France Population

France is one of Europe’s largest and richest countries, and plays an important role in the European Union. The country has a very high standard of living, but has struggled financially since the early 2010’s.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Paris
• Ethnic groups: Celts and Latinos with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese and Basque minorities
• Language: French (official) 100%, regional dialects
• Religion: Christians (mainly Catholics) 63-66%, Muslims 7-9%, Buddhists 1%, Jews 1%, others 1% none 23-28% (2015)
• Population: 65 233 271 (2018)
• Control Form: Republic
• Area: 549 091 km²
• Currency: euro
• GNP per capita: 41 343 PPP $
• National Day: July 14th

Population of France

The population of France is at 66 892 205 (2016). France has a very complex population, with large ethnic minorities. The country has been characterized by greater immigration than most neighboring countries, including from former French colonies, not least from North Africa.

The vast majority live in cities, not least in the most industrial parts of the country. About 20 percent of the population lives in and around Paris. Several of the largest French cities have suburbs characterized by de-industrialization and poverty, which is a major source of social unrest.

Life expectancy is 85.3 years for women and 78.9 years for men (2018).

Population of France by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	65,273,400	0.220%	119.2086	22
2019	65,129,617	0.210%	118.9460	22
2018	64,990,400	0.230%	118.6918	22
2017	64,842,398	0.270%	118.4215	22
2016	64,667,485	0.330%	118.1020	22
2015	64,453,089	0.500%	117.7105	22
2010	62,879,419	0.570%	114.8365	22
2005	61,120,016	0.700%	111.6233	20
2000	59,014,985	0.420%	107.7789	20
1995	57,801,781	0.400%	105.5632	20
1990	56,666,738	0.510%	103.4903	17
1985	55,254,737	0.510%	100.9116	16
1980	53,867,898	0.440%	98.3788	16
1975	52,688,465	0.750%	96.2248	15
1970	50,763,809	0.810%	92.7098	15
1965	48,746,541	1.310%	89.0257	14
1960	45,673,035	1.020%	83.4126	12
1955	43,411,256	0.740%	79.2819	11
1950	41,833,771	0.000%	76.4010	11

