Lyon: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Lyon: The unemployment rate in Lyon was 11.9% in 2023 (12.3% for women, 11.4% for men).
What is the population of Lyon?
Lyon had 522,250 inhabitants (city proper) on 1 January 2021, according to a complete census (usual residents) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Lyon rank among cities in France?
Of the 39 cities the UN table lists for France (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is 3rd largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Lyon?
Women and girls made up 53.0% of residents (276,918 female, 245,332 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyWhat is the population of Lyon?
Lyon had 1,229,077 residents on 1 January 2023 according to the EU Urban Audit; 17.2% were under 15 and 16.2% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Lyon growing?
The population grew by 2.6% between 2012 and 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in Lyon?
The infant mortality rate was 2.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the death rate in Lyon?
There were 7.0 deaths per 1,000 residents in 2022 and 12.7 births per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die young in Lyon?
Of 8,303 deaths in Lyon in 2025, 1,195 (14%) were of people under 65.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many road deaths are there in Lyon?
22 people were killed in road accidents in Lyon in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Lyon?
46% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2023 (460 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Lyon?
190,186 students were enrolled in higher education in Lyon in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Lyon have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Lyon in 2023, 56% had a degree-level education, 29% an upper secondary education and 15% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Lyon?
An apartment in Lyon cost €241,951 to buy on average in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Lyon?
A house cost €479,003 to buy on average in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Lyon?
46% of the 588,269 households in Lyon were people living alone in 2023, and 5.5% were lone parents with children under 18.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Lyon?
40% of households owned their home in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyNotes from the UN table: City proper refers to commune or municipality.
Who runs Lyon?
In France, cities and towns are run by intercommunal groupings: Councillors chosen at the same time as municipal councillors (or from them in small communes). Waste, water, public transport, economic development, often planning. Membership is compulsory for almost every commune.
How local power works in France
Cities of a similar size in France
- Paris 2,133,111
- Marseille 873,076
- Toulouse 504,078
- Nice 348,085
- Nantes 323,204
- Montpellier 302,454
- Strasbourg 291,313
- Bordeaux 261,804
- Lille 236,710
- Rennes 225,081
Up a level: all cities in France · France · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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