France has a population of approximately 68.4 million people, with around 65.8 million residing in metropolitan France. It is the second-most populous country in the European Union. While facing the demographic challenge of an aging population common to many developed nations, France boasts one of the highest fertility rates in Europe, supported by robust family policies.
The population is highly urbanized, with over 80% living in cities and towns. The Greater Paris area alone is home to over 12 million people. Ethnically and culturally diverse, France has a long history of immigration, particularly from other European nations, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The official language is French. In accordance with its foundational principle of *laïcité* (secularism), the state does not collect data on religious affiliation, but historically it has a Roman Catholic majority, alongside significant Muslim, Jewish, and Protestant communities.
