France: population density

The population density in France is unevenly distributed. The country, which enjoys a great variety of regions and landscapes, is becoming more and more urbanized and big cities concentrate economic activities.

Ile-de-France and overseas region: most densely populated French regions

In 2020, Ile-de-France was the French region with the highest population density. According to the source, there were 1,021.6 residents per square kilometer in Ile-de-France. In 2023, more than 12.35 million people lived in this region which contains the city of Paris and its greater suburbs. The overseas regions such as Guadeloupe, Reunion, and Martinique, are the most densely populated French regions after the Paris region. On the other hand, Corsica, was the least densely populated region in metropolitan France. However, it is Guyanne, the largest overseas department, which has the lowest density in France with only 3.4 inhabitants per square kilometre. Largely covered by the Amazon jungle, this French territory is almost entirely populated along the coasts. The overall population density in metropolitan France reached 123.27 inhabitants per square kilometer in 2021, compared to 116.91 in 2007. Ile-de-France, and particularly Paris, is the center of most of economic, political, and social activities in France. For instance, the ten most visited national French museums and galleries in 2017 were all located in Paris. In 2014, Ile-de-France was the French region which had the highest expenditure on Research and Development (19 billion euros).

Regions in France

Hauts-de-France, in the northern part of the country, and Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur in the southeastern part, were the second and the third most densely populated regions in Metropolitan France. The French southeastern coast is known for being highly urbanized, while its living conditions (sun, Mediterranean sea…) make it one of the most attractive region to work and live in France. Hauts-de-France, which used to be one of the leading industrial regions of the country, now benefits from its geographical proximity to the heart of Europe: Brussels. Furthermore, rural regions like Centre-Val de Loire or Bourgogne Franche-Comté are less populous, and the share of the rural population in France is decreasing for years now.