Germany vs France: population
How Germany and France compare in population today and out to 2100, side by side, from UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Germany and France population, 2000-2100
Population 2000-2100
Side by side
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇫🇷 France | |
|---|---|---|
| Population today | 83.7 million | 66.7 million |
| Population 2050 | 78.4 million | 68.2 million |
| Population 2100 | 70.9 million | 68.5 million |
| World rank | #19 | #23 |
| Peak year | 2024 | 2096 |
| Median age (2024) | 45 | 42 |
| Fertility rate (2024) | 1.45 | 1.64 |
| Life expectancy (2024) | 82 yrs | 83 yrs |
| Density (per km²) | 240 | 121 |
Why this comparison matters
For now Germany is comfortably the most populous country in the European Union, with around 17 million more people than France. But Germany's population has just begun to decline while France's still inches up, so the gap narrows steadily over the century, a quiet reordering of the EU's two central powers.
Germany vs France, explained
Today Germany is the larger of the two, with about 83.7 million people against France's 66.7 million. Germany is the world's 19th most populous country and France the 23rd.
Their paths to 2100 differ. Germany declines over the century, moving from about 84.7 million to 70.9 million (-16.3%). France edges higher, going from 66.5 million to 68.5 million (+3.0%).
The order does not flip this century: Germany is still the larger of the two in 2100. The two trajectories run in parallel rather than crossing.
The deeper contrast is age and fertility. Germany has a median age near 45 and 1.45 births per woman, against France's 42 and 1.64. All figures follow the UN's medium-variant projection.