Historically, France was used to be the most populous nation in Western Europe, but the title of being the most populous has been lost due to the costly wars that France had participated (Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World War I, and World War II). While French population although growing but slowly in relative to Germany, German population booms at the 19th century due to the industrialization and their victory over the French in Franco-Prussian War of 1871.
France has huge advantage to have higher population over Germany.
First, French agriculture is far more developed than the neighbors.
Second, it has a larger area (excluding the French colonies).
Third, it has better climate and geography than Germany, Great Britain, Italy, or Spain.
Fourth, France (French nation is one country after the 100 years war over Britain) is far united than Germany (German nation today is still three countries, Germany (Prussia and Bavaria), Austria (Hapburgs), and Switzerland (German speaking areas).
The best TL to get France into a 120 million population in 2010 is to butterfly away the French Revolution at all.
France has huge advantage to have higher population over Germany.
First, French agriculture is far more developed than the neighbors.
Second, it has a larger area (excluding the French colonies).
Third, it has better climate and geography than Germany, Great Britain, Italy, or Spain.
Fourth, France (French nation is one country after the 100 years war over Britain) is far united than Germany (German nation today is still three countries, Germany (Prussia and Bavaria), Austria (Hapburgs), and Switzerland (German speaking areas).
The best TL to get France into a 120 million population in 2010 is to butterfly away the French Revolution at all.