Population and Demographics of France
An aging population · 22.15% aged 65 or older in 2024
France's latest population change is +0.17% a year, and its age structure leaves 61.34% of residents in the 15-to-64 group. Compared with 2000, the 2024 population is 11.9% larger, showing the scale of the longer shift. The medium projection reaches 68.22 million in 2050, placing the mid-century total 2.5% above 2024.
Population Over Time in France
France's population stood at 59.484M in 2000 and 66.549M in 2024, equivalent to a +11.9% change over that period. For 2050, the medium projection is 68.220M. That is a difference of about 1.67 million people from the 2024 estimate. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
The age distribution adds important context to France's 2024 population total and points to an older profile. At 22.15%, the 65-and-older group is larger than the 16.51% share under 15, with 61.34% aged 15 to 64. Older adults outnumber children in these broad age bands.
Population by broad age group
In the World Bank 2024 series, females account for 51.5% of France's population and males 48.5%. Females exceed males by 3.0 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Females made up 51.5% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 48.5% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Current momentum in France combines +0.17% population change with fertility at 1.6, while the age balance leans older, based on 16.51% under 15 versus 22.15% at 65-plus.
The 2024 total in France stands 11.9% above the 2000 reference, followed by a medium projection that is +2.5% different in 2050; this describes the trajectory without guessing at migration or natural increase.
2024 estimate for France. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
France vs. World
France's demographic position looks different depending on the measure: annual change is lower than the world rate, fertility is below it, and its population is older than the global median-age profile.
| Indicator | France | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +0.17% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.6 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 42 | 30.6 | 2024 |
The table deliberately uses one 2024 source context for France and the world. This avoids combining national figures from one year with global figures from another.
Key Takeaways
The 2024 total is 66,548,530 people. Annual change in the same harmonized table is +0.17%.
Age structure is a key feature of the profile: 16.51% are under 15 and 22.15% are 65 or older.
The 2024 female and male shares are 51.5% and 48.5% respectively.
The 2050 medium projection is 68.220M, 2.5% above the 2024 estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of France?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for France is 66,548,530 people.
Is the population of France growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, France's population is growing, with annual change of +0.17%.
What percentage of the population of France is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 22.15% of France's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of France in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts France's 2050 population at 68,219,675.
What is the fertility rate in France?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for France is 1.6 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.