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The ÃŽle-de-France (; ; ) is the most populous of the eighteen
regions of France France is divided into eighteen administrative regions (, singular ), of which thirteen are located in metropolitan France (in Europe), while the other five are overseas regions (not to be confused with the overseas collectivities, which ha ...
, with an official estimated population of 12,271,794 residents on 1 January 2023. Centered on the capital
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, it is located in the north-central part of the country and often called the Paris Region (, ). ÃŽle-de-France is densely populated and retains a prime economic position on the national stage, and it covers , about 2% of metropolitan French territory. Its 2017 population was nearly one-fifth of the national total. The region is made up of eight administrative
departments Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military * Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
: Paris,
Essonne Essonne () is a department in the southern part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. It is named after the river Essonne. In 2019, it had a population of 1,301,659, across 194 communes.Hauts-de-Seine Hauts-de-Seine (; ) is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region of France. It covers Paris's western inner suburbs. It is bordered by Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne to the east, Val-d'Oise to the north, Yvelines to the west and ...
,
Seine-Saint-Denis () is a department of France located in the Grand Paris metropolis in the region. In French, it is often referred to colloquially as ' or ' ("ninety-three" or "nine three"), after its official administrative number, 93. Its prefecture is Bobi ...
,
Seine-et-Marne Seine-et-Marne () is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. Named after the rivers Seine and Marne, it is the region's largest department with an area of 5,915 square kilometres (2,284 square miles); it roughly covers its ...
,
Val-de-Marne Val-de-Marne (, "Vale of the Marne") is a department of France located in the ÃŽle-de-France region. Named after the river Marne, it is situated in the Grand Paris metropolis to the southeast of the City of Paris. In 2019, Val-de-Marne had a ...
,
Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.< ...
and
Yvelines Yvelines () is a department in the western part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,448,207. Beyond the city limits of Paris, the region has many other important historic sites, including the palaces of
Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of ÃŽle-de-France, ÃŽle-de-France region in Franc ...
and Palace of Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau, as well as the most-visited tourist attraction in France, Disneyland Paris. Although it is the richest French region, a significant number of residents live in poverty. The official poverty rate in the ÃŽle-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.


Etymology

Although the modern name Île-de-France literally means Island of France, its etymology is unclear. Despite its name, the region itself is not an island. The "island" may refer to the land between the rivers Oise (river), Oise, Marne (river), Marne and Seine, or it may also have been a reference to the Île de la Cité, where the French royal palace and cathedral were located. Alternatively, the name may refer to the crown lands of France, lands that were under the direct rule of the Capetian dynasty, Capetian kings during the Middle Ages; thus, the lands were an "island" in a sea of various Feudalism, feudal territories ruled by vassals of the king.


Departments


History

File:Ile-de-France historique1.svg, Historic province of Île-de-France before the French Revolution File:Carte de l'Ile de France.svg, The modern départements covered by the historical Île-de-France File:Ile de France.svg, Modern region of Île-de-France and départements The Île-de-France was inhabited by the ''Parisii (Gaul), Parisii'', a sub-tribe of the Celtic Senones, from around the middle of the 3rd-century BC. One of the area's major north–south trade routes crossed the Seine on the île de la Cité; the meeting place of land and water trade routes gradually became an important trading centre. The Parisii traded with many river towns (some as far away as the Iberian Peninsula) and minted their own coins for that purpose. The Ancient Rome, Romans conquered the area in 52 BC and began their settlement on Paris's Rive Gauche, Left Bank. It became a prosperous city with a forum, baths, temples, theatres, and an amphitheatre. Christianity was introduced in the middle of the 3rd century AD by Saint Denis of Paris, Saint Denis, the first Bishop of Paris. According to legend, when Denis refused to renounce his faith before Roman authorities, he was beheaded on the hill that became known as ''Mons Martyrum'' (Latin "Hill of Martyrs"), later "Montmartre". The legend further states that Denis walked headless from this hill to the north of the city. The place that he finally fell and was buried became an important religious shrine, the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Clovis the Frank, the first king of the Merovingian dynasty, made the city his capital in 508. As the Frankish domination of Gaul began, there was a gradual immigration by the Franks to Paris and the Parisian Francien language, Francien dialects were born. Fortification of the Île de la Cité failed to avert Siege of Paris (845), sacking by Vikings in 845, but Paris's strategic importance—with its bridges preventing ships from passing—was established by successful defence in the Siege of Paris (885–86). In 987, Hugh Capet, Count of Paris (''comte de Paris'') and Duke of the Franks (''duc des Francs''), was elected List of French monarchs, King of the Franks (''roi des Francs''). Under the rule of the House of Capet, Capetian kings, Paris gradually became the largest and most prosperous city in France. The Kings of France enjoyed getting away from Paris and hunting in the game-filled forests of the region. They built palatial hunting lodges, most notably Palace of Fontainebleau and the Palace of Versailles. From the time of Louis XIV to the French Revolution, Versailles was the official residence of the Kings and the seat of the French government. Île-de-France became the term used for the territory of Paris and the surrounding province, which was administered directly by the King. During the French Revolution, the royal provinces were abolished and divided into departments, and the city and region were governed directly by the national government. After World War II, as Paris faced a major housing shortage, hundreds of massive apartment blocks for low-income residents were built around the edges of Paris. In the 1950s and the 1960s, thousands of immigrants settled in the communes bordering the city. In 1959, under President Charles De Gaulle, a new region was created out of six departments, which corresponded approximately with the historic region, with the name ''District de la région de Paris'' ("District of the Paris Region"). On 6 May 1976, as part of the process of regionalism (politics), regionalisation, the district was reconstituted with increased administrative and political powers and renamed the Île-de-France region.


Geography

Île-de-France is in the north of France, neighboring Hauts-de-France to the north, Grand Est to the east, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté to the southeast, Centre-Val de Loire, Centre-Val-de-Loire to the southwest, and Normandy to the west. File:Gorges de Franchard 7.JPG, View of the forest of Fontainebleau in
Seine-et-Marne Seine-et-Marne () is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. Named after the rivers Seine and Marne, it is the region's largest department with an area of 5,915 square kilometres (2,284 square miles); it roughly covers its ...
File:Notre-Dame de Paris and Île de la Cité at dusk 140516 1.jpg, The Seine in Paris File:Luzarches (95), église St-Côme-St-Damien depuis le chemin de la Paroisse.jpg, Vineyard in Luzarches,
Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.< ...
File:Regio2N Viaduc St Mammes.jpg, Transilien Line R train between Veneux-les-Sablons and Saint-Mammès


Departments

ÃŽle-de-France has a land area of . It is composed of eight
departments Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military * Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
centred on its innermost department and capital, Paris. Around the department and municipality of Paris, urbanisation fills a first concentric ring of three departments commonly known as the ''petite couronne'' ("small ring"); it extends into a second outer ring of four departments known as the ''grande couronne'' ("large ring"). The Seine (department), former department of Seine, abolished in 1968, included the city proper and parts of the ''petite couronne''. The ''petite couronne'' consists of the departments of
Hauts-de-Seine Hauts-de-Seine (; ) is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region of France. It covers Paris's western inner suburbs. It is bordered by Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne to the east, Val-d'Oise to the north, Yvelines to the west and ...
,
Seine-Saint-Denis () is a department of France located in the Grand Paris metropolis in the region. In French, it is often referred to colloquially as ' or ' ("ninety-three" or "nine three"), after its official administrative number, 93. Its prefecture is Bobi ...
and
Val-de-Marne Val-de-Marne (, "Vale of the Marne") is a department of France located in the ÃŽle-de-France region. Named after the river Marne, it is situated in the Grand Paris metropolis to the southeast of the City of Paris. In 2019, Val-de-Marne had a ...
; the ''grande couronne'' consists of those of
Seine-et-Marne Seine-et-Marne () is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. Named after the rivers Seine and Marne, it is the region's largest department with an area of 5,915 square kilometres (2,284 square miles); it roughly covers its ...
,
Yvelines Yvelines () is a department in the western part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,448,207.Essonne Essonne () is a department in the southern part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. It is named after the river Essonne. In 2019, it had a population of 1,301,659, across 194 communes.Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.< ...
. Politically, the region is divided into 8 departments, 25 arrondissements, 155 cantons and 1,276 communes, out of the total of 35,416 in metropolitan France.


