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France vs Spain Population
France has held the lead throughout the published window. In 1960 Spain stood at roughly 64% of France’s Population; today the figure is about 72%.
| Year | France | Spain | Spain as % of France |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 47,412,964 | 30,455,000 | 64% |
| 1970 | 52,007,169 | 33,814,531 | 65% |
| 1980 | 55,274,184 | 37,491,165 | 68% |
| 1990 | 58,261,012 | 38,867,322 | 67% |
| 2000 | 60,918,661 | 40,567,864 | 67% |
| 2010 | 65,026,211 | 46,576,897 | 72% |
| 2020 | 67,601,110 | 47,359,424 | 70% |
| 2025 | 68,720,337 | 49,355,143 | 72% |
Frequently asked questions
When did France pass Spain in Population?
It has not come to that. France has held the larger Population in every published year (1960–2025).
How do France and Spain compare today?
France is ahead: 68,720,337 against 49,355,143 — the trailing economy stands at about 72% of the leader.
Are these Population figures nominal or adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — people — with no inflation restatement, no PPP conversion and no interpolation for missing years.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: