less likely to be obese

In United Kingdom, 27.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In France, that number is 21.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 16.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In United Kingdom, 18.6% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In France, however, that number is 15.6% as of 2021.

be 80.3% more likely to be unemployed

In United Kingdom, 4.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In France, that number is 7.3% as of 2023.

pay a 11.6% higher top tax rate

United Kingdom has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2016. In France, the top tax rate is 50.2% as of 2016.

Life

be 20.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In United Kingdom, approximately 10.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In France, 8.0 women do as of 2020.

be 17.5% less likely to die during infancy

In United Kingdom, approximately 3.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In France, on the other hand, 3.1 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 11.3% less likely to have internet access

In United Kingdom, approximately 97.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In France, about 86.0% do as of 2021.

Geography

see 61.0% less coastline

United Kingdom has a total of 12,429 km of coastline. In France, that number is 4,853 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, HM Revenue & Customs.

France: At a glance

France is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 549,970 sq km. France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-8, the G-20, the EU and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to take French forces out of NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion - became French regions and were made part of France proper.
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How big is France compared to United Kingdom? See an in-depth size comparison.

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