Lille's 2026 population is now estimated at 1,098,220. In 1950, the population of Lille was 750,555. Lille has grown by 6,630 in the last year, which represents a 0.61% 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 Lille, which typically includes Lille's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.
Lille is a city located in France. The city is located in the north and is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region. Current estimates put the population at 228,652 people, making it the 10th most populous city in France. The larger urban area has a population exceeding 1 million, the 5th largest urban area in the country.
The city of Lille covers a total surface area of 34.8 km² (13.4 sq mi). When we look at the population in total and combine it with the provided space for the city, the population density comes to about 6,600/km² (17,000/sq mi).
Lille has more female than male residents, making up 51.8% of the total population. The largest group of people in the city is those that fall into the 15 to 29 demographic, who account for over 85,000 people. The majority of the people who live in Lille are citizens of France. There are over 27,000 immigrants that call Lille home.
The first written evidence of Lille dates back to 1066, although it is believed that the city was founded as far back as 640. At the time, the city was known as L’Isle. The city was built around a castle along the Deûle River and a port. In its earlier days, Lille had a market square and a strong urban center, which is what is now known as Old Lille. During the 13th century, Lille was the center of many disputes between the Kings of France and the Counts of Flander. A coalition was formed to defend against Philippe Auguste’s claims on the northern regions.
In 1363, Flanders became a part of the Duchy of Burgundy and was one of the three capitals of the state. In the late 1400s, Lille fell into Habsburg control. During the 1600s, there were two expansions of the city. The town was again enlarged during the late 1600s. In the late 1700s, Austrians attacked Lille, destroying many of the buildings. During the 1800s, the city of Lille began to develop significantly. Streets were built, institutions were erected, and this was a time of industrialization. During this period, the population doubled.
The city today is one that is attractive to a younger population, with many of its residents being under the age of 25. The city has been named the European Capital of Culture. It has also become a hot tourist spot, with a casino and hotels being built to accommodate those who want to visit this thriving French city.
Lille is a city that is attractive to younger residents because of its culture, attractions, and history. This thriving city has seen extensive population growth throughout the years, and most recently, growth has been slow but steady. Since 2007, the city has seen growth of approximately 0.5% annually, a number that is expected to continue as more residents see the appeal of this young and vibrant city.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | 11,418,300 | 0.63% |
| Lyon | 1,799,720 | 0.7% |
| Marseille | 1,654,100 | 0.58% |
| Toulouse | 1,088,900 | 0.81% |
| Bordeaux | 1,025,990 | 0.78% |
| Nice | 961,174 | 0.52% |
| Nantes | 716,952 | 0.77% |
| Toulon | 596,228 | 0.58% |
| Grenoble | 547,057 | 0.63% |
| Strasbourg | 492,925 | 0.64% |
| Montpellier | 490,812 | 0.8% |
| Avignon | 486,710 | 0.63% |
| Rouen | 481,335 | 0.55% |
| Saint-Etienne | 383,621 | 0.54% |
| Rennes | 374,366 | 0.77% |
| Tours | 371,872 | 0.6% |
| Bethune | 366,909 | 0.55% |
| Valenciennes | 346,237 | 0.55% |
