Urban population growth has been constant for several decades in France. Between 1960 and 2023, it rose from 61.88 percent to 81.78 percent. The phenomenon of urbanization was more significant in the 1960s. Indeed, over this period, the rate of the French population living in cities increased by 10 points. The evolution was more weighted over the next 50 years, rising from 71.06 percent in 1970 to 80.98 percent in 2020.An increase in urbanization was accompanied over the same period by a sharp rise in the overall French population, from 55.57 million inhabitants in 1982 to around 68 million in 2024. Paris, an urban giant in France Like in the United Kingdom, the French-style centralized system has led to a high concentration of population around economic, financial, cultural and political centers, all located in the British and French capitals. London and Paris (and its conurbation) are among the largest urban centers on the continent, with Moscow being the most populous. This centralization of power has led to a very heterogenous distribution of population density. The Paris region has a density of more than 1000 inhabitants per km², which is ten times higher than the Haut-de-France region, the second densest region in Metropolitan France.This centralization of power attracts a strong French and foreign workforce. The French capital is by far the most populated city in France. If solely the municipality of Paris is taken into account, it had more than 2 million inhabitants in 2019, which is more than twice as many as in Marseille and four times as many as in Lyon, the country's second and third most populous cities. Future challenges for French cities Access to employment is no longer the only reason to settle in a town. Other factors come into play in the life choices of city dwellers. In 2019, more than 90% of the French estimated that the presence of green areas was important to settle or not in a district. The pollution level of the city was also considered in the choice of the city. In order to address these pollution problems, municipalities must resolve transportation issues on their own territory. Previously the king of the town, the car is increasingly losing ground to public transport in urban areas. Cities like Paris are relying more on public transport. Between 2011 and 2016, RATP and SNCF have built more than 60 kilometers of tramway tracks . Moreover, the construction of additional train and metro lines in the Grand Paris project aimed at better connecting the suburbs to each other without passing through intramural Paris.Making it easier to travel by bicycle is one of the options chosen by many conurbations to relieve congestion in their cities. Since the early 2000s, self-service bicycles have been a great success in France with more than 2400 bicycles available in Toulouse or 4000 in Lyon in 2017. A source of much tension between motorists, municipalities and cyclists, the sharing of the road between 4 and 2 wheelers has, however, been widely developed. In Strasbourg, for example, the municipality had around 1.04 metres of cycle lanes per inhabitant in 2017, the highest rate in France. However, the layout of cycle paths can be perilous and a majority of cyclists in France still feel unsafe on the road.

In 2025, the Ile-de-France region, sometimes called the Paris region, was the most populous in France. It is located in the northern part of France, divided into eight departments and crossed by the Seine River. The region contains Paris, its large suburbs, and several rural areas. The total population in metropolitan France was estimated at around ** million inhabitants. In the DOM (Overseas Department), France had more than *** million citizens spread over the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, and the South American territory of French Guiana. Ile-de-France: the most populous region in France According to the source, more than ** million French citizens lived in the Ile-de-France region. Ile-de-France was followed by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie region which is in the Southern part of the country. Ile-de-France is not only the most populated region in France, it is also the French region with the highest population density. In 2020, there were ******* residents per square kilometer in Ile-de-France compared to ***** for Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the second most populated region in France. More than two million people were living in the city of Paris in 2025. Thus, the metropolitan area outside the city of Paris, called the suburbs or banlieue in French, had more than ten million inhabitants. Ile-de-France concentrates the majority of the country’s economic and political activities. An urban population In 2024, the total population of France amounted to over 68 million. The population in the country has increased since the mid-2000s. As well as the other European countries, France is experiencing urbanization. In 2023, more than ** percent of the French population lived in cities. This phenomenon shapes France’s geography.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Paris, France metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Population: Metropolitan France data was reported at 65,095.000 Person th in Jul 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 65,072.000 Person th for Jun 2018. Population: Metropolitan France data is updated monthly, averaging 58,074.000 Person th from Jan 1975 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 523 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 65,095.000 Person th in Jul 2018 and a record low of 52,600.000 Person th in Jan 1975. Population: Metropolitan France data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.G001: Population .

France FR: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data was reported at 20.512 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 20.490 % for 2016. France FR: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 21.394 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.582 % in 1960 and a record low of 20.472 % in 2014. France FR: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; Weighted Average;

France FR: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 0.715 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.728 % for 2016. France FR: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 0.808 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.304 % in 1963 and a record low of 0.313 % in 1991. France FR: Urban Population Growth 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. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Tours, France metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Actual value and historical data chart for France Urban Population Percent Of Total

Urban population in France was reported at 56213841 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. France - Urban population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

The share of urban population in France stood at 81.78 percent in 2023. In a steady upward trend, the share rose by 19.9 percentage points from 1960.

France FR: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million data was reported at 15,165,467.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 15,087,034.000 Person for 2016. France FR: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million data is updated yearly, averaging 12,978,084.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,165,467.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 10,058,209.000 Person in 1960. France FR: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million 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. Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; ;

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Lyon, France metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Actual value and historical data chart for France Population In The Largest City Percent Of Urban Population

This statistic shows the ten largest cities in France as of 2022. In 2022, around 2.11 million people lived in Paris, making it the largest city in France.

Data on English spoken at home by French spoken at home, Indigenous language spoken at home, other non-official language spoken at home, mother tongue, age and gender for the population excluding institutional residents for Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Toulouse, France metro area from 1950 to 2025.

France FR: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 80.180 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 79.917 % for 2016. France FR: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 73.912 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80.180 % in 2017 and a record low of 61.880 % in 1960. France FR: Urban 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2024, the rural population in France reached 17.96 percent of the total. In 2023, Europe was ranked the 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 seem 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.

French Polynesia PF: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 61.784 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 61.734 % for 2016. French Polynesia PF: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 57.676 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61.784 % in 2017 and a record low of 42.281 % in 1960. French Polynesia PF: Urban Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s French Polynesia – Table PF.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Valenciennes, France metro area from 1950 to 2025.