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French demography
This sheet gives the key figures on the French population. On 1 January 2025, 68.6 million inhabitants live in France.
Key points of the sheet
- 66.4 million live in mainland France (France hexagonale) and 2.3 million in the DROM. The population grows by 0.25% in one year.
- In 2024, women have on average 1.62 children. The number of births is falling.
- In 2024, women live on average 85.6 years and men 80 years. It is one of the highest life expectancies in the history of France.
- France is experiencing population ageing. There are more and more elderly people and fewer and fewer births.
- People under 20 are 23% of the population. People aged 20 to 64 are 55%, and people aged 65 and over are 22%.
- The population is spread unevenly across the territory. About 81% of the population lives in towns and cities.
- Large urban areas, such as Paris, Lyon or Marseille, are the most populated zones. Coastal regions also have many inhabitants.
- The Massif central, the Alps, the Pyrenees and rural areas in the north-east are less populated. They are far from large cities and have few jobs.
Words to know
- overseas departments and regions (DROM)
- They are the overseas departments and regions. 2.3 million people live there.
- mainland France (France hexagonale)
- 66.4 million people live in mainland France.
- life expectancy (Espérance de vie)
- In 2024, it is 85.6 years for women and 80 years for men.
- population ageing (vieillissement de la population)
- There are more and more elderly people and fewer and fewer births.
- large urban areas (grandes agglomérations)
- They are the most populated zones, such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille and Bordeaux.
- coastal regions (régions littorales)
- These regions, such as Brittany, have many inhabitants. They are attractive and well equipped.
Test yourself: 3 questions
In 2024, how many children do women have on average in France?
In French, the language of the exam: En 2024, combien d'enfants les femmes ont-elles en moyenne en France ?
In 2024, women have on average 1.62 children.
In 2024, what is the average life expectancy of women in France?
In French, the language of the exam: En 2024, quelle est l'espérance de vie moyenne des femmes en France ?
In 2024, women live on average 85.6 years. Men live on average 80 years.
Which of these areas is one of the less populated areas in France?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle zone est moins peuplée en France ?
The Massif central is one of the less populated regions. Brittany and the Atlantic coast have many inhabitants.
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Source
Sheet “La démographie française” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.