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Navy comparison: Flag of France France vs Flag of Italy Italy

France operates a fleet of 175 ships compared to 314 for Italy. Of these, 166 and 313 are in active service respectively.

SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Naval ensign of France FranceWorld #9 39.8
SEAS Index / 100

France leads on 6 of 8 categories

Naval ensign of Italy ItalyWorld #14 32.4
  • 1 Aircraft carriersweight ×200 1
  • 10 Destroyersweight ×50 2
  • 9 Submarinesweight ×45 8
  • 12 Frigatesweight ×30 10
  • 3 Amphibiousweight ×12 4
  • 19 Mine warfareweight ×5 10
  • 24 Patrol boatsweight ×2 19
  • 2 Unmannedweight ×2 0
  • 86 Support shipsnot scored 108
  • 0 Other shipsnot scored 151
France Italy Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
France Italy Ratio
Official name French Navy Italian Navy
Total ships 175 314 🇮🇹 1.8×
Active ships 166 313 🇮🇹 1.9×
On order / planned 5 0 🇫🇷
Submarines 9 8 🇫🇷 1.1×
Principal surface combatants 22 12 🇫🇷 1.8×
Aircraft carriers 1 1 —
Amphibious ships 3 4 🇮🇹 1.3×
Show full breakdown · 3 more rowsHide the 3 extra rows
Patrol boats 24 19 🇫🇷 1.3×
Mine warfare 19 10 🇫🇷 1.9×
Auxiliaries 86 259 🇮🇹 3.0×
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇫🇷 FranceCharles de Gaulle-class ×1Barracuda-class ×4FREMM frigate-class ×8
🇮🇹 ItalyCavour-class ×1Nazario Sauro-class ×4Horizon-class ×2
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, France or Italy?
Italy has a larger navy with 314 ships compared to France's 175 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, France or Italy?
France operates more submarines with 11 compared to Italy's 8.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, France or Italy?
Italy has 1 aircraft carrier(s) compared to France's 1.
Which navy has more destroyers, France or Italy?
France operates 10 destroyers compared to Italy's 3.
Which navy has more frigates, France or Italy?
France operates 16 frigates compared to Italy's 10.
How do the France and Italy navies compare in size?
Italy's navy is 1.8 times larger than France's in terms of total ships (314 vs 175).