From palaces with thousands of rooms to tidal islands and 1,200+ cheeses, there are dozens of quirky and fun facts about France that will make you stop and think. Did you know France invented the hot air balloon, photography and metric system? Even everyday things, like bread or perfume, have stories behind them. Here are 29 interesting facts about France that show the country’s culture, creativity and unique charm. How big is France? It’s the largest country in the EU by land area With an area of about 551,695 km², metropolitan France is the biggest member of the European Union by surface area. It’s larger than Germany, Spain and Italy! It also calls itself L’Hexagone as the country has a six-sided shape. France is the most visited country in the world France attracts over 90 million tourists annually – perhaps thanks to its blend of famous sights, world-class food and wine, charming villages and diverse landscapes from mountains to beaches. Paris itself – a city of roughly 2.05 million inhabitants – and the Île-de-France region receive around 47.5 million tourist arrivals per year.
French is spoken not only in France but in 33 countries worldwide The French government 300 million French speakers in 33 countries across the globe, an increase of 9.6% since 2014. There are 29 countries where French is an official language, and the International Organisation of La Francophonie encompasses many more nations with French as a working or educational language. France has a higher life expectancy than the global average, around 82 years According to WHO data, life expectancy at birth in France was 81.9 years in 2021. That places France above many global and EU averages.