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The Île-de-France is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France. Centred on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the country and often called the Région Parisienne. Île-de-France is densely populated and retains a prime economic position on the national stage: though it covers only 12,012 square kilometres (4,638 square miles), about 2% of metropolitan French territory, its estimated 2020 population of 12,997,058 was nearly one-fifth of the national total; its economy accounts for nearly one-third of the French gross domestic product.

The region is made up of eight administrative departments: Paris, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, Val-d’Oise and Yvelines. It was created as the “District of the Paris Region” in 1961. In 1976, when its status was aligned with the French administrative regions created in 1972, it was renamed after the historic province of Île-de-France. Residents are sometimes referred to as Franciliens, an administrative word created in the 1980s. The GDP of the region in 2021 was US$984 billion at market exchange rates. The Paris region is Europe’s richest region with a GDP (PPP) at over $1 trillion, ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany and Greater London in the United Kingdom. It has the highest per capita GDP of any French region and the third highest of any region in the European Union. The Île-de-France region alone accounts for 5% of the European Union’s GDP, for only about 2.7% of the Union’s population. In 2018, nearly all of the twenty-eight French companies listed in the Fortune Global 500 were based in the Île-de-France.

Beyond the city limits of Paris, the region has many other important historic sites, including the palaces of Versailles and Fontainebleau, as well as the most-visited tourist attraction in France, Disneyland Paris. Though it is the richest French region, a significant number of residents live in poverty: the official poverty rate in the Île-de-France was 15.9% in 2015. The region has witnessed increasing income inequality in recent decades and rising housing prices have pushed the less affluent outside Paris.

Capital: Paris

Blog Posts:

France: Paris – 10 great things to do

France: Paris – 10 great things to do

We have both been to Paris many times and absolutely love visiting this beautiful city. The is something truly special …
France: Paris – Château de Fontainebleau

France: Paris – Château de Fontainebleau

The Château de Fontainebleau is located in the small town bearing the same name and lies 40 miles (65 km) south-southeast …
France: Paris – Père Lachaise cemetery

France: Paris – Père Lachaise cemetery

The Père Lachaise cemetery takes its name from King Louis XIV\’s confessor, Father François d\’Aix de La Chaise. It is the …
France: Paris – Palais Garnier, Opera House

France: Paris – Palais Garnier, Opera House

The Palais Garnier, also known as Opéra Garnier, is a 1,979-seat opera house at the Place de l\’Opéra in the 9th …
France: Paris – The dome of the Galleries Lafayette

France: Paris – The dome of the Galleries Lafayette

Created by master glassworker Jacques Gruber in the “Art nouveau” or “Art déco” style, the dome ceiling of the Galleries …
France: Paris – The Louvre Museum

France: Paris – The Louvre Museum

The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is the world\’s most-visited museum, and a historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the …
France: Paris – Sacré-Cœur & the Monmartre

France: Paris – Sacré-Cœur & the Monmartre

The Sacré-Coeur, consecrated in 1919, is one of the most iconic monuments in Paris. At the top of the Butte Montmarte, it …
France: Maison la Roche – Le Corbusier

France: Maison la Roche – Le Corbusier

Designed and built between 1923 and 1925 by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, the Maison La Roche was widely photographed …
France: Paris – Statue of Liberty

France: Paris – Statue of Liberty

The original Statue of Liberty sits prominently in New York Harbour, a gift from the people of France. The American …
France: Paris – Palace of Versailles

France: Paris – Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. …
France: Paris – Musee D’Orsay

France: Paris – Musee D’Orsay

Housed in a train station built for the 1900 World\’s Fair, the Musée d\’Orsay is known throughout the world for its rich …
France: Paris – the banks of the Seine

France: Paris – the banks of the Seine

The banks of the River Seine through the heart of Paris are listed as UNESCO world heritage site due to the incredible …
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