Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of France, you would:

Health

be 42.4% less likely to die by suicide

France has a suicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United Kingdom, it is 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 1.6 years less

In France, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2024. In United Kingdom, that number is 81 years (80 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 2.4 times more likely to be obese

In France, 11.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.4% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 37.0% less likely to be unemployed

In France, 7.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United Kingdom, that number is 4.8% as of 2025.

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make 17.6% more money

France has a GDP per capita of $48,986 as of 2025, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $57,602 as of 2025.

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Life

be 20.6% more likely to die during infancy

In France, approximately 3.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In United Kingdom, on the other hand, 4.1 children do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 11.1% more on education

France spends 5.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. United Kingdom spends 5.9% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

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Geography

see 2.6 times more coastline

France has a total of 4,853 km of coastline. In United Kingdom, that number is 12,429 km.

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Safety

be 16.4% less likely to be murdered

France has a homicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In United Kingdom, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 48.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In France, road accidents kill 4.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United Kingdom, they kill 2.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 32.9% less strain on fresh water

France withdraws 21% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United Kingdom withdraws 14% as of 2022.

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find 13.8% less home broadband

France has 48.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. United Kingdom has 42.2 as of 2024.

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use 34.9% less electricity

France uses 6,447 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. United Kingdom uses 4,195 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 30.0% more likely to die from air pollution

In France, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In United Kingdom, it causes 13.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Compare further: France vs. United Kingdom

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
United Kingdom is 20.3% more expensive than France overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
France is about 2.3 times bigger than United Kingdom.
→
Moving from France to United Kingdom · OECD 2019
15,000 people moved from France to United Kingdom.
→
City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Paris vs London
→

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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