Key figures of the Ile-de-France Region - 2004

The IAURIF and the CRCI Paris - Ile-de-France carry out every year this document which presents, with tables, maps and graphs, the main economic and social characteristics of the Ile-de-France region.

> The Ile-de-France Region

Located at the heart of a major European and world trading centre, the Ile-de-France region is ranked first in France in terms of economic activity. It is also one of the most important in all of Europe. Its population of 11 million people and its 5 million jobs make it one of the most important metropolis in the world.

With its 8 different administrative departments, Ile-de-France is home to 19 % of France's total population. Its population is younger than the national average, meaning that the region is blessed with an outstanding dynamic outlook.

The large concentration of public administration organisations means that this capital region lies at the very heart of French and administrative decision-making. But, since it is also home to many of all French head offices, more specifically three quarters of all financial industry headquarters and more than a quarter of all the head offices of industrial corporations, the region also yields significant economic and financial power and influence.

Ile-de-France plays a crucial role at the national economic level. Its value-added production represents 29 % of the national total, its GDP per capita is one of the highest in the European Union.

As the biggest employment pool in all of Europe, the region is also home to a highly qualified labour force. It has more of a third of all French senior managers, 40 % of the national staff of the research and 30 % of French higher learning institutions which include prestigious international schools in the fields of computer science, mathematics, telecommunications, energy research, biotechnology and international trade. At the end of the 2nd quarter of 2003, the region's unemployment rate stood at 9,5 %.

The region's economy is dominated by the service sector (management, retail and international financial services), particularly by business services firms. About 83% of the labour force works in the service sector, with 12 % working in manufacturing, 5 % in construction and 0,3 % in agriculture.

The figures for the region's industrial structure are very similar : 82,3 % of all businesses are in the tertiary sector, 8,1 % in manufacturing, 8,2 % in construction and 1,4 % in agriculture.

The expansion, over the years, of large service-sector areas like la Défense or Marne- La-Vallée has mirrored the growth of the tertiary sector.

Despite all of this, Ile-de-France also maintains its strong industrial tradition. It remains France's biggest industrial region and employs 15 % of the total national industrial labour force.

While it is home to multinational corporations like Renault, Citroen, Thales and IBM, the region is characterised by two features : a high concentration of small to medium sized companies and a wide range of economic activities, which include :

- printing and publishing,
- electronics and electrical engineering,
- automobile manufacturing,
- space and aerospace manufacturing,
- chemicals and pharmaceuticals production.

Moreover, Ile-de-France has first rate infrastructures which have, and continue to promote economic development. Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle is the second largest airport in all of Europe, right behind London's Heathrow. It is connected to the vast network of high speed trains that link many Western European capitals. The region also has 200 km of subway lines, 1400 km of RER and suburban tracks, 3 000 km of bus routes and finally, 2100 km of national highways and freeways which all constitute a dense and efficient transport network.

Thanks to Paris, the Ile-de-France region is a major world centre for conventions, trade shows, professional associations gatherings and various other exhibits.

Because of the Seine-et-Marne department, Ile-de-France also maintains a significant agricultural importance. Half of the region's total area is still used for agricultural purposes. The region's food and agriculture industry is ranked first nationally in terms of total sales and of value-added production.

The Rungis produce market, one of the biggest bulk markets in the world clearly demonstrates the importance that commercial activities have come to have in the region over the years.

Finally, Ile-de-France benefits from its multiple cultural and historical attractions. Tourism remains a major component of the region's economic activity. There are 140 300 hotel rooms of which 76 700 are in Paris alone.