Major Cities in France by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Paris	2,138,440
2	Marseille	794,700
3	Lyon	472,206
4	Toulouse	432,944
5	Nice	338,509
6	Nantes	277,158
7	Strasbourg	274,734
8	Montpellier	248,141
9	Bordeaux	231,733
10	Lille	228,217
11	Rennes	209,264
12	Reims	196,454
13	Le Havre	185,861
14	Cergy-Pontoise	183,319
15	Saint-Etienne	176,169
16	Toulon	168,590
17	Angers	168,168
18	Grenoble	158,441
19	Dijon	149,671
20	Nimes	148,125
21	Aix-en-Provence	146,710
22	Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines	146,487
23	Brest	144,788
24	Le Mans	144,404
25	Amiens	142,975
26	Tours	141,510
27	Limoges	141,065
28	Clermont-Ferrand	138,570
29	Villeurbanne	131,334
30	Besancon	128,315
31	Orleans	124,038
32	Metz	123,803
33	Rouen	112,676
34	Mulhouse	111,319
35	Perpignan	110,595
36	Caen	110,513
37	Boulogne-Billancourt	108,671
38	Nancy	105,223
39	Argenteuil	101,364
40	Saint-Denis	96,017
41	Roubaix	95,610
42	Tourcoing	91,463
43	Montreuil	90,541
44	Avignon	89,658
45	Marseille 13	89,205
46	Asnieres-sur-Seine	86,631
47	Nanterre	86,608
48	Poitiers	85,849
49	Versailles	85,305
50	Courbevoie	85,047
51	Creteil	84,722
52	Pau	82,586
53	Colombes	82,189
54	Vitry-sur-Seine	80,890
55	Aulnay-sous-Bois	80,504
56	Marseille 08	78,726
57	Marseille 15	77,659
58	Marseille 09	76,757
59	La Rochelle	76,699
60	Champigny-sur-Marne	76,615
61	Rueil-Malmaison	76,505
62	Antibes	76,282
63	Saint-Maur-des-Fosses	75,291
64	Calais	74,322
65	Beziers	73,970
66	Dunkerque	71,176
67	Aubervilliers	70,803
68	Cannes	69,900
69	Merignac	69,680
70	Bourges	67,876
71	Saint-Nazaire	66,943
72	Colmar	65,294
73	Valence	63,753
74	Quimper	63,738
75	Drancy	62,377
76	Noisy-le-Grand	62,309
77	Villeneuve-d’Ascq	62,289
78	La Seyne-sur-Mer	62,219
79	Levallois-Perret	62,067
80	Marseille 14	61,809
81	Chambery	61,529
82	Issy-les-Moulineaux	61,336
83	Neuilly-sur-Seine	61,189
84	Troyes	60,674
85	Antony	59,734
86	La Roche-sur-Yon	59,299
87	Marseille 12	58,623
88	Lorient	58,001
89	Sarcelles	57,868
90	Pessac	57,833
91	Ivry-sur-Seine	57,786
92	Evreux	57,684
93	Venissieux	57,473
94	Cergy	57,465
95	Clichy	57,356
96	Marseille 11	56,681
97	Saint-Quentin	55,296
98	Niort	54,549
99	Belfort	54,451
100	Ajaccio	54,253
101	Vannes	53,909
102	Sartrouville	53,869
103	Maisons-Alfort	53,853
104	Meaux	53,700
105	Blois	53,549
106	Brive-la-Gaillarde	53,355
107	Arles	53,320
108	Beauvais	53,282
109	Chateauroux	53,190
110	Cholet	53,049
111	Frejus	52,987
112	Pantin	52,811
113	Saint-Brieuc	52,663
114	Montauban	52,323
115	Charleville-Mezieres	52,304
116	Albi	52,298
117	Tarbes	51,995
118	Fontenay-sous-Bois	51,964
119	Evry	51,789
120	Clamart	51,289
121	Marseille 10	51,188
122	Chalons-en-Champagne	51,146
123	Narbonne	50,665
124	Saint-Malo	50,565
125	Laval	50,378
126	Hyeres	50,376
127	Carcassonne	49,489
128	Angouleme	49,357
129	Annecy	49,121
130	Bondy	48,157
131	Le Blanc-Mesnil	47,966
132	Villejuif	47,937
133	Grasse	47,470
134	Sevran	47,223
135	Castres	47,164
136	Chalon-sur-Saone	47,140
137	Marseille 04	47,082
138	Arras	46,941
139	Boulogne-sur-Mer	46,902
140	Chelles	46,836
141	Cagnes-sur-Mer	46,812
142	Saint-Herblain	46,787
143	Douai	46,420
144	Epinay-sur-Seine	46,034
145	Vincennes	45,812
146	Martigues	45,638
147	Marseille 03	45,303
148	Bourg-en-Bresse	45,229
149	Bobigny	44,851
150	Montlucon	44,849
151	Aubagne	44,733
152	Valenciennes	44,710
153	Suresnes	44,586
154	Meudon	44,541
155	Marseille 05	44,472
156	Bayonne	44,285
157	Istres	44,262
158	Thionville	44,200
159	Mantes-la-Jolie	44,152
160	Compiegne	44,132
161	Nevers	43,877
162	Chartres	43,727
163	Marseille 06	43,249
164	Le Cannet	43,242
165	Wattrelos	42,715
166	Caluire-et-Cuire	42,652
167	Gap	42,604
168	Talence	42,468
169	Ales	42,299
170	Gennevilliers	42,183
171	Saint-Priest	41,530
172	Rosny-sous-Bois	41,516
173	Auxerre	41,405
174	Salon-de-Provence	41,286
175	Saint-Germain-en-Laye	41,031
176	Bastia	40,890
177	Marseille 01	40,808
178	Sete	40,625
179	Anglet	40,547
180	Puteaux	40,535
181	Corbeil-Essonnes	40,416
182	Garges-les-Gonesse	39,736
183	Roanne	39,729
184	Savigny-sur-Orge	39,587
185	Epinal	39,407
186	Livry-Gargan	39,407
187	Saint-Ouen	39,242
188	Reze	39,137
189	Montigny-le-Bretonneux	38,952
190	Noisy-le-Sec	38,844
191	Melun	38,842
192	Bagneux	38,789
193	Massy	38,657
194	Haguenau	38,610
195	Montrouge	38,597
196	Marcq-en-Baroeul	38,518
197	Vitrolles	38,480
198	Draguignan	38,462
199	Lens	38,154
200	Gagny	38,023
201	Saint-Chamond	37,903
202	Bron	37,714
203	Vaulx-en-Velin	37,378
204	Joue-les-Tours	37,355
205	Alfortville	37,179
206	La Courneuve	37,176
207	Chatellerault	37,099
208	Villepinte	37,003
209	Cambrai	36,381
210	Poissy	36,320
211	Conflans-Sainte-Honorine	36,247
212	Mont-de-Marsan	36,094
213	Plaisir	36,010
214	Marseille 07	35,870
215	Marignane	35,762
216	Dieppe	35,596
217	Montelimar	35,526
218	Tremblay-en-France	35,480
219	Choisy-le-Roi	35,479
220	Saint-Martin-d’Heres	35,417
221	Macon	35,373
222	Romans-sur-Isere	34,891
223	Saint-Raphael	34,807
224	Pontault-Combault	34,687
225	Six-Fours-les-Plages	34,668
226	Perigueux	34,659
227	Aurillac	34,613
228	Neuilly-sur-Marne	34,354
229	Lievin	34,259
230	Agen	34,256
231	Franconville	34,173
232	Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois	33,578
233	Maubeuge	33,573
234	Bagnolet	33,393
235	Saumur	33,118
236	Biarritz	33,077
237	La Ciotat	33,002
238	Echirolles	32,977
239	Villefranche-sur-Saone	32,883
240	Chatenay-Malabry	32,604
241	Stains	32,490
242	Chatillon	32,272
243	Vienne	32,182
244	Schiltigheim	32,178
245	Les Mureaux	32,023
246	Le Perreux-sur-Marne	31,904
247	Guyancourt	31,878
248	Palaiseau	31,876
249	Saint-Dizier	31,807
250	Creil	31,752
251	Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy	31,674
252	Thonon-les-Bains	31,573
253	Bethune	31,457
254	Colomiers	31,252
255	Nogent-sur-Marne	31,125
256	Athis-Mons	31,114
257	Viry-Chatillon	31,020
258	Houilles	31,010
259	Soissons	30,989
260	Dreux	30,947
261	Charenton-le-Pont	30,799
262	Villeneuve-Saint-Georges	30,770
263	Elancourt	30,720
264	Alencon	30,675
265	Sotteville-les-Rouen	30,508
266	Orange	30,419
267	Villenave-d’Ornon	30,236
268	Pontoise	30,179
269	Villiers-sur-Marne	30,141
