UK vs France: GDP, economic growth and GDP per person compared
In 2025 the IMF gives $4.01 trillion for the UK's GDP and $3.38 trillion for France. IMF figures for 2025 put the UK's GDP growth rate at 1.2%, higher than France's 0.9%. On IMF figures, the UK's GDP per head in 2025 was $65,758; France's was $66,559.
GDP, current prices
In 2025 the IMF gives $4.01 trillion for the UK's GDP and $3.38 trillion for France. The UK's figure was higher than France's in every year from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | UK | France |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4.01 trillion | $3.38 trillion |
| 2024 | $3.71 trillion | $3.18 trillion |
| 2023 | $3.44 trillion | $3.07 trillion |
| 2022 | $3.20 trillion | $2.80 trillion |
| 2021 | $3.21 trillion | $2.97 trillion |
| 2020 | $2.73 trillion | $2.65 trillion |
| 2019 | $2.89 trillion | $2.72 trillion |
| 2018 | $2.91 trillion | $2.78 trillion |
| 2017 | $2.71 trillion | $2.59 trillion |
| 2016 | $2.72 trillion | $2.47 trillion |
| 2015 | $2.95 trillion | $2.44 trillion |
The IMF's GDP in US dollars is the value of all goods and services produced in a country in a calendar year, at that year's prices, converted from the national currency into US dollars at market exchange rates.
Real GDP growth
IMF figures for 2025 put the UK's GDP growth rate at 1.2%, higher than France's 0.9%. From 2015 to 2025 the UK's figure was the higher of the two in 6 of 11 years.
| Year | UK | France |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.2% | 0.9% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | 1.8% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | 2.8% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | 6.8% |
| 2020 | minus 10.0% | minus 7.6% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | 2.1% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | 1.0% |
The IMF's real GDP growth is the percentage change in gross domestic product at constant prices, for a calendar year compared with the year before.
GDP per head, purchasing power parity
On IMF figures, the UK's GDP per head in 2025 was $65,758; France's was $66,559. From 2015 to 2025 the UK's figure was the higher of the two in 5 of 11 years.
| Year | UK | France |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,758 | $66,559 |
| 2024 | $63,492 | $64,480 |
| 2023 | $61,899 | $62,198 |
| 2022 | $60,180 | $59,178 |
| 2021 | $54,009 | $54,017 |
| 2020 | $48,881 | $49,599 |
| 2019 | $50,729 | $51,225 |
| 2018 | $47,780 | $46,496 |
| 2017 | $46,556 | $44,565 |
| 2016 | $44,511 | $42,920 |
| 2015 | $43,480 | $42,319 |
The IMF's GDP per head at purchasing power parity is GDP divided by population, converted into international dollars using purchasing power parities: rates that adjust for differences in price levels between countries, so that a dollar buys the same amount everywhere.
More figures for the UK and France
| Figure | UK | France | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation, average consumer prices | 3.4% | 0.9% | 2025 | IMF |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 7.7% | 2025 | IMF |
| General government gross debt | 102.1% of GDP | 115.5% of GDP | 2025 | IMF |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.4 years | 83.0 years | 2024 | World Bank |
| Total tax revenue | 34.4% of GDP | 43.5% of GDP | 2024 | OECD |
| Current health expenditure | 11.4% of GDP | 11.4% of GDP | 2025 | OECD |
| General government expenditure | 43.5% of GDP | 57.2% of GDP | 2025 | IMF |
| Employment rate, ages 15 to 64 | 75.1% | 69.3% | 2025 | OECD |
| Real minimum wage per hour | $17.13 an hour | $16.22 an hour | 2025 | OECD |
| Core defence expenditure | 2.56% of GDP | 2.22% of GDP | 2026 | NATO |
| Carbon dioxide emissions per person | 4.22 tonnes | 4.00 tonnes | 2024 | World Bank |
| Gross domestic spending on research and development | 2.8% of GDP | 2.2% of GDP | 2023 | OECD |
| Price-to-income ratio, standardised | 115.7 (100 = long-term average) | 107.2 (100 = long-term average) | 2025 | OECD |
Both values in each row are for the same year. Because international bodies standardise national statistics, their UK figures may not match the ONS's own.
Ranked tables with the UK and France
- UK GDP growth compared with the G7
- UK GDP growth compared with EU countries
- UK GDP compared with other countries
- UK GDP per head compared with other countries
More about France: France in figures. Compare any two countries with the country comparison tool.
Sources and receipts
- International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook database (IMF DataMapper)read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
7294ac0b3013e39b…· publisher's page - International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook database (IMF DataMapper)read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
5200170b0f19f025…· publisher's page - International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook database (IMF DataMapper)read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
50bf0fd1cc9a9b57…· publisher's page
No view is given on whether a figure is high or low. Report an error.