France
Europe · Western Europe
Outstanding food and healthcare; bureaucratic, but deeply rewarding to live in.
At a Glance
📈France's Human Development Index
0.910
Very High human development#27 of 191 countries worldwide, #18 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 86% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Most visited country in the world — yet ranks mid-table for happiness.
- Produces more nuclear energy as a share of its grid than almost any country.
- More public holidays than most EU countries — and still among the most productive.
Quick Facts
Capital
Paris
Language
French
Currency
€ EUR
Area
538,950 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
350Mbps
Mobile
151Mbps
GDP / Capita
$49K
PPP / Capita
$64K
Inflation
0.9%
Unemployment
7.5%
Innovation (GII)
53.4
GNI / Capita
$49K
Tax Revenue
22.8%
FDI Inflows
2.2%
Education Spend
5.3%
Cost of Living
67.7
Price Level Index
15th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.790 → 0.910 (+0.120)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about France for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
France head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is France's Human Development Index?
France's Human Development Index is 0.910 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #27 of 191 countries.
Is France safe?
France scores 2.08 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #98 of 160 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.