270	Chatou	29,980
271	Goussainville	29,936
272	Lomme	29,781
273	Vierzon	29,765
274	Saint-Medard-en-Jalles	29,631
275	Thiais	29,613
276	Carpentras	29,598
277	L’Hay-les-Roses	29,592
278	Menton	29,538
279	Saint-Laurent-du-Var	29,405
280	Saintes	29,401
281	Rochefort	29,316
282	Malakoff	29,309
283	Draveil	29,205
284	Saint-Leu	29,167
285	Saint-Sebastien-sur-Loire	29,127
286	Le Chesnay	29,043
287	Tournefeuille	29,013
288	Clichy-sous-Bois	28,951
289	Chaumont	28,870
290	Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray	28,842
291	Meyzieu	28,818
292	Yerres	28,786
293	Montbeliard	28,754
294	Saint-Cloud	28,728
295	Sens	28,589
296	Laon	28,577
297	Lambersart	28,502
298	Trappes	28,256
299	Rodez	28,226
300	Bergerac	28,206
301	Annemasse	28,164
302	La Garde	28,146
303	Ermont	28,006
304	Rillieux-la-Pape	27,965
305	Villemomble	27,890
306	Pierrefitte-sur-Seine	27,803
307	Le Kremlin-Bicetre	27,756
308	Champs-sur-Marne	27,665
309	Aix-les-Bains	27,540
310	Bezons	27,459
311	Vallauris	27,175
312	Taverny	27,160
313	Illkirch-Graffenstaden	27,150
314	La Teste-de-Buch	27,142
315	Epernay	26,971
316	Villiers-le-Bel	26,917
317	Vichy	26,908
318	Sannois	26,758
319	Gonesse	26,647
320	Vigneux-sur-Seine	26,581
321	Cavaillon	26,578
322	Rambouillet	26,563
323	Cherbourg-Octeville	26,544
324	Armentieres	26,535
325	Lunel	26,477
326	Cachan	26,429
327	Le Grand-Quevilly	26,411
328	Abbeville	26,350
329	La Garenne-Colombes	26,274
330	Montigny-les-Metz	26,258
331	Vanves	25,957
332	Vernon	25,926
333	Savigny-le-Temple	25,814
334	Dole	25,767
335	Villeneuve-sur-Lot	25,758
336	Les Ulis	25,674
337	Marseille 02	25,668
338	Oyonnax	25,586
339	Oullins	25,481
340	Le Creusot	25,479
341	Henin-Beaumont	25,260
342	Orvault	25,227
343	Coudekerque-Branche	25,090
344	Herblay	25,042
345	Ris-Orangis	24,971
346	Sucy-en-Brie	24,903
347	Grigny	24,829
348	Fresnes	24,692
349	Bourgoin	24,679
350	Romainville	24,661
351	Fontenay-aux-Roses	24,569
352	Decines-Charpieu	24,563
353	Saint-Die-des-Vosges	24,517
354	Fontaine	24,477
355	Auch	24,383
356	Bruay-la-Buissiere	24,363
357	Lisieux	24,362
358	Sarreguemines	24,335
359	Torcy	24,275
360	Gradignan	24,274
361	Lanester	24,241
362	Bretigny-sur-Orge	24,206
363	Muret	24,202
364	Bois-Colombes	24,189
365	Blagnac	24,152
366	Herouville-Saint-Clair	24,147
367	Libourne	24,129
368	Le Bouscat	24,121
369	Miramas	24,062
370	Beaune	24,051
371	Brunoy	23,985
372	Eaubonne	23,985
373	Villeparisis	23,820
374	Montfermeil	23,718
375	Sevres	23,613
376	Fougeres	23,608
377	Saint-Pol-sur-Mer	23,524
378	La Madeleine	23,461
379	Gif-sur-Yvette	23,430
380	Bourgoin-Jallieu	23,406
381	Begles	23,393
382	Cahors	23,220
383	Hazebrouck	23,196
384	Millau	23,196
385	Grande-Synthe	23,102
386	La Valette-du-Var	23,023
387	Moulins	22,984
388	Mont-Saint-Aignan	22,967
389	Etampes	22,901
390	Mons-en-Baroeul	22,895
391	Agde	22,890
392	Saint-Ouen-l’Aumone	22,866
393	Vertou	22,810
394	Montgeron	22,732
395	Maisons-Laffitte	22,661
396	Le Puy-en-Velay	22,607
397	Le Petit-Quevilly	22,580
398	Lormont	22,525
399	Olivet	22,493
400	Acheres	22,444

