In 2022, the rural population in France reached 18.49 percent of the total. Although the rate is very high, France has an urbanization rate equivalent to its European neighbors. In 2023, Europe was ranked third continent worldwide in terms of degree of urbanization. 75 percent of the European population was living in cities in 2023, but this figure is expected to decrease by 2050. In France, studies have shown that most of the population lives in urban areas, but many French citizens seemed to aspire to live in the countryside. France: an urban country From 2006 to 2020, the share of French residents living in rural areas kept decreasing, going from roughly 22.6 percent in 2006 to slightly more than 19 percent in 2020. According to Insee, a municipality is rural when it does not reach the threshold of 2,000 inhabitants. In France, more than 13 million individuals were living in the countryside in 2016. In comparison, the urban population amounted to 53 million people that same year and reached more than 80 percent of the total in 2022. The advantages of the countryside A survey conducted by Ifop in 2018 showed that 41 percent of French people wanted to live in a rural town. Despite common beliefs, the countryside appears to have a lot to offer. In addition to a more pleasant living environment, the employment situation seems to be more advantageous in French rural areas. In 2020, the percentage of unemployed people reached 5.5 percent in rural areas, compared to less than nine percent in cities. Similarly, the percentage of labor force participants is higher in rural areas.

Rural population (% of total population) in France was reported at 18.22 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. France - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Historical chart and dataset showing France rural population by year from 1960 to 2023.

This statistic shows the percentage of people in employment in France between 2014 and 2021, by geographical area. During the period studied, the employment rate grew by more than four points in rural areas, whereas it remained pretty stable in urban areas. The share of employed people was higher in rural areas (69.8 percent in 2020) than in urban areas (64 percent the same year).

Rural population in France was reported at 12444029 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. France - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

France FR: Rural Land Area Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters data was reported at 5,705.210 sq km in 2010. This stayed constant from the previous number of 5,705.210 sq km for 2000. France FR: Rural Land Area Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters data is updated yearly, averaging 5,705.210 sq km from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,705.210 sq km in 2010 and a record low of 5,705.210 sq km in 2010. France FR: Rural Land Area Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.World Bank.WDI: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Rural land area below 5m is the total rural land area in square kilometers where the elevation is 5 meters or less.; ; Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.; Sum;

Looking at the gatronomy and accomodation sector in France in 2018, a number of people had expressed their desires to increase or broaden the service of rural areas when it cames to cafés, hotels and restaurants. Thus, a point of sale for local products was the most desired with a 88 percent majority of respondents. A free Wi-Fi terminal was the second most wanted feature with one percent less of respondent share.

France FR: Rural Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters: % of Total Population data was reported at 0.737 % in 2010. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.799 % for 2000. France FR: Rural Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.799 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.802 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.737 % in 2010. France FR: Rural Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.World Bank: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Rural population below 5m is the percentage of the total population, living in areas where the elevation is 5 meters or less.; ; Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.; Weighted average;

Forecast: Average Number of Rooms Per Person in Rural Areas in France 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Due to the nature of the activity, hunting and hunting associations are mostly present in rural areas. In France, there are nearly 70,000 local hunting associations for 35,000 municipalities. When asked whether they thought hunting helped maintain social links between generations and in rural areas, over 50 percent of French people answered in the affirmative. On the other hand, while 13 percent of respondents declared they did not know, 30 percent did not agree with this idea.

France - Number of bed-places: Rural areas was 2852001.00 in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Number of bed-places: Rural areas - last updated from the EUROSTAT on June of 2025. Historically, France - Number of bed-places: Rural areas reached a record high of 2905352.00 in December of 2015 and a record low of 2828383.00 in December of 2012.

This statistic shows the size of the urban and rural populations of France between 2000 and 2021. It appears that over the years recorded here, the urban population of France has increased by approximately eight million people, while the rural population has declined.

France Motor Vehicle Ownership: HH: Location: Rural Areas data was reported at 94.500 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 94.400 % for 2015. France Motor Vehicle Ownership: HH: Location: Rural Areas data is updated yearly, averaging 92.900 % from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2017, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.800 % in 2012 and a record low of 88.300 % in 2003. France Motor Vehicle Ownership: HH: Location: Rural Areas data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by French Automobile Manufacturers Committee . The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.TA004: Motor Vehicle Ownership per Household.

France - Gender employment gap: Rural areas was 4.60% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Gender employment gap: Rural areas - last updated from the EUROSTAT on June of 2025. Historically, France - Gender employment gap: Rural areas reached a record high of 13.90% in December of 2006 and a record low of 4.10% in December of 2023.

France FR: Rural Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 19.820 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 20.083 % for 2016. France FR: Rural Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 26.087 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38.120 % in 1960 and a record low of 19.820 % in 2017. France FR: Rural Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

This statistic shows the percentage of unemployed people in France between 2014 and 2020, by geographical area. During the period studied, the unemployment rate in rural areas decreased overall. In urban areas, the unemployment rate went from 11.3 percent in 2014 to 8.8 percent in 2020.

French Polynesia rural population for 2023 was 106,015, a 0.05% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>French Polynesia rural population for 2022 was <strong>106,067</strong>, a <strong>0.07% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>French Polynesia rural population for 2021 was <strong>106,136</strong>, a <strong>0.03% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>French Polynesia rural population for 2020 was <strong>106,169</strong>, a <strong>0.14% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

This scatter chart displays land area (km²) against rural land area (km²) in France. The data is about countries per year.

The share of town and suburban households with internet access in France stood at approximately 93.85 percent in 2024. Between 2004 and 2024, the share rose by around 67.63 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

France - Median of the housing cost burden distribution: Rural areas was 9.90% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Median of the housing cost burden distribution: Rural areas - last updated from the EUROSTAT on June of 2025. Historically, France - Median of the housing cost burden distribution: Rural areas reached a record high of 11.00% in December of 2009 and a record low of 9.40% in December of 2020.