Urban Population: France
France's urban population is currently 78.8% as of 2024. # France Urban Population France's urban population reached 78.
Current (2024)
78.8%
+0.0% y/y
Peak (2024)
78.8%
Low (1960)
61.7%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — France
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — France
Analysis# France Urban Population
France's urban population reached 78.8% in 2024, matching its all-time peak. This represents a dramatic 27.8 percentage point increase since 1960, when only 61.681% of the population lived in urban areas. The country's urbanization accelerated significantly during the post-war decades, reflecting broader European patterns of rural-to-urban migration and industrial development.
The past decade shows a steady, consistent upward trajectory with annual gains ranging from 0.05 to 0.1 percentage points. Since 2015, the urban share climbed from 77.761% to today's 78.8%, demonstrating that urbanization continues at a measured pace. With France now at its historical ceiling, future growth in urban population will likely depend on continued migration patterns and demographic shifts rather than dramatic structural change.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 78.8% | +0.03% |
| 2023 | 78.8% | +0.03% |
| 2022 | 78.8% | +0.03% |
| 2021 | 78.7% | +0.03% |
| 2020 | 78.7% | +0.03% |
| 2019 | 78.7% | +0.02% |
| 2018 | 78.7% | +0.03% |
| 2017 | 78.6% | +0.06% |
| 2016 | 78.6% | +1.08% |
| 2015 | 77.8% | +0.53% |
| 2014 | 77.4% | +0.14% |
| 2013 | 77.2% | +0.10% |
| 2012 | 77.2% | +0.06% |
| 2011 | 77.1% | +0.03% |
| 2010 | 77.1% | -0.01% |
| 2009 | 77.1% | -0.07% |
| 2008 | 77.2% | -0.12% |
| 2007 | 77.2% | -0.13% |
| 2006 | 77.3% | -0.11% |
| 2005 | 77.4% | -0.07% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 77.5% | +0.03% |
| 2003 | 77.5% | +0.28% |
| 2002 | 77.3% | +0.45% |
| 2001 | 76.9% | +0.51% |
| 2000 | 76.5% | +0.45% |
| 1999 | 76.2% | +0.36% |
| 1998 | 75.9% | +0.35% |
| 1997 | 75.6% | +0.35% |
| 1996 | 75.4% | +0.35% |
| 1995 | 75.1% | +0.33% |
| 1994 | 74.8% | +0.31% |
| 1993 | 74.6% | +0.28% |
| 1992 | 74.4% | +0.25% |
| 1991 | 74.2% | +0.21% |
| 1990 | 74.1% | +0.17% |
| 1989 | 73.9% | +0.15% |
| 1988 | 73.8% | +0.13% |
| 1987 | 73.7% | +0.12% |
| 1986 | 73.6% | +0.11% |
| 1985 | 73.6% | +0.10% |
| 1984 | 73.5% | +0.09% |
| 1983 | 73.4% | +0.09% |
| 1982 | 73.4% | +0.08% |
| 1981 | 73.3% | +0.06% |
| 1980 | 73.2% | +0.05% |
| 1979 | 73.2% | +0.05% |
| 1978 | 73.2% | +0.06% |
| 1977 | 73.1% | +0.07% |
| 1976 | 73.1% | +0.09% |
| 1975 | 73.0% | +0.16% |
| 1974 | 72.9% | +0.32% |
| 1973 | 72.7% | +0.48% |
| 1972 | 72.3% | +0.61% |
| 1971 | 71.9% | +0.72% |
| 1970 | 71.4% | +0.81% |
| 1969 | 70.8% | +0.86% |
| 1968 | 70.2% | +1.05% |
| 1967 | 69.5% | +1.51% |
| 1966 | 68.4% | +1.84% |
| 1965 | 67.2% | +2.01% |
| 1964 | 65.9% | +1.99% |
| 1963 | 64.6% | +1.75% |
| 1962 | 63.5% | +1.48% |
| 1961 | 62.5% | +1.38% |
| 1960 | 61.7% | — |
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