Topography

The outer parts of the ÃŽle-de-France remain largely rural. Agricultural land, forest and natural spaces occupy 78.9 percent of the region, and 28 percent of the region's land is in urban use. The River Seine flows through the middle of the region, which is crisscrossed by its tributaries and sub-tributaries, including the Rivers Marne (river), Marne, Oise (river), Oise and Epte. The River Eure (river), Eure does not cross the region but receives water from several rivers in the ÃŽle-de-France, including the Drouette and the Vesgre. The major rivers are navigable, and, because of the modest variations of altitude in the region (between and ), they have a tendency to meander and curve. They also create many lakes and ponds, some of which have been transformed into recreation areas, including Moisson-Mousseaux, Cergy-Neuville and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges.


Economy

Île-de-France produced €742 billion (gross domestic product)
web page
) or around 1/3 of the economy of France in 2019. The regional economy has gradually shifted toward high-value-added service industries (finance, IT services etc.) and high-tech manufacturing (electronics, optics, aerospace etc.). In 2014, industry represented just under five percent of active enterprises in the region, and 10.2 percent of salaried workers. Commerce and services account for 84 percent of the business establishments in the region, and have 83.3 percent of the salaried employees. Financial services and insurance are important sectors of the regional economy; the major French banks and insurance companies, including BNP Paribas, Société Générale and , all have their headquarters in the region. The region also hosts the headquarters of the top French telecom companies and utilities, including Orange S.A., Veolia and Électricité de France, EDF. The French stock market, the Bourse de Paris, now known as Euronext Paris, occupies a historical building in the center of Paris and is ranked fourth among global stock markets, after New York, Tokyo and London. Other major sectors of the regional economy include energy companies (Orano, Engie, Électricité de France and Total S.A.). The two major French automobile manufacturers, Renault, in Flins-sur-Seine, and Groupe PSA, in Poissy, do much of their assembly work outside France but still have research centre and large plants in the region. The leading French and European aerospace and defense companies, including Airbus, Thales Group, Dassault Aviation, Safran Aircraft Engines, the European Space Agency, Alcatel-Lucent, and Arianespace, have a large presence in the region. The energy sector is also well established in the region. The nuclear power industry, with its major firm being Orano, has its headquarters in Île-de-France, as does the main French oil company Total S.A., the top French company in the Fortune Global 500, and the main electric utility, Électricité de France. The energy firm Engie also has its main offices in the region at La Défense. File:Tour-Total.jpg, Headquarters of Total S.A., Total in La Défense File:Palais Brongniart Paris.jpg, The historic Bourse de Paris, or Paris stock market, now called Euronext Paris File:ToursSocieteGenerale.jpg, Headquarters of Société Générale in La Défense


Employment

In 2018 just 7.2 percent of employees in the region were engaged in industry; 62.3 percent were engaged in commerce and market services; 25.5 percent in non-market services, including government, health and education; 4.8 percent in construction; and 0.2 percent in agriculture. The largest non-government employers in the region as of the end of 2015 were the airline Air France (40,657); the SNCF (French Railways, 31,955); the telecom firm Orange S.A. (31,497); the bank Société Générale (27,361); the automotive firm Groupe PSA (19,648); Électricité de France, EDF (Electricité de France, 18,199); and Renault (18,136). While the Petite Couronne, or departments closest to Paris, previously employed the most industrial workers, the largest number is now in the Grande Couronne, the outer departments. The unemployment rate in the region stood at 8.6% at the end of 2016. It varied within the region from 7.8 percent in the city of Paris, to a high of 12.7 percent in
Seine-Saint-Denis () is a department of France located in the Grand Paris metropolis in the region. In French, it is often referred to colloquially as ' or ' ("ninety-three" or "nine three"), after its official administrative number, 93. Its prefecture is Bobi ...
, and 10 percent in
Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.< ...
; to regional lows of 7.4 percent in
Yvelines Yvelines () is a department in the western part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,448,207.Hauts-de-Seine Hauts-de-Seine (; ) is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region of France. It covers Paris's western inner suburbs. It is bordered by Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne to the east, Val-d'Oise to the north, Yvelines to the west and ...
; 7.7 percent in
Essonne Essonne () is a department in the southern part of the Île-de-France region in Northern France. It is named after the river Essonne. In 2019, it had a population of 1,301,659, across 194 communes. File:Notre Dame de Paris DSC 0846w.jpg, Notre-Dame Cathedral (12 million visitors in 2017) File:Versailles-Chateau-Jardins02 (cropped).jpg, Palace of Versailles (7.7 million visitors in 2017) File:Disneyland Park 05, Paris 22 August 2013.jpg, Disneyland Paris (14.8 million visitors in 2017) File:Le chateau de Vaux le Vicomte.jpg, Château of Vaux le Vicomte Notable historic monuments in the Region outside of Paris include the Palace of Versailles (7,700,000 visitors), the Palace of Fontainebleau (500,000 visitors), the chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte (300,000 visitors), and the Château de Malmaison, Napoleon's former country house; and the Basilica of Saint-Denis, where the Kings of France were interred before the French Revolution.


