Marseille Population 2024

Marseille's 2024 population is now estimated at 1,635,707In 1950, the population of Marseille was 755,805Marseille has grown by 8,158 in the last year, which represents a 0.5% annual change.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Marseille, which typically includes Marseille's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Marseille (also known as Marseilles or Masalia in antiquity) is the second-largest city in France after Paris and the oldest city in the country with a history going back more than 2,600 years. In 2014, Marseille has an estimated population of 855,000.

Marseille has an estimated population of 855,000, up slightly from 850,700 in 2010. Population growth in Marseille has been fairly stagnant except for sizable growth in 2006 through 2008. Sometimes called the secret capital of France, Marseille has an urban population of more than 1.58 million and a metropolitan population of 1.62 million.

City Size and Population Density

The population density of the city proper is 3,500 people per square kilometer (9,200/sq mi). The city proper encompasses a total area size of 240.62 square kilometers (92.90 square miles).

Marseille Demographics

Marseille has always been an important gateway into France as a port city. Over hundreds of years, this has transformed Marseille into a cosmopolitan melting pot with many immigrants. The 20th century in particular saw many large waves of immigration due to political unrest and poor economic conditions in Europe and globally. At the end of the 19th century, Italians and Greeks began immigrating to Marseille, with about 40% of the city's population being Italian by the 1950s.

Other major waves of immigrants have included Russians (1917), Armenians (1915 and 1920s), Vietnamese (1920s, 50s and post-1975), Corsicans (1920s and 30s), Spanish (post-1935), North Africans (between WWI and WWII), and Sub-Saharan Africans (post-1945).

In 2006, the single largest nationality was residents of Maghrebian origin from Algeria (70,000), followed by Comoros (45,000). About 30% of the population today has Italian ancestry. Marseille is now home to the second-largest Armenian and Corsican population sin the country, with large populations of Chinese, Comorians, Turks, Maghrebis, and Vietnamese.

Just a decade ago, the majority of the population were Roman Catholic (405,000), followed by Muslim (150,000), Armenian Apostolic (80,000), Jewish (80,000), Protestant, Eastern Orthodox and Buddhist. In 2014, an estimated 40% of Marseille is now Muslim, and it is predicted that Marseille will become the first Muslim-majority city in France. Marseille also has the 3rd largest urban population of Jewish people in all of Europe.

Marseille: Most Dangerous City in Europe

Aside from being a major tourist destination, Marseille has also come to be known for its violence, drug war and even poverty on the outskirts. Outside of Marseille sit some of the poorest areas in the poorest city in the country with nearly 40% of the population below the poverty line, compared to a still-high 26% in Marseille and 15% in France as a whole.

While the risk of dying before 65 is 23% lower than the national average in the richer areas of Marseille, the risk is 30% higher in the northern region. Marseille, with its population of 800,000, has nearly as many drug-related murders proportionally as New York City, with a population 10 times higher.

Marseille also follows a reversal of the typical French pattern -which is- the interior city boundaries being wealthier with the suburbs being more troubled and burdened with less income. However, in Marseille, the population in the city proper is fairly poor, while the rich live in the suburb.

Marseille was recently ranked as the most dangerous city in Europe, as the city has a reputation for being the drug-smuggling hub of Europe where entire neighborhoods are out of police control.

Marseille Population Growth

Between 1975 and 1990, Marseille lost 12% of its population, or over 100,000 people, with its population remaining stagnant at about 840,000 for over a decade. Despite its troubles, Marseille is preparing for renewed population growth over the next decade.

Country
France
Growth Rate
0.5%

Marseille Population 2024

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Growth
1950755,805
1951759,7170.52%3,912
1952763,6540.52%3,937
1953767,6000.52%3,946
1954774,3410.88%6,741
1955798,1633.08%23,822
1956822,7523.08%24,589
1957848,0293.07%25,277
1958874,1183.08%26,089
1959901,0103.08%26,892
1960928,7683.08%27,758
1961957,3013.07%28,533
1962985,7452.97%28,444
19631,012,8112.75%27,066
19641,040,6602.75%27,849
19651,069,1942.74%28,534
19661,098,5522.75%29,358
19671,128,7162.75%30,164
19681,153,9482.24%25,232
19691,167,9041.21%13,956
19701,182,0481.21%14,144
19711,196,3641.21%14,316
19721,210,8721.21%14,508
19731,225,5171.21%14,645
19741,240,3591.21%14,842
19751,257,8191.41%17,460
19761,279,9851.76%22,166
19771,302,4801.76%22,495
19781,325,4021.76%22,922
19791,348,7271.76%23,325
19801,372,4951.76%23,768
19811,396,6151.76%24,120
19821,413,3401.2%16,725
19831,413,7710.03%431
19841,414,2030.03%432
19851,414,6330.03%430
19861,415,0650.03%432
19871,415,4960.03%431
19881,415,9280.03%432
19891,416,3600.03%432
19901,418,2790.14%1,919
19911,423,3630.36%5,084
19921,428,4720.36%5,109
19931,433,5850.36%5,113
19941,438,7240.36%5,139
19951,443,8810.36%5,157
19961,449,0640.36%5,183
19971,454,2510.36%5,187
19981,459,4640.36%5,213
19991,466,2580.47%6,794
20001,476,4310.69%10,173
20011,486,6470.69%10,216
20021,496,9480.69%10,301
20031,507,3200.69%10,372
20041,517,7790.69%10,459
20051,528,2810.69%10,502
20061,538,8700.69%10,589
20071,549,5330.69%10,663
20081,560,2840.69%10,751
20091,564,1620.25%3,878
20101,568,0170.25%3,855
20111,571,8810.25%3,864
20121,575,7610.25%3,880
20131,579,6390.25%3,878
20141,583,5320.25%3,893
20151,587,4340.25%3,902
20161,591,3460.25%3,912
20171,595,2670.25%3,921
20181,599,1980.25%3,931
20191,603,4340.26%4,236
20201,608,2360.3%4,802
20211,613,7970.35%5,561
20221,620,2270.4%6,430
20231,627,5490.45%7,322
20241,635,7070.5%8,158
20251,644,6060.54%8,899
20261,654,1000.58%9,494
20271,664,0340.6%9,934
20281,674,2560.61%10,222
20291,684,6570.62%10,401
20301,695,1260.62%10,469
20311,705,5950.62%10,469
20321,716,0030.61%10,408
20331,726,3210.6%10,318
20341,736,4710.59%10,150
20351,746,4020.57%9,931
showing: 86 rows

Marseille Population Data (Urban Area)

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Other Cities in France

  1. National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies - France information and statistics
  2. Open Data Census - Marseille datasets and statistics

Sources