Urban area over the long-term in France
France: Urban area over the long-term was 15,122 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
15,122 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
10th
of 202 countries
All-time high
15,122 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
174.71 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in France, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in France is 15,122 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in France peaked at 15,122 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 174.71 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places France 10th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in France, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 174.71 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 283.04 km² per grid cell | +62.0% |
| 1200 | 444.95 km² per grid cell | +57.2% |
| 1300 | 654.98 km² per grid cell | +47.2% |
| 1400 | 502.33 km² per grid cell | -23.3% |
| 1500 | 748.11 km² per grid cell | +48.9% |
| 1600 | 874.88 km² per grid cell | +16.9% |
| 1700 | 874.88 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1710 | 874.88 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1720 | 978.4 km² per grid cell | +11.8% |
| 1730 | 1,105 km² per grid cell | +12.9% |
| 1740 | 1,220 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1750 | 1,327 km² per grid cell | +8.7% |
| 1760 | 1,426 km² per grid cell | +7.5% |
| 1770 | 1,521 km² per grid cell | +6.7% |
| 1780 | 1,616 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1790 | 1,713 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1800 | 1,815 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1810 | 2,020 km² per grid cell | +11.3% |
| 1820 | 2,225 km² per grid cell | +10.1% |
| 1830 | 2,410 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1840 | 2,643 km² per grid cell | +9.7% |
| 1850 | 2,905 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1860 | 3,102 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1870 | 3,289 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 1880 | 3,544 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1890 | 3,784 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1900 | 4,016 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1910 | 4,282 km² per grid cell | +6.6% |
| 1920 | 4,260 km² per grid cell | -0.5% |
| 1930 | 4,733 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1940 | 4,924 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1950 | 5,232 km² per grid cell | +6.3% |
| 1951 | 5,312 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 5,403 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 5,499 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 5,602 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 5,726 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 5,853 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 5,983 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 6,118 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 6,260 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 6,411 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 6,580 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 6,773 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 7,007 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 7,238 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 7,458 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 7,664 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 7,861 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 8,027 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 8,141 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 8,259 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 8,388 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 8,520 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 8,653 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 8,782 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 8,891 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 8,969 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 9,041 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 9,109 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 9,177 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 9,248 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 9,317 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 9,391 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 9,467 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 9,544 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 9,621 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 9,699 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 9,777 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 9,855 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 9,931 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 10,009 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 10,092 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 10,172 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 10,251 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 10,329 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 10,406 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 10,482 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 10,557 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 10,634 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 10,716 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 10,808 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 11,077 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 11,292 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 11,509 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 11,785 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 12,007 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 12,225 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 12,445 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 12,724 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 12,949 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 13,176 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 13,304 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 13,432 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 13,562 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 13,692 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 13,822 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 13,954 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 14,086 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 14,219 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 14,353 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 14,487 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 14,613 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 14,740 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 14,866 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 14,994 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 15,122 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 15,122 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 15.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- France's 15,122 km² per grid cell is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,372 km² per grid cell, 11.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +62.0% | 174.71 km² per grid cell | 283.04 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +57.2% | 283.04 km² per grid cell | 444.95 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +48.9% | 502.33 km² per grid cell | 748.11 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +47.2% | 444.95 km² per grid cell | 654.98 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 174.71 km² per grid cell | 174.71 km² per grid cell | 174.71 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 283.04 km² per grid cell | 283.04 km² per grid cell | 283.04 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 444.95 km² per grid cell | 444.95 km² per grid cell | 444.95 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 654.98 km² per grid cell | 654.98 km² per grid cell | 654.98 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 502.33 km² per grid cell | 502.33 km² per grid cell | 502.33 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 748.11 km² per grid cell | 748.11 km² per grid cell | 748.11 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 874.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 978.4 km² per grid cell | 978.4 km² per grid cell | 978.4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 1,105 km² per grid cell | 1,105 km² per grid cell | 1,105 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 1,220 km² per grid cell | 1,220 km² per grid cell | 1,220 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 1,327 km² per grid cell | 1,327 km² per grid cell | 1,327 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 1,426 km² per grid cell | 1,426 km² per grid cell | 1,426 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 1,521 km² per grid cell | 1,521 km² per grid cell | 1,521 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 1,616 km² per grid cell | 1,616 km² per grid cell | 1,616 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 1,713 km² per grid cell | 1,713 km² per grid cell | 1,713 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 1,815 km² per grid cell | 1,815 km² per grid cell | 1,815 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 2,020 km² per grid cell | 2,020 km² per grid cell | 2,020 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 2,225 km² per grid cell | 2,225 km² per grid cell | 2,225 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 2,410 km² per grid cell | 2,410 km² per grid cell | 2,410 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 2,643 km² per grid cell | 2,643 km² per grid cell | 2,643 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 2,905 km² per grid cell | 2,905 km² per grid cell | 2,905 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 3,102 km² per grid cell | 3,102 km² per grid cell | 3,102 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 3,289 km² per grid cell | 3,289 km² per grid cell | 3,289 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 3,544 km² per grid cell | 3,544 km² per grid cell | 3,544 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 3,784 km² per grid cell | 3,784 km² per grid cell | 3,784 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 4,016 km² per grid cell | 4,016 km² per grid cell | 4,016 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 4,282 km² per grid cell | 4,282 km² per grid cell | 4,282 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 4,260 km² per grid cell | 4,260 km² per grid cell | 4,260 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 4,733 km² per grid cell | 4,733 km² per grid cell | 4,733 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 4,924 km² per grid cell | 4,924 km² per grid cell | 4,924 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 5,699 km² per grid cell | 5,232 km² per grid cell | 6,260 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 7,316 km² per grid cell | 6,411 km² per grid cell | 8,141 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 8,779 km² per grid cell | 8,259 km² per grid cell | 9,177 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,585 km² per grid cell | 9,248 km² per grid cell | 9,931 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,365 km² per grid cell | 10,009 km² per grid cell | 10,716 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 11,882 km² per grid cell | 10,808 km² per grid cell | 12,949 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,760 km² per grid cell | 13,176 km² per grid cell | 14,353 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,804 km² per grid cell | 14,487 km² per grid cell | 15,122 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in France?
- Urban area over the long-term in France was 15,122 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 15,122 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 174.71 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does France rank for urban area over the long-term?
- France ranks 10th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.