Sports


Regional government and politics

The Regional Council is the legislative body of the region. Its seat is in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, at 2 rue Simone-Veil. On 15 December 2015, a list of candidates of the Union of the Right, a coalition of centrist and right-wing politics, right-wing parties, led by Valérie Pécresse, narrowly won the regional election, defeating the Union of the Left, a coalition of socialists and ecologists. The socialists had governed the region for the preceding 17 years. Since 2016 the regional council has 121 members from the Union of the Right, 66 from the Union of the Left and 22 from the far-right politics, far-right National Front.


Holders of the executive office

* Delegates General for the District of the Paris Region ** 1961–1969: Paul Delouvrier (civil servant) – Very influential term. Responsible for the creation of the Réseau Express Régional, RER express subway network in the Île-de-France and beyond. ** 1969–1975: Maurice Doublet (civil servant) ** 1975–1976: Lucien Lanier (civil servant) * Presidents of the Regional Council of Île-de-France ** 1976–1988: Michel Giraud (Rally for the Republic, RPR politician) – (1st time) ** 1988–1992: Pierre-Charles Krieg (Rally for the Republic, RPR politician) ** 1992–1998: Michel Giraud (Rally for the Republic, RPR politician) – (2nd time) ** 1998–2015: Jean-Paul Huchon (Socialist Party (France), PS) ** 2016– Valérie Pécresse (Union of the Centre-Right)


Demographics


Population density

, the population density of the region was 1010.9 inhabitants per square kilometer. The densest department is Paris itself, with 21,066 inhabitants per square kilometer. The least dense département is
Seine-et-Marne Seine-et-Marne () is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. Named after the rivers Seine and Marne, it is the region's largest department with an area of 5,915 square kilometres (2,284 square miles); it roughly covers its ...
with 239 residents per square kilometer.


Wealth and poverty

according to the official government statistics agency INSEE, 15.9 percent of residents of the region had an income below the poverty level; for residents of the city of Paris, this proportion was 16.2 percent. Poverty was highest in the departments of
Seine-Saint-Denis () is a department of France located in the Grand Paris metropolis in the region. In French, it is often referred to colloquially as ' or ' ("ninety-three" or "nine three"), after its official administrative number, 93. Its prefecture is Bobi ...
(29 percent),
Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.< ...
(17.1 percent), and
Val-de-Marne Val-de-Marne (, "Vale of the Marne") is a department of France located in the ÃŽle-de-France region. Named after the river Marne, it is situated in the Grand Paris metropolis to the southeast of the City of Paris. In 2019, Val-de-Marne had a ...
(16.8 percent). It was lowest in
Yvelines Yvelines () is a department in the western part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,448,207.Seine-et-Marne Seine-et-Marne () is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. Named after the rivers Seine and Marne, it is the region's largest department with an area of 5,915 square kilometres (2,284 square miles); it roughly covers its ...
(11.8 percent),
Essonne Essonne () is a department in the southern part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. It is named after the river Essonne. In 2019, it had a population of 1,301,659, across 194 communes.Hauts-de-Seine Hauts-de-Seine (; ) is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region of France. It covers Paris's western inner suburbs. It is bordered by Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne to the east, Val-d'Oise to the north, Yvelines to the west and ...
(12.4 percent). The department of Hauts-de-Seine is the wealthiest in France in terms of per capita GDP.


