Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 2.0 years longer

In United States, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2022. In France, that number is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

be 40.3% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In France, that number is 21.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 25.0% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $73,600 as of 2023, while in France, the GDP per capita is $55,200 as of 2023.

be 2.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In United States, 3.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In France, that number is 7.3% as of 2023.

pay a 26.8% higher top tax rate

United States has a top tax rate of 39.6% as of 2016. In France, the top tax rate is 50.2% as of 2016.

Life

be 61.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In United States, approximately 21.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In France, 8.0 women do as of 2020.

be 39.1% less likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.2 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.

have 10.7% fewer children

In United States, there are approximately 12.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In France, there are 10.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Expenditures

spend 35.1% less on healthcare

United States spends 18.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In France, that number is 12.2% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 75.6% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 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, Internal Revenue Service.

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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