Population growth and fertility

In 2012, population growth in France was 251,000. This is the slowest growth in ten years. The number of births (822,000) was stable, but the death rate was far higher than the previous year, with 571,000 deaths.

Fertility has been stable since 2008, after increasing from 2002. It now stands at 2.01 children per woman (2012). Within the EU, only Ireland has a higher fertility rate, with 2.05 children per woman in 2011. After Ireland and France, the UK follows a fertility rate of 1.97 in 2011. Average age at birth has increased steadily in France, and in 2012 reached 30.1 years.

Increases also make the average age at the start of the first marriage, which in 2012 was 31.9 years for men and 30.1 years for women. The number of marriages was estimated at 241,000 for 2012, which was the first year with a significant increase, after many years of decline.

Population density and settlement pattern

The average population density is about 119 residents per square kilometer (2017); this is lower than in neighboring countries (except Spain). There are major regional differences. Most densely populated are the most industrialized areas, where a large proportion of the population of cities is found, as well as the large, fertile river valleys and the pronounced wine districts.

About 20 percent of the population lives in and around Paris; otherwise in the areas around the mouth of the Seine (the region of Haute-Normandie), the industrial areas to the north (Nord-Pas-de-Calais) and northeast along the border with Belgium and Germany (Alsace) and the Côte d’Azur in the south, and around the major urban areas such as Lyon and Marseille (Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) as well as Bordeaux (Aquitaine) and parts of the Loire Valley (Pays de la Loire).

The thinner populated areas include large areas in the middle of the country, including Burgundy, Limousin and Auvergne as well as the Pyrenees and Corsica. Several of the rich agricultural areas of the Paris basin, such as Champagne, Beauce and Brie, have long had a large relocation to the Paris area. The regions of Auvergne, Limousin and Lorraine have seen a steady decline in the population since the 1980s.

Population trends

France was around 1800 and hence Europe’s most populous country after Russia. In 1801, the population was 28.2 million (within the current limits). However, during the 19th century, population growth was very low. While the population in Europe was multiplied elsewhere, France increased by less than 50 percent. Migration to other parts of the world was also low. Only half a million emigrated to America (1846–1930), a period when there was significant emigration across the Atlantic elsewhere in Europe.

The low natural population growth (born ÷ dead) was only partially offset by the fact that France was Europe’s only major immigration country in the first half of the 20th century. From about 1911, the population began to decline in absolute terms, and France’s significant losses during the First World War had long-lasting effects. Only in 1950 did France reach the level from 1911 (just under 42 million at current limits).

Birth rates increased significantly after the Second World War, not least as a result of the state’s targeted population policy, but also as a result of increased immigration from countries that have traditionally had higher birth rates. Parallel to this trend came a reduction in mortality, and population growth rose to the same level as in the other Western European countries – and was somewhat higher at times.

Since the 1990s, immigration has declined and is largely offset by emigration. In the last thirty years, the population has increased by almost 9.7 million, an increase of 17.3 percent.

Second most populous EU country

13% of EU citizens lived in France on 1 January 2012. Of the EU countries, only Germany is more populous than France, with 16.2 percent of the EU population. After Germany and France, Britain and Italy follow as the most populous in the EU. In ten years, the population in Germany has decreased by 0.7 percent, while it has increased by 6.5 percent in France, 12.1 percent in Italy and 12.5 percent in the United Kingdom.

Immigration and ethnic issues

Immigration to France increased already in the interwar period. In particular, many Italians came to the southern parts and Poles to the northern parts of the country. In addition, many Russian, Spanish and other refugees came.

A special feature of the Second World War was the immigration from the former colonies, as well as the return of French citizens from here, especially from Algeria, which became independent in 1962.

Furthermore, there has been great immigration from the French overseas territories and from Southeast Asia and West Africa. About 10 percent of the country’s residents are first- or second-generation immigrants. The largest groups come from the Maghreb countries in North Africa, Portugal and Spain.

Largest urban areas

Location	Residents
Paris	12 405 426 (2014)
Lyon	2 291 763 (2015)
Marseille-Aix-en-Provence	1 876 019 (2016)
Little	1 182 127 (2014)
Toulouse	1 312 304 (2014)
Bordeaux	1 196 122 (2014)
Nice	1 004 826 (2013)
Nantes	873 133 (2010)
Strasbourg	773 447 (2014)
Rennes	671 845 (2010)
Grenoble	690 548 (2014)
Rouen	663 070 (2015)
Toulon	606 947 (2010)
Montpellier	549 491 (2010)