| Reims | 182,460 | 1% |
| Le Havre | 170,147 | 1% |
| Dijon | 156,920 | 1.01% |
| Angers | 152,960 | 1% |
| Nimes | 150,610 | 1% |
| Saint-Denis | 147,931 | 1.01% |
| Villeurbanne | 147,712 | 1% |
| Clermont-Ferrand | 143,886 | 1% |
| Le Mans | 142,946 | 1% |
| Aix-en-Provence | 142,482 | 1% |
| Brest | 140,064 | 1% |
| Amiens | 134,057 | 1% |
| Limoges | 132,175 | 0.99% |
| Annecy | 126,924 | 1.25% |
| Perpignan | 120,158 | 1% |
| Boulogne-Billancourt | 120,071 | 1.01% |
| Orleans | 116,685 | 1.01% |
| Metz | 116,429 | 1% |
| Besancon | 115,934 | 1% |
| Argenteuil | 110,210 | 1.01% |
| Montreuil | 109,897 | 1.01% |
| Mulhouse | 109,443 | 0.99% |
| Caen | 105,354 | 1% |
| Nancy | 104,286 | 1% |
| Tourcoing | 97,368 | 1.01% |
| Roubaix | 96,990 | 1% |
| Nanterre | 95,105 | 1.01% |
| Vitry-sur-Seine | 93,557 | 1.01% |
| Creteil | 90,605 | 1% |
| Poitiers | 88,291 | 1% |
| Aubervilliers | 86,375 | 1.03% |
| Versailles | 85,862 | 1% |
| Aulnay-sous-Bois | 85,740 | 1.01% |
| Asnieres-sur-Seine | 85,191 | 1% |
| Colombes | 85,177 | 1% |
| Saint-Pierre | 84,212 | 1.01% |
| Courbevoie | 81,719 | 0.99% |
| Rueil-Malmaison | 78,152 | 0.99% |
| Champigny-sur-Marne | 77,630 | 1.01% |
| Beziers | 77,177 | 1.01% |
| Pau | 77,130 | 1% |
| La Rochelle | 75,735 | 1% |
| Saint-Maur-des-Fosses | 74,859 | 1% |
| Calais | 73,911 | 1% |
| Cannes | 73,868 | 1% |
| Antibes | 72,999 | 0.99% |
| Drancy | 71,318 | 1.01% |
| Ajaccio | 70,659 | 1.01% |
| Merignac | 70,105 | 1.01% |
| Saint-Nazaire | 69,993 | 1.01% |
| Colmar | 69,105 | 1% |
| Issy-les-Moulineaux | 68,451 | 1.01% |
| Noisy-le-Grand | 68,183 | 1.02% |
| Venissieux | 65,894 | 1.02% |
| Cergy | 65,177 | 1.01% |
| Bourges | 64,551 | 0.99% |
| Levallois-Perret | 64,379 | 1% |
| La Seyne-sur-Mer | 63,936 | 1% |
| Pessac | 63,808 | 1.01% |
| Valence | 63,714 | 1.01% |
| Valence | 63,714 | 1.01% |
| Villeneuve-d'Ascq | 63,408 | 1% |
| Quimper | 62,985 | 1% |
| Antony | 62,570 | 1% |
| Ivry-sur-Seine | 62,052 | 1.01% |
| Troyes | 61,652 | 1.01% |
| Clichy | 61,070 | 1.01% |
| Montauban | 60,810 | 1.01% |
| Neuilly-sur-Seine | 60,361 | 0.99% |
| Chambery | 58,919 | 1% |
| Niort | 58,707 | 1.01% |
| Sarcelles | 58,587 | 1% |
| Pantin | 57,482 | 1.02% |
| Lorient | 57,149 | 1% |
| Le Blanc-Mesnil | 56,783 | 1.02% |
| Beauvais | 56,254 | 1% |
| Maisons-Alfort | 55,655 | 1.01% |
| Hyeres | 55,588 | 1% |
| Epinay-sur-Seine | 55,084 | 1% |
| Meaux | 54,991 | 1.01% |
| Chelles | 54,917 | 1.01% |
| Villejuif | 54,753 | 0.99% |
| Narbonne | 54,700 | 1.01% |
| La Roche-sur-Yon | 54,372 | 1.01% |
| Cholet | 53,917 | 1% |
| Saint-Quentin | 53,816 | 0.99% |
| Bobigny | 53,640 | 1.02% |
| Saint-Louis | 53,365 | 1% |
| Saint-Louis | 53,365 | 1% |
| Bondy | 53,353 | 1% |
| Vannes | 53,352 | 1% |
| Clamart | 52,971 | 1% |
| Fontenay-sous-Bois | 52,939 | 1% |
| Frejus | 52,672 | 1% |
| Arles | 52,548 | 1% |
| Sartrouville | 51,967 | 1% |
| Corbeil-Essonnes | 51,292 | 1.02% |
| Bayonne | 51,228 | 1.02% |
| Sevran | 51,016 | 1.01% |
| Cagnes-sur-Mer | 50,928 | 1.02% |
| Massy | 50,833 | 1.03% |
| Grasse | 50,396 | 1% |
| Montrouge | 50,260 | 1% |
| Vincennes | 49,891 | 1% |
| Laval | 49,728 | 1% |
| Vaulx-en-Velin | 49,658 | 1.03% |
| Albi | 48,970 | 1% |
| Suresnes | 48,264 | 1% |
| Martigues | 48,188 | 1% |
| Evreux | 47,733 | 0.99% |
| Belfort | 47,656 | 0.99% |
| Brive-la-Gaillarde | 46,916 | 1% |
| Gennevilliers | 46,907 | 1.02% |
| Charleville-Mezieres | 46,428 | 0.99% |
| Saint-Herblain | 46,268 | 1.01% |
| Aubagne | 46,268 | 1.01% |
| Saint-Priest | 46,207 | 1.02% |
| Rosny-sous-Bois | 46,207 | 1.01% |
| Saint-Malo | 46,097 | 1.01% |
| Blois | 46,086 | 1% |
| Carcassonne | 46,031 | 1% |
