United Kingdom vs France — Country Comparison
United Kingdom
FranceUnited Kingdom and France side by side: France is the larger country (543,908 km² vs 244,376 km², roughly 2.2× the size), while United Kingdom has the bigger population (69.3 million vs 66.4 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | United Kingdom | France |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | London | Paris |
| Population | 69,281,437 | 66,351,959 |
| Area | 244,376 km² | 543,908 km² |
| Currency | British pound | Euro |
| Language | English | French |
| Dialling code | +44 | +33 |
| Main timezone | UTC | UTC+01:00 |
| Drives on the | Left | Right |
| Region | Northern Europe | Western Europe |
| Emergency number | 999 (or 112) | 112 |
Key differences: United Kingdom vs France
- United Kingdom has a slightly larger population than France.
- France is about 2.2 times larger by area.
- United Kingdom is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: GBP and EUR.
- They do not share an official language.
- They do not share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 930 km apart.
- France is 1 hour ahead of United Kingdom (UTC vs UTC+01:00), not accounting for daylight saving changes.
Want the full picture for each country? See United Kingdom and France, or compare their population pages: United Kingdom · France.
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United Kingdom vs France — FAQ
Which is bigger, United Kingdom or France?
France is bigger by area: 543,908 km² vs 244,376 km², roughly 2.2× the size of United Kingdom.
Is United Kingdom bigger than France?
No — France is larger at 543,908 km² vs 244,376 km² for United Kingdom.
Which has more people, United Kingdom or France?
United Kingdom has the larger population: 69,281,437 (69.3 million) vs 66,351,959 (66.4 million).
How does the size of United Kingdom compare to France?
France (543,908 km²) is about 2.2× larger than United Kingdom (244,376 km²).
Do United Kingdom and France use the same currency?
No — United Kingdom uses the British pound and France uses the Euro.
Are United Kingdom and France on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Europe.
What is the time difference between United Kingdom and France?
France is 1 hour ahead of United Kingdom (UTC vs UTC+01:00), not accounting for daylight saving changes.
Do United Kingdom and France share an official language?
No — United Kingdom and France do not share an official language.
Do United Kingdom and France share a border?
No — United Kingdom and France do not share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, United Kingdom or France?
United Kingdom is more densely populated at roughly 284 people per km², compared to 122 for France.
How far is United Kingdom from France?
The distance between the geographic centres of United Kingdom and France is roughly 930 km (580 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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