Texas vs France (Metropolitan): True Size & Area Comparison

Texas is 27.9% larger than Metropolitan France (1.28 times the size). Areas below are total areas from national statistics; the Mercator factor shows how much a standard web map inflates each one.

Geographic Result

Texas is larger by 58,580 sq mi (151,722 km²).

Launch Interactive Overlay

🇺🇸Texas (56.1%)

France (Metropolitan) (43.9%)🇫🇷

268,596 sq mi

210,016 sq mi

Share of the two areas combined (true area, not map area)

Side-by-Side Demographic & Spatial Data

Metric	🇺🇸 Texas	🇫🇷 France (Metropolitan)	Ratio / Difference
Total Area (Sq Miles)	268,596 sq mi	210,016 sq mi	1.28x
Total Area (Sq Kilometers)	695,662 km²	543,940 km²	1.28x
Population	29,145,505	68,070,000	2.3x less
Population Density	109 people / sq mi	324 people / sq mi	France 3.0x denser
Capital or Seat	Austin	Paris	-
Largest Metropolitan Area	Houston	Paris	-
Latitude Center	31.0°	46.5°	15.5° lat diff
Mercator Area Inflation Factor	1.36x	2.11x	0.64x visual distortion

The Mercator Projection Illusion

On standard Web Mercator maps, France appears nearly the same size as Texas because France sits at 46°N latitude where Mercator inflates areas by over 111%, whereas Texas sits further south at 31°N.

Mercator projection formulas stretch surface area proportionally to sec²(φ) = 1 / cos²(φ), magnifying landmasses drastically near the north and south poles.

Geographic Analysis: Texas and France (Metropolitan)

While many assume European powers dwarf American states, Texas is substantially larger than Metropolitan France. Texas spans 268,596 square miles (695,662 km²) compared to France's 210,016 square miles (543,940 km²). However, France holds over double the population of Texas.

About Texas

If Texas were an independent nation, it would be the 39th largest country by land area and the 8th largest economy in the world.

About France (Metropolitan)

Metropolitan France is the largest country in the European Union by land area, often nicknamed "L'Hexagone" due to its six-sided shape.

Texas vs France (Metropolitan) by the Numbers

Area: Texas covers 695,662 km² (268,596 sq mi), which is about 1.28 times the 543,940 km² of France (Metropolitan), a difference of 151,722 km² (58,580 sq mi).
Population: France (Metropolitan) has 2.3 times as many people (68,070,000 vs 29,145,505). That works out to about 109 people per sq mi in Texas and 324 in France (Metropolitan).
On a Web Mercator map: Texas (centered near 31.0°) is drawn about 1.36× its true area and France (Metropolitan) (near 46.5°) about 2.11×. So on Google-style maps France (Metropolitan) appears roughly 1.21 times the size of Texas, even though in reality Texas is the larger of the two.

Mercator factors use the center latitude only (area scale = 1 / cos² of latitude), so they are approximations for places that span many degrees of latitude.

How to Accurately Compare Geographic Sizes

STEP 01

Consult Geodesic Area

Use published areas from national statistics offices or census gazetteers rather than judging by pixels on a flat web map.

STEP 02

Account for Latitude

Remember that Web Mercator tiles distort areas by 1/cos²(latitude). High-latitude regions appear vastly larger than equatorial states.

STEP 03

Interactive Map Overlay

Drag one outline over the other in the true size tool; the shape is re-projected as it moves, so it keeps its real size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Texas bigger than France?▼

Yes. Texas is approximately 28% larger than Metropolitan France by surface area. Texas covers 268,596 sq mi compared to France's 210,016 sq mi.

Could France fit inside Texas?▼

Yes. The entirety of Metropolitan France easily fits within the geographic boundaries of Texas with over 58,000 square miles of remaining space.

Why does France look similar in size to Texas on Google Maps?▼

Because of Web Mercator projection distortion. Areas near the poles are stretched horizontally and vertically. France lies between 42°N and 51°N, amplifying its apparent size on Mercator projections relative to Texas at 26°N to 36°N.

Which has more people, Texas or France (Metropolitan)?▼

France (Metropolitan) has about 68,070,000 people versus 29,145,505 in Texas, roughly 2.3 times as many. Per square mile, that is about 109 people in Texas and 324 in France (Metropolitan).

Explore Texas and France (Metropolitan) Further

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