Immigration

At the 2019 census, 75.1% of the inhabitants of ÃŽle-de-France were natives of Metropolitan France, 1.7% were born in Overseas France, and 23.1% were born in foreign countries. A quarter of the immigrants living in the ÃŽle-de-France were born in Europe (38% of whom in Portugal), 29% were born in the Maghreb and 22% in the rest of Africa (in particular West Africa, West and Central Africa), 3% were born in Turkey and 15% in the rest of Asia, 5% were born in the Americas (not counting those born in the Overseas departments and regions of France, French overseas departments in the Americas, who are not legally immigrants), and 0.1% in Oceania (not counting those born in the French territories of the South Pacific, who are not legally immigrants). In 2013, roughly 2,206,000 residents of the ÃŽle-de-France were immigrants, born outside of France. This amounted to 18.5% of the population of the region, twice the national average. Four out of ten immigrants living in France reside in the region. The immigrant population of the ÃŽle-de-France has a higher proportion of non-Europeans, as well as a higher proportion of immigrants with an advanced level of education, than the rest of France. The population of immigrants is more widely distributed throughout the region than it was in the early 2000s, but the concentrations remain high in certain areas, particularly Paris and the department of Seine-Saint-Denis. The proportion of residents born outside of Metropolitan France rose between the 1999 (19.7%) and 2019 censuses (24.9%).


''Petite Couronne''

The ''Petite Couronne'' (literally "Little Crown", or inner ring) is formed by the three
departments Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military * Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
bordering Paris, forming a geographical ''crown'' around it. These departments, until 1968 part of the disbanded Seine (department), Seine department, are
Hauts-de-Seine Hauts-de-Seine (; ) is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region of France. It covers Paris's western inner suburbs. It is bordered by Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne to the east, Val-d'Oise to the north, Yvelines to the west and ...
,
Seine-Saint-Denis () is a department of France located in the Grand Paris metropolis in the region. In French, it is often referred to colloquially as ' or ' ("ninety-three" or "nine three"), after its official administrative number, 93. Its prefecture is Bobi ...
and
Val-de-Marne Val-de-Marne (, "Vale of the Marne") is a department of France located in the ÃŽle-de-France region. Named after the river Marne, it is situated in the Grand Paris metropolis to the southeast of the City of Paris. In 2019, Val-de-Marne had a ...
. The most populated towns of the ''Petite Couronne'' are Boulogne-Billancourt, Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, Montreuil, Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, Saint-Denis, Nanterre and Créteil. The Grand Paris, Métropole du Grand Paris is an administrative structure that comprises Paris and the three departments of the ''Petite Couronne'', plus seven additional communes in the ''Grande Couronne''. The table below shows some statistical information about the area including Paris:


''Grande Couronne''

The ''Grande Couronne''CIG "Grande Couronne" website (''Centre Interdépartemental de Gestion'')
 (literally Large Crown, or outer ring) includes the outer four departments of ÃŽle-de-France, which do not border Paris. They are
Seine-et-Marne Seine-et-Marne () is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. Named after the rivers Seine and Marne, it is the region's largest department with an area of 5,915 square kilometres (2,284 square miles); it roughly covers its ...
(77),
Yvelines Yvelines () is a department in the western part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,448,207.Essonne Essonne () is a department in the southern part of the ÃŽle-de-France region in Northern France. It is named after the river Essonne. In 2019, it had a population of 1,301,659, across 194 communes.Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the ÃŽle-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.< ...
(95). The last three departments formed the Seine-et-Oise department until it was disbanded in 1968. The city of Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles is part of the area.


Historical population


International relations


Twin regions

ÃŽle-de-France is Town twinning, twinned with: * Community of Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid in Spain ''(since 2000)'' * Yerevan in Armenia ''(since 2011)'' * Hanoi in Vietnam ''(since 2013)''


See also

* List of European Union regions by GDP * Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region * Pokémon X and Y, Kalos, a fictional region in the Pokémon franchise based on Île-de-France and surrounding provinces


References


Bibliography

* * * * * *


External links


Regional Council of ÃŽle-de-France
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ile-de-France Île-de-France, Regions of France NUTS 1 statistical regions of the European Union NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union Former provinces of France History of Île-de-France History of Centre-Val de Loire History of Hauts-de-France History of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté History of Aisne History of Ardennes (department) History of Essonne History of Eure-et-Loir History of Hauts-de-Seine History of Loiret History of Oise History of Paris History of Seine-et-Marne History of Seine-Saint-Denis History of Somme (department) History of Val-de-Marne History of Val-d'Oise History of Yonne History of Yvelines