Share of population living in the capital city in France
France: Share of population living in the capital city was 14.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in the capital city in France, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in the capital city in France is 14.2%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in France peaked at 14.3% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 1950.
France ranks 101st of 170 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in the capital city in France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.8% | — |
| 1955 | 13.2% | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 13.7% | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 13.7% | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 13.9% | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 14.1% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 13.9% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 13.9% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 14.1% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 14.1% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 14.1% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 14.2% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 14.2% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 14.3% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 14.2% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.0% | 12.8% | 13.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 13.7% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 14.0% | 13.9% | 14.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 13.9% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 14.1% | 14.1% | 14.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.2% | 14.1% | 14.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.3% | 14.2% | 14.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.2% | 14.2% | 14.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near France
More population data for France
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1885 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.58 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1075 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1504 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in the capital city in France?
- Share of population living in the capital city in France was 14.2% 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 population living in the capital city recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 14.3% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 1950.
- How does France rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- France ranks 101st out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.