| Bastia | 45,715 | 1.02% |
| Salon-de-Provence | 45,528 | 1.01% |
| Meudon | 45,352 | 1% |
| Choisy-le-Roi | 45,331 | 1.01% |
| Chalon-sur-Saone | 45,096 | 1% |
| Saint-Germain-en-Laye | 44,753 | 1.03% |
| Chalons-en-Champagne | 44,753 | 1% |
| Puteaux | 44,645 | 1% |
| Livry-Gargan | 44,437 | 1.01% |
| Saint-Brieuc | 44,372 | 0.99% |
| Mantes-la-Jolie | 44,299 | 1% |
| Noisy-le-Sec | 44,136 | 1.02% |
| Les Sables-d'Olonne | 44,017 | 1.33% |
| Alfortville | 43,881 | 0.99% |
| Chateauroux | 43,741 | 0.99% |
| Sete | 43,229 | 0.99% |
| Caluire-et-Cuire | 43,187 | 1% |
| Istres | 43,133 | 1% |
| La Courneuve | 43,054 | 1.01% |
| Garges-les-Gonesse | 42,728 | 1.01% |
| Talence | 42,606 | 1.01% |
| Angouleme | 41,740 | 1% |
| Castres | 41,636 | 1% |
| Bron | 41,543 | 1.02% |
| Bourg-en-Bresse | 41,527 | 1.01% |
| Tarbes | 41,518 | 1% |
| Le Cannet | 41,471 | 0.99% |
| Reze | 41,411 | 1.01% |
| Arras | 41,019 | 1% |
| Wattrelos | 40,958 | 1% |
| Bagneux | 40,918 | 1.02% |
| Gap | 40,895 | 1% |
| Boulogne-sur-Mer | 40,874 | 0.99% |
| Thionville | 40,701 | 0.99% |
| Ales | 40,219 | 1% |
| Compiegne | 40,199 | 1% |
| Melun | 40,032 | 1% |
| Douai | 39,700 | 0.99% |
| Gagny | 39,358 | 1% |
| Draguignan | 39,340 | 1% |
| Montelimar | 39,097 | 1.02% |
| Colomiers | 38,951 | 1% |
| Anglet | 38,929 | 1% |
| Stains | 38,720 | 1.02% |
| Chartres | 38,578 | 1% |
| Saint-Martin-d'Heres | 38,487 | 1% |
| Joue-les-Tours | 37,893 | 1% |
| Saint-Benoit | 37,759 | 1.01% |
| Pontault-Combault | 37,747 | 1% |
| Saint-Joseph | 37,644 | 1% |
| Poissy | 37,388 | 1% |
| Chatillon | 37,355 | 1.01% |
| Villefranche-sur-Saone | 36,857 | 1% |
| Echirolles | 36,840 | 1.01% |
| Villepinte | 36,830 | 1.01% |
| Franconville | 36,762 | 1.02% |
| Savigny-sur-Orge | 36,533 | 1% |
| Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois | 36,207 | 1% |
| Tremblay-en-France | 36,180 | 1.01% |
| Conflans-Sainte-Honorine | 35,846 | 1% |
| Annemasse | 35,712 | 1.01% |
| Bagnolet | 35,674 | 1% |
| Creil | 35,657 | 1.01% |
| Montlucon | 35,653 | 0.99% |
| Palaiseau | 35,514 | 1.03% |
| La Ciotat | 35,174 | 1% |
| Saint-Raphael | 35,042 | 1.01% |
| Neuilly-sur-Marne | 34,993 | 1% |
| Saint-Chamond | 34,967 | 1% |
| Thonon-les-Bains | 34,756 | 1% |
| Auxerre | 34,634 | 1% |
| Haguenau | 34,504 | 1% |
| Roanne | 34,366 | 0.99% |
| Athis-Mons | 34,347 | 1.03% |
| Villenave-d'Ornon | 34,090 | 1.03% |
| Le Perreux-sur-Marne | 33,879 | 1% |
| Macon | 33,638 | 1% |
| Saint-Leu | 33,576 | 1% |
| Agen | 33,576 | 0.99% |
| Villeneuve-Saint-Georges | 33,545 | 1.01% |
| Meyzieu | 33,477 | 1.02% |
| Vitrolles | 33,310 | 0.99% |
| Chatenay-Malabry | 33,286 | 1.01% |
| Romans-sur-Isere | 33,160 | 1% |
| Nevers | 32,990 | 0.99% |
| Montigny-le-Bretonneux | 32,929 | 0.99% |
| Marignane | 32,920 | 0.99% |
| Nogent-sur-Marne | 32,851 | 1.01% |
| Six-Fours-les-Plages | 32,829 | 0.99% |
| Les Mureaux | 32,792 | 1.01% |
| Trappes | 32,584 | 1.01% |
| Cambrai | 32,558 | 1% |
| Houilles | 32,151 | 1% |
| Schiltigheim | 31,894 | 1% |
| Chatellerault | 31,840 | 1% |
| Epinal | 31,740 | 1% |
| Vigneux-sur-Seine | 31,574 | 1% |
| Plaisir | 31,419 | 1% |
| Lens | 31,415 | 1% |
| L'Hay-les-Roses | 31,204 | 1% |
| Saint-Medard-en-Jalles | 31,145 | 1.02% |
| Viry-Chatillon | 31,093 | 1% |
| Cachan | 31,069 | 1.01% |
| Dreux | 31,044 | 1% |
| Lievin | 30,785 | 0.99% |
| Pontoise | 30,767 | 1.01% |
| Malakoff | 30,720 | 1% |
| Goussainville | 30,637 | 1% |
| Charenton-le-Pont | 30,374 | 1% |
| Pierrefitte-sur-Seine | 30,306 | 1.02% |
| Chatou | 30,253 | 1% |
| Rillieux-la-Pape | 30,012 | 0.99% |
| Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy | 30,002 | 1% |
