What is land area in square kilometres in France?

Land area in square kilometres in France was 538,950 sq. km in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest land area in square kilometres recorded in France?

The highest recorded value was 538,950 sq. km in 1961.

What is the lowest land area in square kilometres recorded in France?

The lowest recorded value was 538,950 sq. km in 1961.

How does France rank for land area in square kilometres?

France ranks 48th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.

Is land area in square kilometres rising or falling in France?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this France data come from?

The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Land area in square kilometres. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Land area in square kilometres in France

Name: Land area in square kilometres in France
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

France: Land area in square kilometres was 538,950 sq. km in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)

538,950 sq. km

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

48th

of 215 countries

All-time high

538,950 sq. km

in 1961

All-time low

538,950 sq. km

in 1961

Years of data

1961–2023

Land area in square kilometres in France, 1961–2023

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in sq. km.

Analysis

In 2023, land area in square kilometres in France stood at 538,950 sq. km. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, land area in square kilometres in France peaked at 538,950 sq. km in 1961 and was at its lowest, 538,950 sq. km, in 1961.

That places France 48th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	9
1970s	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	10
1980s	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	10
1990s	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	10
2000s	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	10
2010s	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	10
2020s	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	538,950 sq. km	4

Countries ranked near France

45 Kenya 580,876 sq. km compare
46 Ukraine 579,400 sq. km compare
47 Botswana 566,730 sq. km compare
49 Yemen 527,970 sq. km compare
50 Thailand 510,890 sq. km compare
51 Spain 499,697 sq. km compare

See the full ranking of 215 places →

More reference data data for France

Spring temperature anomalies 0.5862 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 3.31 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.1356 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies -0.3048 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 1.2 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 127.7 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is land area in square kilometres in France?: Land area in square kilometres in France was 538,950 sq. km in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest land area in square kilometres recorded in France?: The highest recorded value was 538,950 sq. km in 1961.
What is the lowest land area in square kilometres recorded in France?: The lowest recorded value was 538,950 sq. km in 1961.
How does France rank for land area in square kilometres?: France ranks 48th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
Is land area in square kilometres rising or falling in France?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this France data come from?: The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Land area in square kilometres. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Land area in square kilometres
Unit: sq. km
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 215 places, 12,288 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Total land area, measured in square kilometres (km²). Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.