Share of urban population who live in the largest city in France
France: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 22.8% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in France, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of urban population who live in the largest city in France stood at 22.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in France peaked at 23.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 1950.
That places France 103rd out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.1% | 21.9% | 22.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 22.4% | 22.3% | 22.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 22.4% | 22.3% | 22.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 22.2% | 22.1% | 22.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 22.5% | 22.5% | 22.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 22.6% | 22.5% | 22.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.9% | 22.9% | 23.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 22.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 1 |
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 urban population who live in the largest city in France?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in France was 22.8% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 23.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 1950.
- How does France rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- France ranks 103rd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.