Share of population living in urbanized areas in France
France: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 88.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urbanized areas in France, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
France recorded 88.3% for share of population living in urbanized areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in France peaked at 88.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 1000.
France ranks 30th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1100s | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 1 |
| 1200s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1 |
| 1300s | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 1 |
| 1400s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
| 1600s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1700s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 1 |
| 1720s | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 1 |
| 1730s | 12.8% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 14.7% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 1 |
| 1750s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 1 |
| 1760s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1 |
| 1770s | 20.5% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 1 |
| 1780s | 22.4% | 22.4% | 22.4% | 1 |
| 1790s | 24.3% | 24.3% | 24.3% | 1 |
| 1800s | 26.3% | 26.3% | 26.3% | 1 |
| 1810s | 28.2% | 28.2% | 28.2% | 1 |
| 1820s | 30.1% | 30.1% | 30.1% | 1 |
| 1830s | 32.0% | 32.0% | 32.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 34.0% | 34.0% | 34.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 35.9% | 35.9% | 35.9% | 1 |
| 1860s | 37.8% | 37.8% | 37.8% | 1 |
| 1870s | 39.8% | 39.8% | 39.8% | 1 |
| 1880s | 41.7% | 41.7% | 41.7% | 1 |
| 1890s | 43.6% | 43.6% | 43.6% | 1 |
| 1900s | 45.5% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 1 |
| 1910s | 47.5% | 47.5% | 47.5% | 1 |
| 1920s | 49.4% | 49.4% | 49.4% | 1 |
| 1930s | 51.3% | 51.3% | 51.3% | 1 |
| 1940s | 53.2% | 53.2% | 53.2% | 1 |
| 1950s | 57.8% | 55.1% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 66.2% | 61.6% | 70.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 72.5% | 70.9% | 73.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 73.7% | 73.3% | 74.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 74.9% | 74.2% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.0% | 75.8% | 84.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.2% | 85.2% | 87.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 87.9% | 87.4% | 88.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More population data for France
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.16 million people (2100)
- Population density 125.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.61 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 721,771 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.61 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.61 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.64 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in France?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in France was 88.3% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 88.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 1000.
- How does France rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- France ranks 30th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.