French Population Surpasses Australia: A Comparative Overview

how kuch more people live in france than australie

France and Australia are two countries with vastly different populations. As of 2025, France has a population of approximately 68.6 million people, with 82.55% of the population living in urban areas. On the other hand, Australia has a much smaller population of around 26.1 million people. This means that France has a population that is more than double that of Australia, with around 42.2 million more people. Historically, France was once home to a significant portion of Europe's population, with more than a quarter of Europeans living in France during the Middle Ages. However, as other European countries grew, France's relative population size decreased, and by the 20th century, it was overtaken by countries like Germany and Russia. Despite this, France continues to experience population growth, with a rising fertility rate and immigration contributing to its demographic changes.

Characteristics Values
Population of France 68,606,000
Population of Australia 26,997,654
Difference in population 41,608,346 more people live in France
World ranking by population France: 23rd; Australia: 55th
Population density France: 122 per Km²; Australia: 4 per Km²
Total land area France: 547,557 Km²; Australia: 7,682,300 Km²
Percentage of population living in urban areas France: 82.55%; Australia: 86.51%
Median age France: 42.3 years; Australia: 38.3 years
Life expectancy Australia: 83.2 years (2015-2017)

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Murder rate per million people

France has a population of around 68 million people, while Australia's population is approximately 26 million. That means there are around 42 million more people living in France than in Australia.

Now, regarding murder rates per million people:

Murder rates per million people is a metric used to compare homicide rates between different countries. Homicide is defined as the death of a person purposefully inflicted by another person, excluding suicides, war deaths, and accidental deaths. The murder rate provides a more standardised comparison than simply looking at the number of murders, as it accounts for population size. This is important when comparing countries with significantly different populations, such as France and Australia.

France and Australia have different murder rates, with Australia typically having a higher rate per million people. According to surveys conducted by numbeo.com between July 2011 and February 2014, Australia had a higher rate of murders committed by youths aged 10-29. However, it is important to note that crime statistics may not always reflect the actual prevalence of crime and can be influenced by factors such as law enforcement practices and reporting willingness.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) provides reliable data on intentional homicide rates, which are often used as a proxy for overall violence. Their data is standardised and comparable across countries, as it is based on a consistent definition of homicide. According to UNODC, the global estimated homicide rate was 5.61 per 100,000 people for 2022. While these statistics provide valuable insights, it's important to acknowledge that homicide rates may be under-reported or vary in reliability across different countries due to political reasons or data variability.

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Literacy rate

There are nine countries in the world with a 100% literacy rate: Andorra, Finland, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and North Korea. There are 37 countries with a literacy rate of higher than 99.0%. The United States, Sweden, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France all have a literacy rate of 99.0%.

The literacy rate is influenced by factors such as educational infrastructure and the priority given to education by a country's population. For instance, government spending on education is one of the main factors contributing to the near-100% literacy rates in countries like Finland. Similarly, Andorra has achieved near-universal literacy by mandating compulsory school attendance for children aged 6 to 16 and providing free schooling up to the secondary level.

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Age distribution

According to one source, France has a population of around 68 million people, while Australia's population is around 26 million. This means that France has approximately 42 million more people than Australia.

Now, let's focus on the age distribution in the two countries.

In 2022, France's population was distributed across various age groups. Approximately 17.2% of the population was in the 0-14 age category, while 61.14% fell into the 15-64 age group. The over-65 population constituted about 21.66% of the total population. This distribution reflects a slight shift from previous years. For instance, in 2021, those under 15 years old represented 17% of the population.

France experienced a notable baby boom after 1945, reversing a historical trend of low birth rates. This period of high fertility rates lasted longer in France than in most other Western countries. However, by 2024, France's fertility rate had dropped to 1.59, which is below the replacement level.

Australia, on the other hand, has a smaller population, with a different age distribution. In 2021, the largest age group in Australia was 30- to 34-year-olds, followed by 35- to 39-year-olds, who experienced the most significant growth since 2016. Overall, 18.2% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, while 17.2% were 65 or older. This distribution varies slightly when comparing capital cities and regional areas. Capital cities tend to have a higher proportion of younger individuals, with 18.4% of their population under 15 years old and 15.5% aged 65 or above.

Australia's population has been ageing, with a median age of 38.3 years as of June 2024, up from 33.4 years in June 1994. The percentage of the population aged 65 and over has increased from 12% to 17% during this period. Additionally, the country's fertility rate has been declining, reaching 1.49 in 2023-2024.

