France is the second most populous country in Europe after Germany (not counting Russia).

France consists of 18 regions

France has 18 regions (including five situated overseas). The largest are:

• Paris: 12.1 million
• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: 7.9 million
• Hauts-de-France: 6.0 million

The largest overseas region is Réunion with 843,000 people.

Most populous cities in France

With 2.2 million people, Paris is the largest city in France. It’s followed by Marseille with 851,000 and Lyon with 484,000 people. Counting the whole metropolitan / urban area Paris has over 12 million inhabitants.

Life and death in France

The average fertility rate in France is 2.0 - close to the rate of 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population not counting immigration. The average life expectancy in France is 81.9 years - 78.8 for men and 84.9 for women.

The economy of France

In 2017, France was the 7th largest economy in the world. By 2050, the country is expected to have dropped to 11th place.

Industries of France

The main industries include car manufacturing, machinery, chemicals, and automobiles. The main export goods include transportation products such as planes, helicopters, cars. If parts are included, these products make up 22 percent of exports.

Most popular tourist destination in the world

France is the most visited tourist destination in the world. In 2013, 86 million foreign tourists visited the country. The Eiffel Tower alone gets over 6 million visits a year. The french kitchen famously includes frogs and snails.

Environmental footprint of the French population

France has an ecological footprint of 4.7 global hectares per person. That means we would need 2.7 planets to provide natural resources for the world population and absorb the waste if everyone on Earth consumed like the average French consumer.