United Kingdom vs France: population pyramids in 1986
United KingdomFrance
Each bar is the share of the total population at that single year of age (men left, women right), so countries of different sizes can be compared.
United Kingdom and France compared
In 1986, the United Kingdom has a population of 56.7 million and France 55.6 million; the two are about the same size.
The share aged 65 and over is 15.2% in the United Kingdom and 13.0% in France, 2.2 points higher in the United Kingdom. The median age is 35.3 years in the United Kingdom and 33.6 years in France.
The total fertility rate is 1.78 in the United Kingdom and 1.83 in France, both below the replacement level of about 2.1. Life expectancy at birth is 74.8 years in the United Kingdom and 75.6 years in France.
By 2050, the population of the United Kingdom is projected to grow by 33.0% and that of France to grow by 22.5% compared with 1986.
GDP per person is $58K in the United Kingdom (2025) and $49K in France (2025).
Key figures (1986)
| United Kingdom | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 56.7 million | 55.6 million |
| Aged 0–14 | 19.2% | 21.1% |
| Aged 15–64 | 65.6% | 65.8% |
| Aged 65+ | 15.2% | 13.0% |
| Median age | 35.3 yrs | 33.6 yrs |
| Old-age dependency | 23.2 | 19.8 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.78 | 1.83 |
| Life expectancy | 74.8 yrs | 75.6 yrs |
| Population growth | +0.24% | +0.51% |
| Net migration (per year) | +41,836 | +51,642 |
| GDP | $4T (2025) | $3.37T (2025) |
| GDP per person | $58K (2025) | $49K (2025) |
| Unemployment | 4.8% (2025) | 7.5% (2025) |
Economic figures are the latest year published for each country.