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Military service age

As of 2025, France has around 42.2 million more people than Australia.

Military conscription in Australia has a controversial history. After World War II, peacetime conscription was abolished, but the Defence Act 1903 allows the Governor-General of Australia to authorise conscription in times of war. In 1909, an amendment to the Defence Act allowed for conscription of boys aged 12-14 and youths aged 18-20 for home defence. In 1911, the Australian Labor Party instituted a system of compulsory military training for males aged 12-26. During World War I, around 636,000 men were called up, but no men were conscripted for overseas service. In 1929, mandatory service provisions were suspended, ending conscription for home defence.

In 1939, at the start of World War II, unmarried men aged 21 were required to undergo three months of military training. In 1942, conscription was effectively reintroduced, with men aged 18-35 and single men aged 35-45 required to join the Citizen Military Forces (CMF). In 1951, during the Korean War, national service was reintroduced, with all 18-year-old males required to register for training in the Navy, Army, or Air Force. They had to complete 176 days of training (99 days full-time) and two years in the CMF. Later, the obligation was reduced to 140 days of training (77 days full-time) and three years of service.

In 1964, a birthday ballot system was introduced for 20-year-old men, with those balloted out allowed to resign from the CMF. This loophole was soon closed, and from 1965, those enlisted had to complete six years of service, reduced to five years in 1971. Between 1965 and 1972, over 63,000 men were called up for full-time service.

France was the first modern nation-state to introduce universal military conscription as a condition of citizenship during the French Revolution (1789-1799). In 1905, universal military service for two years, without exception except on medical grounds, was introduced. In 1913, France extended the term of military service to three years to match the size of the Imperial German Army, requiring virtually all fit males from the age of 20 to serve full-time.

In 1996, military conscription was scrapped in France, with President Macron reintroducing national service in 2018 on a voluntary basis for all 16-year-olds, with plans to make it compulsory in the future. The current service includes two weeks of training and two weeks of community service.

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Gun crime

France has a population of around 68.6 million people, while Australia's population is approximately 26.1 million. This means that France has about 42.2 million more residents than Australia.

Now, turning to the issue of gun crime in these two countries:

Gun control is a contentious issue in Australia, with advocates pushing for stricter laws. To legally possess a handgun in Australia, an individual must be licensed, and the gun must be registered. The owner must also be a member of a recognised gun club, and the gun can only be transported between home, the range, and the gunsmith's shop. While compliance with these laws is estimated at around 85%unregistered firearms in the country. In October 2016, it was estimated that there were 260,000 unregistered guns in Australia, with most of them in the hands of organised crime groups.

Despite these concerns, the number of firearms-related deaths in Australia has declined. Between 1991 and 2001, there was a 47% decrease in firearm-related deaths. Suicides committed with firearms accounted for 77% of these deaths, followed by firearms homicide (15%). Studies suggest that Australia's gun laws have been effective in reducing mass shootings, gun suicides, and armed crime. However, there is also data indicating that gun laws have had little effect on reducing overall crime rates.

France has strict gun laws, and there is no right to bear arms in the country. To own a gun, one must obtain a hunting or sporting license, which requires repeated renewals and a psychological evaluation. Despite these regulations, France faces challenges with illegal firearms. In 2012, authorities estimated that there were around 30,000 illegal guns in the country, many of which were used by criminal gangs. The country experiences around 1,800 firearms-related deaths annually, and high-profile terror attacks have brought attention to the issue of gun violence.

In conclusion, while France has stricter gun laws and a higher population than Australia, both countries grapple with the presence of illegal firearms and the impact of gun violence. The effectiveness of gun control measures in reducing overall crime rates is a subject of ongoing debate in both nations.

Frequently asked questions

As of 2025, France has a population of 68.6 million, while Australia's population is approximately 26.1 million. This means that France has around 42.5 million more people than Australia.

No, France's population relative to other countries has changed over time. During the Middle Ages, France was home to a quarter of the entire European population. By the 1700s, France was home to 20% of European people, and by the 1900s, countries like Germany and Russia had overtaken France in population size.

France experienced a baby boom after 1945, reversing a long-term record of low birth rates. The country's fertility rate has been declining since 2014, and it is now far from the replacement level. France has also experienced large-scale immigration over the last 100 years, with an estimated 40% of the population descended from immigrants since the start of the 20th century.

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