Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — France

Urban population share in France in 2025 — 78.8%. Ranked 65 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 17.2 pp.

2025 78.8% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank 65of 217
Period maximum 78.8%2025
Period minimum 61.7%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — France, 1960–2025606570758019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 61.7%1962: 63.5%1964: 65.9%1966: 68.4%1968: 70.2%1970: 71.4%1972: 72.3%1974: 72.9%1976: 73.1%1978: 73.2%1980: 73.2%1982: 73.4%1984: 73.5%1986: 73.6%1988: 73.8%1990: 74.1%1992: 74.4%1994: 74.8%1996: 75.4%1998: 75.9%2000: 76.5%2002: 77.3%2004: 77.5%2006: 77.3%2008: 77.2%2010: 77.1%2012: 77.2%2014: 77.4%2016: 78.6%2018: 78.7%2020: 78.7%2022: 78.8%2024: 78.8%2025: 78.8%
Change over the period: +17.2 pp Annual average: 0.26 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: France

France 78.8%
World 57.8%
Western Europe computed 82.2%
High-income countries computed 80.3%
Urban population share — France, by year France All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 78.8 +0 pp
2024 78.8 +0 pp
2023 78.8 +0 pp
2022 78.8 +0 pp
2021 78.7 +0 pp
2020 78.7 +0 pp
2019 78.7 +0 pp
2018 78.7 +0 pp
2017 78.6 +0 pp
2016 78.6 +0.8 pp
2015 77.8 +0.4 pp
2014 77.4 +0.1 pp
2013 77.2 +0.1 pp
2012 77.2 +0 pp
2011 77.1 +0 pp
2010 77.1 −0 pp
2009 77.1 −0.1 pp
2008 77.2 −0.1 pp
2007 77.2 −0.1 pp
2006 77.3 −0.1 pp
2005 77.4 −0.1 pp
2004 77.5 +0 pp
2003 77.5 +0.2 pp
2002 77.3 +0.3 pp
2001 76.9 +0.4 pp
2000 76.5 +0.3 pp
1999 76.2 +0.3 pp
1998 75.9 +0.3 pp
1997 75.6 +0.3 pp
1996 75.4 +0.3 pp
1995 75.1 +0.2 pp
1994 74.8 +0.2 pp
1993 74.6 +0.2 pp
1992 74.4 +0.2 pp
1991 74.2 +0.2 pp
1990 74.1 +0.1 pp
1989 73.9 +0.1 pp
1988 73.8 +0.1 pp
1987 73.7 +0.1 pp
1986 73.6 +0.1 pp
1985 73.6 +0.1 pp
1984 73.5 +0.1 pp
1983 73.4 +0.1 pp
1982 73.4 +0.1 pp
1981 73.3 +0 pp
1980 73.2 +0 pp
1979 73.2 +0 pp
1978 73.2 +0 pp
1977 73.1 +0.1 pp
1976 73.1 +0.1 pp
1975 73 +0.1 pp
1974 72.9 +0.2 pp
1973 72.7 +0.3 pp
1972 72.3 +0.4 pp
1971 71.9 +0.5 pp
1970 71.4 +0.6 pp
1969 70.8 +0.6 pp
1968 70.2 +0.7 pp
1967 69.5 +1 pp
1966 68.4 +1.2 pp
1965 67.2 +1.3 pp
1964 65.9 +1.3 pp
1963 64.6 +1.1 pp
1962 63.5 +0.9 pp
1961 62.5 +0.9 pp
1960 61.7

Western Europe, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.