Europe
Living in France
Photo: Paris rooftops and the Eiffel Tower · Yann Caradec from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
A large western European country stretching from the Atlantic and the Alps to the Mediterranean, with high-speed rail and strong public services. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate3° to 19°CColdest and warmest month averages, Paris · 2020
Average temperature10.9°CParis (whole country 11.6°C) · 2020
Price level83%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$2,668Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$64,000GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment7.5%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides1.3Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy83.0 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air8 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest33%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers79%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue22.8%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: French. Some English, mostly in cities and business.
- Public transport: Extensive: most people can live without a car in the big cities.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Paris.
Moving to France
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: france-visas.gouv.fr.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 63,975.35 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 7.54 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 1.34 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | -0.09 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 1.21 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.98 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 5,327.43 US$ per person | 2024 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 22.78 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 78.85 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 32.85 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 8.23 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.83 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 2,668.4 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 11.6 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 10.9 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 3 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 19.3 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 661 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Paris are 2001–2020 averages.
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