Urban and rural population in France
France: Urban and rural population was 52.55 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
52.55 million
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
17th
of 236 countries
All-time high
52.55 million
in 2025
All-time low
22.91 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in France, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in France stood at 52.55 million. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in France peaked at 52.55 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 22.91 million, in 1950.
That places France 17th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban and rural population in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 22.91 million | — |
| 1951 | 23.44 million | +2.3% |
| 1952 | 23.98 million | +2.3% |
| 1953 | 24.53 million | +2.3% |
| 1954 | 25.07 million | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 25.61 million | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 26.17 million | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 26.75 million | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 27.35 million | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 27.98 million | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 28.64 million | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 29.32 million | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 30.05 million | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 30.88 million | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 31.82 million | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 32.77 million | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 33.65 million | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 34.43 million | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 35.05 million | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 35.64 million | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 36.26 million | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 36.87 million | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 37.42 million | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 37.90 million | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 38.27 million | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 38.51 million | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 38.70 million | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 38.91 million | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 39.10 million | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 39.29 million | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 39.51 million | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 39.77 million | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 40.04 million | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 40.30 million | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 40.55 million | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 40.80 million | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 41.06 million | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 41.33 million | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 41.61 million | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 41.91 million | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 42.21 million | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 42.51 million | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 42.82 million | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 43.13 million | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 43.41 million | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 43.70 million | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 44.00 million | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 44.29 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 44.61 million | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 45.00 million | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 45.51 million | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 46.07 million | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 46.61 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 47.06 million | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 47.40 million | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 47.72 million | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 47.99 million | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 48.23 million | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 48.44 million | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 48.66 million | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 48.89 million | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 49.15 million | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 49.43 million | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 49.74 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 50.04 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 50.48 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 51.16 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 51.34 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 51.55 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 51.72 million | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 51.88 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 52.03 million | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 52.20 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 52.34 million | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 52.44 million | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 52.55 million | +0.2% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 52.55 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 23.6× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- France's 52.55 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.89 million, 13.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 25.38 million | 22.91 million | 27.98 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 32.23 million | 28.64 million | 35.64 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 38.12 million | 36.26 million | 39.29 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.69 million | 39.51 million | 41.91 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 43.57 million | 42.21 million | 45.00 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.37 million | 45.51 million | 48.66 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.35 million | 48.89 million | 51.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.24 million | 51.88 million | 52.55 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 14 Philippines 65.14 million compare
- 15 Bangladesh 58.40 million compare
- 16 United Kingdom 57.95 million compare
- 18 Democratic Republic of Congo 50.90 million compare
- 19 Egypt 50.78 million compare
- 20 Thailand 44.98 million compare
More population data for France
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1885 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 65,827 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1504 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1075 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.033 (2100)
- Population density 125.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.16 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in France?
- Urban and rural population in France was 52.55 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 52.55 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.91 million in 1950.
- How does France rank for urban and rural population?
- France ranks 17th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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