Sustainable development describes the processes by which long-term economic well-being and quality of life are improved without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It takes into account three dimensions: economic, environmental and social. The performance of countries on these three dimensions is highly disparate, and can be measured by a number of indicators that enable them to be compared relatively objectively. We wanted to compare France and Germany, two long-standing trading partners and geographical neighbors. France is a country often considered to place great importance on the social protection of individuals and Germany a leading country in environmental protection. The aim of this study is not only to check these perceptions objectively, but also to assess whether citizens' sustainable development literacy is linked to their country's performance in this area. Our study focused on generation Z people, that often considered to be the most interested in sustainable development.