The map above shows California and France side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
California vs France Geography
Land area: California has a land area of 155,859 square miles (403,673 km²), while France has 210,016 square miles (543,940 km²). France's land area is 1.3 times (35%) larger than California's.
Total area: California: 163,694 square miles (423,965 km²) vs France: 213,011 square miles (551,695 km²), including inland and coastal water. France's total area is 1.3 times (30%) larger than California's.
Length: California is 761 miles (1,224 km) long from north to south; France is 742 miles (1,194 km). California and France have about the same north-south length.
Width: California spans 706 miles (1,137 km) east to west; France spans 818 miles (1,316 km). France's east-west width is 1.2 times (16%) wider than California's.
Highest point: California's highest point is Mount Whitney at 14,484 feet (4,415 m); France's is Mont Blanc at 15,778 feet (4,809 m). Mont Blanc is 1,294 feet higher than Mount Whitney.
Lowest point: California's lowest point is Death Valley at -279 feet; France's is Etang de Lavalduc at -33 feet. California's lowest point is 246 feet lower.
California vs France Population and History
Population: California has a population of 39,431,263 (2024), while France has 69,081,996 (2026). France's population is 1.8 times (75%) larger than California's.
Population density: California: 253.0 people per square mile vs France: 328.9. France's population density is 1.3 times (30%) higher than California's.
Biggest city: California's biggest city is Los Angeles with 3,878,704 people; France's is Paris with 2,148,271. Los Angeles' population is 1.8 times (81%) larger than Paris'.
Largest metro area: California's largest metropolitan area is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (12,927,614 people) vs France's Paris (9,381,921). Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area's population is 1.4 times (38%) larger than Paris'.
History: California: Admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850, as the 31st state. France: An independent state since the Treaty of Verdun in 843; the current Fifth Republic dates from 1958. In its current form, France is the older of the two by 1,007 years.
California vs France Economy
GDP: California's GDP is $4,048.1 billion (2024) vs France's $3,366.3 billion. California's economic output is 1.2 times (20%) larger than France's.
GDP per capita: California: $102,662 per person vs France: $48,986. California's GDP per capita is 2.1 times (110%) higher than France's.
Average income: California: $86,232 vs France: $48,630 average income per person (per capita personal income). California's average income is 1.8 times (77%) higher than France's.
Official Websites
California official website · France official website
More Size Comparisons
All California size comparisons · All France size comparisons
Area, elevation and boundary figures come from official national statistics and US Census Bureau and Natural Earth boundary data; US state population, economic, county and tax figures come from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation. Figures are rounded and for general reference.