France vs Italy — Country Comparison
France
ItalyFrance and Italy side by side: France is the larger country (543,908 km² vs 301,336 km², roughly 1.8× the size), while France has the bigger population (66.4 million vs 58.9 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | France | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Paris | Rome |
| Population | 66,351,959 | 58,927,633 |
| Area | 543,908 km² | 301,336 km² |
| Currency | Euro | Euro |
| Language | French | Italian |
| Dialling code | +33 | +39 |
| Main timezone | UTC+01:00 | UTC+01:00 |
| Drives on the | Right | Right |
| Region | Western Europe | Southern Europe |
| Emergency number | 112 | 112 |
Key differences: France vs Italy
- France has a slightly larger population than Italy.
- France is about 1.8 times larger by area.
- Italy is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use the same currency.
- They do not share an official language.
- They share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 930 km apart.
- France and Italy are in the same time zone (UTC+01:00).
Want the full picture for each country? See France and Italy, or compare their population pages: France · Italy.
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France vs Italy — FAQ
Which is bigger, France or Italy?
France is bigger by area: 543,908 km² vs 301,336 km², roughly 1.8× the size of Italy.
Is France bigger than Italy?
Yes — France covers 543,908 km², compared to 301,336 km² for Italy.
Which has more people, France or Italy?
France has the larger population: 66,351,959 (66.4 million) vs 58,927,633 (58.9 million).
How does the size of France compare to Italy?
France (543,908 km²) is about 1.8× larger than Italy (301,336 km²).
Do France and Italy use the same currency?
Yes — both use the Euro (EUR).
Are France and Italy on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Europe.
What is the time difference between France and Italy?
France and Italy are in the same time zone (UTC+01:00).
Do France and Italy share an official language?
No — France and Italy do not share an official language.
Do France and Italy share a border?
Yes — France and Italy share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, France or Italy?
Italy is more densely populated at roughly 196 people per km², compared to 122 for France.
How far is France from Italy?
The distance between the geographic centres of France and Italy is roughly 930 km (580 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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