Paris Region Key Figures - 2006

The IAURIF, the CRCI Paris - Ile-de-France, the Paris Region Development Agency (PREDA), and the INSEE carried out the 2006 edition of the document which presents, with tables, maps and graphs, the main economic and social characteristics of the Paris Ile-de-France region.

> The Paris Ile-de-france region in the European Union

“L’Île-de-France” is the French name for the Paris region, including the urban core and the commuting field around it. It is a 12,000 sq km territory with a population of over 11 million and 5.3 million jobs.

Its political importance and tourist and cultural attractions are recognised across the world. However, it is also a leading European region in economic, technological and scientific terms. Although its population represents only 2.5% of that of Europe (EU 25), it generates 4.5% of Europe’s GDP and accounts for 7.5% of total EU public and private sector expenditure on research.

Moreover, the Paris region enjoys a strategic position at the hub of a very dense infrastructure network, with excellent road, rail (TGV, Thalys, Eurostar, Corail), air (Roissy - Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly, le Bourget) and telecommunication links, favouring the region’s business development.

The population of the Paris Île-de-France region is one of the youngest in the European Union, featuring one of the highest fertility rates. Furthermore, the Paris region has one of the most highly qualified workforces in Europe: its higher education system trains 600,000 students a year. Its share of France’s very skilled jobs in industry, commerce and services is large: one job out of four is an executive or higher professional position, compared with one out of 10 in the rest of France.

High value added “clusters” have flourished in France’s capital region in a broad range of sectors, including the automotive, aerospace-defence, information technology, financial and specialised services industries. In recognition of this, the French government officially approved in 2005 the labelling of several technology competitiveness hubs located in the Paris Ile-de-France region as being “of global importance”. Furthermore, the Paris Region is a strategic decision-making centre: according to Fortune Magazine’s 2005 league table, it is second only to Tokyo as home to the largest number of Fortune 500 corporate headquarters. Such economic power has become a magnet for new corporate locations: every year, some 130 international corporations locate their facilities in the Paris region, creating 4,500 jobs.

The Paris Île-de-France regional Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Urban Planning and Development of the Paris Île-de-France Region and the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies have published this brochure of statistics and maps relating to the Paris region for two purposes: first, to enable readers to place the Paris Ile-de-France region accurately within its European and French environment; and second, to find detailed information useful to their research into locating or investing in the Paris Île-de-France region. The Paris region Economic Development Agency can provide you with more information on its website (paris-region.com) and, above all, help you to locate and develop your business in the Paris Île-de-France region.
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