GeoRealityMatch
Breathtaking aerial view capturing the cityscape of Paris, showcasing iconic architecture.Stunning aerial view of Paris showcasing iconic cityscape and architecture.

France

Europe · Western Europe

Medium safetyExpensive cost of livingVery high development

People live long. Youth unemployment is high for Europe.

vs United Kingdomvs Germanyvs Portugal
Safety

98th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.083lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#98 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.3per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
44.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€26,459per adult, a year, after tax and transfersHigh
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
22.3New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.6years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 34% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 12% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$40K$80K$63,975 PPP$48,986Inflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $36,432 a person, $32,424 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2007, $41,486 a person, $34,066 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2008, $45,465 a person, $35,053 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2009, $41,728 a person, $34,685 at PPP2010, $40,695 a person, $35,908 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2011, $43,930 a person, $37,510 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2012, $40,864 a person, $37,671 at PPP, inflation 2%2013, $42,669 a person, $39,583 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2014, $43,148 a person, $40,218 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2015, $36,702 a person, $40,905 at PPP2016, $37,024 a person, $42,880 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2017, $38,687 a person, $44,469 at PPP, inflation 1%2018, $41,418 a person, $46,381 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2019, $40,408 a person, $51,130 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2020, $39,170 a person, $49,482 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2021, $43,725 a person, $52,517 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2022, $40,989 a person, $57,012 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2023, $44,700 a person, $60,927 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2024, $46,103 a person, $62,525 at PPP, inflation 2%2025, $48,986 a person, $63,975 at PPP, inflation 0.9%$0$40K$80KInflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $36,432 a person, $32,424 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2007, $41,486 a person, $34,066 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2008, $45,465 a person, $35,053 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2009, $41,728 a person, $34,685 at PPP2010, $40,695 a person, $35,908 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2011, $43,930 a person, $37,510 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2012, $40,864 a person, $37,671 at PPP, inflation 2%2013, $42,669 a person, $39,583 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2014, $43,148 a person, $40,218 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2015, $36,702 a person, $40,905 at PPP2016, $37,024 a person, $42,880 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2017, $38,687 a person, $44,469 at PPP, inflation 1%2018, $41,418 a person, $46,381 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2019, $40,408 a person, $51,130 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2020, $39,170 a person, $49,482 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2021, $43,725 a person, $52,517 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2022, $40,989 a person, $57,012 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2023, $44,700 a person, $60,927 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2024, $46,103 a person, $62,525 at PPP, inflation 2%2025, $48,986 a person, $63,975 at PPP, inflation 0.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
83.0years, at birthVery high
#18 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
82WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
8.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Higher youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
19.8%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceHigh
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
350 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
539EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet350 MbpsVery fast
Mobile151 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning aerial view of Paris showcasing iconic cityscape and architecture.
How it changed

France's Human Development Index

0.920Very high human development

26th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 17th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #24Malta0.924
  2. #25Luxembourg0.922
  3. #26France0.920
  4. #27Israel0.919
  5. #28Spain0.918
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.798 in 1990 to 0.920 in 2023.

0.750.850.950.92019902000201020231990: 0.7981991: 0.8071992: 0.8141993: 0.8181994: 0.8321995: 0.8371996: 0.8421997: 0.8471998: 0.8511999: 0.8562000: 0.8522001: 0.8552002: 0.8582003: 0.8622004: 0.8692005: 0.8772006: 0.8812007: 0.8842008: 0.8842009: 0.8832010: 0.8882011: 0.8922012: 0.8932013: 0.8962014: 0.9002015: 0.9012016: 0.9052017: 0.9082018: 0.9112019: 0.9142020: 0.9092021: 0.9152022: 0.9162023: 0.9200.750.850.9519902000201020231990: 0.7981991: 0.8071992: 0.8141993: 0.8181994: 0.8321995: 0.8371996: 0.8421997: 0.8471998: 0.8511999: 0.8562000: 0.8522001: 0.8552002: 0.8582003: 0.8622004: 0.8692005: 0.8772006: 0.8812007: 0.8842008: 0.8842009: 0.8832010: 0.8882011: 0.8922012: 0.8932013: 0.8962014: 0.9002015: 0.9012016: 0.9052017: 0.9082018: 0.9112019: 0.9142020: 0.9092021: 0.9152022: 0.9162023: 0.920

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
83 years2024at birthUp 2.8 years from 80.2 years in 2005
Internet users
89%2024of people onlineUp 42 points from 47% in 2006
Urban population
79%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 1 point from 77% in 2006
Births per woman
1.612024births per womanDown 0.33 from 1.94 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
16%2021of energy usedUp 7 points from 9% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
32024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsLevel with 2005
CO2 emissions per person
4 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.5 t from 6.5 t in 2005
Forest area
32%2023of land under forestUp 3 points from 29% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Outstanding food and healthcare; bureaucratic, but deeply rewarding to live in. The case for living here is long lives. The case against is high youth unemployment for Europe and a high cost of living.

About France

France is one of the world's great cultural destinations, a country where cuisine, wine, art, architecture, and intellectual life are taken as seriously as any national priority. Paris is without equal as a city of museums, food, and street life, but the real France lives in its regions, from the lavender fields of Provence and the vineyards of Burgundy to the fishing villages of Brittany and the peaks of the Alps. Those willing to learn at least a little of the language will find the welcome far warmer.

Practical facts

  • CapitalParis
  • LanguagesFrench
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area538,950 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

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Quick answers

What is France's Human Development Index?

France's Human Development Index is 0.920 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #26 of 193 by UNDP.

Is France safe?

France scores 2.08 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #98 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is France?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts France at 67.7 (New York = 100); that is #123 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in France?

Life expectancy at birth in France is 83.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #18 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in France?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores France at 169.8, ranked #27 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.