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Cities in France Ranked by Population (city proper)

Population of the city proper (the municipality itself, not the metro area), using the most recent figure recorded in Wikidata. Source: Wikidata (CC0 1.0 (public domain)).

Summary

Paris ranks #1 with 2.1 million people (2023). Metropolis of Lyon is second with 1.44 million people, 46.5% behind. The top five are Paris, Metropolis of Lyon, Bordeaux Métropole, Lyon and Toulouse. The median across all 62 is 117,010 people; Wattrelos is last at 40,847 people.

#1
Paris · 2.1 million people
Median
117,010 people
Coverage
62 cities in France
Data year
As recorded in Wikidata
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: PopulationBar chart of the top 10: 1. Paris 2.1 million; 2. Metropolis of Lyon 1.44 million; 3. Bordeaux Métropole 796,273; 4. Lyon 519,127; 5. Toulouse 514,819; 6. Nice 357,737; 7. Montpellier 310,240; 8. Strasbourg 293,771; 9. Bordeaux 267,991; 10. Lille 238,246.Paris2.1 millionMetropolis of Lyon1.44 millionBordeaux Métropole796,273Lyon519,127Toulouse514,819Nice357,737Montpellier310,240Strasbourg293,771Bordeaux267,991Lille238,246
Top 10: Population (people). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Paris 2.1 million; 2. Metropolis of Lyon 1.44 million; 3. Bordeaux Métropole 796,273; 4. Lyon 519,127; 5. Toulouse 514,819; 6. Nice 357,737; 7. Montpellier 310,240; 8. Strasbourg 293,771; 9. Bordeaux 267,991; 10. Lille 238,246.

Full ranking

Cities in France Ranked by Population (city proper)
RankCityCountryPopulation (people)Year
1ParisFrance2,103,7782023
2Metropolis of LyonFrance1,436,3542023
3Bordeaux MétropoleFrance796,2732019
4LyonFrance519,1272023
5ToulouseFrance514,8192023
6NiceFrance357,7372023
7MontpellierFrance310,2402023
8StrasbourgFrance293,7712023
9BordeauxFrance267,9912023
10LilleFrance238,2462023
11ReimsFrance177,6742023
12Saint-ÉtienneFrance173,1362023
13Le HavreFrance166,6872023
14VilleurbanneFrance163,6842023
15DijonFrance161,8302023
16AngersFrance159,0222023
17GrenobleFrance156,1402023
18Saint-DenisFrance155,6342023
19NîmesFrance151,8392023
20Aix-en-ProvenceFrance149,6952023
21Clermont-FerrandFrance146,3512023
22Le MansFrance146,2492023
23BrestFrance142,3462023
24ToursFrance139,2592023
25AnnecyFrance132,1172023
26LimogesFrance129,9372023
27MetzFrance122,5722023
28PerpignanFrance121,6162023
29Boulogne-BillancourtFrance119,0192023
30BesançonFrance118,4892023
31RouenFrance117,6622023
32OrléansFrance116,3572023
33CaenFrance109,4002023
34Saint-PaulFrance108,0882023
35MulhouseFrance104,9782023
36NancyFrance103,6712023
37TourcoingFrance98,7722023
38RoubaixFrance98,2862023
39NanterreFrance97,7832023
40NouméaFrance96,0822019
41Vitry-sur-SeineFrance93,9632023
42CréteilFrance93,3972023
43AvignonFrance92,1882023
44ColombesFrance91,0532023
45PoitiersFrance89,9162023
46Saint-PierreFrance85,0382023
47Rueil-MalmaisonFrance82,8742023
48Le TamponFrance82,5792023
49BéziersFrance81,5452023
50PauFrance80,4412023
51La RochelleFrance79,8512023
52AntibesFrance77,6372023
53AjaccioFrance76,3202023
54Fort-de-FranceFrance75,5062023
55CannesFrance74,3502023
56CalaisFrance67,5712023
57CayenneFrance62,6752023
58Saint-Laurent-du-MaroniFrance54,4292023
59CholetFrance54,4042023
60BloisFrance47,2192023
61La DéfenseFrance42,000
62WattrelosFrance40,8472023

About the top 10

#3 Bordeaux Métropole

Bordeaux Métropole ranks #3 on this list with 796,273 people (2019).

Country
France
Population
796,273 people (2019)
Area
579 km²
Density
1,375 people per km²
Elevation
6 m
Founded
1966
Coordinates
44.84° N, 0.58° W

Full city profile

#4 Lyon

Lyon ranks #4 on this list with 519,127 people (2023).

Country
France
Population
519,127 people (2023)
Area
47.9 km²
Density
10,845 people per km²
Elevation
160 m
Coordinates
45.77° N, 4.83° E

Full city profile Weather in Lyon (Purr Weather)

#5 Toulouse

Toulouse ranks #5 on this list with 514,819 people (2023).

Country
France
Population
514,819 people (2023)
Area
118.3 km²
Density
4,352 people per km²
Elevation
263 m
Coordinates
43.60° N, 1.44° E

Full city profile

#6 Nice

Nice ranks #6 on this list with 357,737 people (2023).

Country
France
Population
357,737 people (2023)
Area
71.9 km²
Density
4,974 people per km²
Elevation
109 m
Coordinates
43.70° N, 7.27° E

Full city profile

#7 Montpellier

Montpellier ranks #7 on this list with 310,240 people (2023).

Country
France
Population
310,240 people (2023)
Area
56.9 km²
Density
5,454 people per km²
Elevation
7 m
Coordinates
43.61° N, 3.88° E

Full city profile

#8 Strasbourg

Strasbourg ranks #8 on this list with 293,771 people (2023).

Country
France
Population
293,771 people (2023)
Area
78.3 km²
Density
3,754 people per km²
Elevation
151 m
Founded
11 BCE
Coordinates
48.57° N, 7.75° E

Full city profile

#9 Bordeaux

Bordeaux ranks #9 on this list with 267,991 people (2023).

Country
France
Population
267,991 people (2023)
Area
49.4 km²
Density
5,429 people per km²
Elevation
1 m
Founded
500 BCE
Coordinates
44.84° N, 0.58° W

Full city profile

#10 Lille

Lille ranks #10 on this list with 238,246 people (2023).

Country
France
Population
238,246 people (2023)
Area
34.8 km²
Density
6,840 people per km²
Elevation
45 m
Coordinates
50.63° N, 3.06° E

Full city profile

Profile facts: Wikidata (CC0).

Related rankings

Source and method

Population of the city proper (the municipality itself, not the metro area), using the most recent figure recorded in Wikidata.

Source: Wikidata. Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain). Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

Data: Wikidata (CC0)

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: Wikidata. All licences: Sources & licences.