France has a population of approximately 68 million people in 2025, making it the second most populous country in the European Union and the 22nd most populous in the world. This figure includes mainland France along with its overseas departments and territories, giving France a demographic weight that has long made it one of Europe's central powers.
How Many People Live in France?
France's population of around 68 million places it just behind Germany within the European Union, where it ranks second. Among Western European nations it sits comfortably as one of the largest, trailing only Germany in raw numbers. Globally, France accounts for roughly 0.8% of the world's people.
The country's population is spread across a land area large enough to make France the biggest nation in Western Europe by territory. This produces a population density of about 106 people per square kilometre — moderate by European standards, far lower than the densely packed Netherlands or Belgium, but higher than sparsely populated Scandinavia. The distribution is uneven, with crowded urban corridors and a rural interior sometimes called the "empty diagonal" stretching from the northeast to the southwest.
Population Growth and Fertility Trends
France's population is growing slowly, at an annual rate of roughly 0.18%. This sluggish pace is typical of wealthy, post-industrial nations where birth rates have settled below replacement level. For decades France stood out in Europe for maintaining relatively high fertility, but that advantage has narrowed sharply.
The fertility rate has fallen from about 2.0 children per woman in 2010 to roughly 1.7 today, dipping below the 2.1 needed to keep a population stable without migration. France's generous family policies — including subsidised childcare, parental leave, and direct family allowances — are widely credited with keeping its birth rate above those of Germany or Italy, yet recent years have brought record-low numbers of births. Demographers project that France's population will continue to edge upward, reaching roughly 72 million by 2050, with most of that increase driven by immigration and rising life expectancy rather than natural growth.
The Biggest Cities
France is a highly urbanised country, and its population clusters around a handful of major metropolitan areas. The three largest cities are Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
- Paris: The capital holds about 2.1 million people within the city limits, but its Île-de-France metropolitan region is home to around 12.4 million — close to 18% of the entire national population concentrated in one region.
- Marseille: France's second-largest city and its oldest, founded around 600 BC, has roughly 870,000 residents and serves as the country's principal Mediterranean port.
- Lyon: With about 520,000 city residents and 2.3 million across its metro area, Lyon is celebrated as France's gastronomic capital and a hub for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
This concentration around Paris is striking: the Paris metropolitan area alone generates close to 31% of France's GDP, an unusual level of economic centralisation for a country of France's size and population.
Who Are the French? Demographics and Society
French is the official and overwhelmingly dominant language. France's republican tradition of universalism means the state does not collect official statistics on ethnicity or race, so the country's diversity is estimated rather than counted. That diversity is considerable, shaped heavily by France's former colonial ties across North and West Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.
In terms of religion, roughly 47% of people identify as Christian — predominantly Roman Catholic — while around 40% report no religion, a reflection of France's strong secular tradition known as laïcité. About 4% identify as Muslim, and France is home to both the largest Muslim and the largest Jewish populations in Western Europe. The median age is around 42 years, indicating a mature, ageing society where the proportion of older citizens is steadily climbing. For a broader look at the country's geography, history, and culture, see our france country guide.
Key Population Facts at a Glance
- Population (2025 estimate): approximately 68,000,000
- World rank: 22nd most populous country
- EU rank: 2nd most populous, after Germany
- Annual growth rate: about 0.18%
- Fertility rate: roughly 1.7 children per woman
- Population density: about 106 people per km²
- Capital and largest city: Paris
- Median age: about 42 years
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of France in 2025?
France has an estimated population of about 68 million people in 2025, including its mainland and overseas territories. This makes it the 22nd most populous country worldwide.
Is France the most populous country in Europe?
No. France is the second most populous country in the European Union, behind Germany, which has around 84 million people. Within the wider European continent, Russia is by far the most populous.
Why does France have a higher birth rate than other European countries?
France has long maintained a comparatively high fertility rate thanks to extensive family-support policies such as subsidised childcare, generous parental leave, and family allowances. That said, its fertility rate has recently fallen to about 1.7, narrowing the gap with neighbours like Germany and Italy.
What is the largest city in France by population?
Paris is the largest city, with about 2.1 million residents in the city proper and roughly 12.4 million across the surrounding Île-de-France metropolitan region — nearly a fifth of France's total population.