France France vs Netherlands Netherlands development indicators, 2024

Indicator
France
France, Value
Netherlands
Netherlands, Value
France
France, Rank
Netherlands
Netherlands, Rank
France France as % of
Netherlands Netherlands
Current account balance (% of GDP) 0.392 9.92 49 10 3.95 %
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 33.2 84.1 75 11 39.5 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 1.75 -1.1 63 101
GDP per capita (current US$) 46,150 68,219 26 12 67.7 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 61,322 84,218 28 11 72.8 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 34 72 85 20 47.2 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 2 3.35 114 65 59.7 %
Net migration 90,527 121,628 20 17 74.4 %
Population, total 68,516,699 17,994,237 23 71 381 %

Demography and Health

France has a slightly higher birth rate at 9.9 per 1,000 people compared to the Netherlands' 9.2, ranking it 19th globally against the Netherlands' 36th. In terms of death rates, France's rate is 9.2, while the Netherlands has a slightly higher rate of 9.5, placing France at 65th and the Netherlands at 62nd. Life expectancy at birth is higher in France, at 82.9 years, compared to the Netherlands' 81.9 years, reflecting its advanced healthcare system. The mortality rate for children under five is close, with France at 4.3 and the Netherlands at 4, showing both countries maintain relatively healthy childhood health indicators. However, France has a concerning suicide mortality rate of 16.6 per 100,000 population compared to the Netherlands’ lower rate of 11.5. Net migration is significant in both nations, with France recording 90,527 migrants and the Netherlands having 121,628, indicating a more favorable migration environment in the Netherlands. The prevalence of undernourishment is equal in both countries at 2.5% of the population, demonstrating good food security.

Economy

The economic landscape shows stark differences, with France's GDP per capita at $46,150, significantly lower than the Netherlands' $68,219, ranking France 37th and the Netherlands 12th. When assessing GDP per capita in purchasing power parity (PPP), France stands at $61,322, while the Netherlands surpasses at $84,218, reflecting stronger economic productivity in the Netherlands. High-technology exports are comparable, with France at $115.3B and the Netherlands at $111B, placing them 4th and 5th respectively. However, France struggles with foreign direct investment (FDI), showing net inflows of 1.8% of GDP, while the Netherlands faces negative FDI of -1.1%. The current account balance is considerably more favorable for the Netherlands at 9.9%, compared to France's 0.4%. Both countries face moderate inflation levels, with France at 2% and the Netherlands at 3.3%, which could influence consumer purchasing power and economic stability.

Trade and Investment

Trade plays an essential role in both economies, with France exporting goods and services constituting 33.2% of its GDP versus the Netherlands' impressive 84.1%, indicating a more trade-oriented economy. Imports as a percentage of GDP show a similar trend, with France at 34% and the Netherlands at 72%, reflecting greater integration into global supply chains for the Netherlands. The Netherlands demonstrates stronger logistics performance, scoring 4.2 on the index, while France is somewhat behind at 3.8, indicating that the Netherlands has superior trade and transport-related infrastructure.

Governance and Institutions

In terms of governance, the Netherlands generally exhibits stronger performance. The control of corruption index shows scores of 1.9 for the Netherlands and 1.2 for France, placing the Netherlands higher at 14th compared to France's 32nd. Moreover, government effectiveness reflects similar trends, with scores of 1.6 for the Netherlands and 1.1 for France, establishing the Netherlands as more effective in governance. The rule of law is perceived as stronger in the Netherlands (1.6) versus France (1.2). Political stability and absence of violence is also higher in the Netherlands (0.7) compared to France (0.3), indicating a more stable political environment.

Infrastructure and Technology

The technological landscape shows both countries are well-positioned; however, the Netherlands' infrastructure is notably better, especially in internet usage, where 97% of the population uses the internet compared to France's 86.8%. The Netherlands also performs better in terms of patent applications per resident, although the figures suggest a higher level of innovation activity in France with 13,386 applications compared to 2,080 for the Netherlands, possibly reflecting a difference in research focus. The research and development expenditure is relatively similar, with France investing 2.2% of GDP and the Netherlands 2.3%.

Environment and Sustainability

Regarding environmental sustainability, France holds an edge in renewable energy consumption, using 16.2% of its total final energy, which surpasses the Netherlands at 12.2%. However, the Netherlands has higher greenhouse gas emissions per capita at 8.4 t CO2e compared to France's 5.6 t CO2e, ranking them 30th and 71st, respectively. In terms of water stress, France's withdrawal constitutes 21.6% of available freshwater resources compared to the Netherlands' 16.1%, indicating more significant pressure on France's water resources. Both countries maintain a low prevalence of poverty, with France at 15.6% and the Netherlands at 14.5%, which is indicative of their developed economic status.