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What is the capital of France?

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The capital of France is Paris

Paris sits on the Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region in northern France; the river's banks through the city are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Paris is the capital and seat of government of France, a role it has held since 12th century. France itself has an estimated population of 68,720,337 (2025).

Paris is also the largest city in France, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.

Paris at a glance

City population2,047,602 (2026 estimate)
Metropolitan area13,320,752 (2023, Île-de-France)
Country🇫🇷 France
Capital since12th century
Largest city in FranceParis
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
CurrencyEuro (EUR)

About Paris

Paris has been the capital of France since 12th century, Paris has been France's political and cultural capital since the medieval period, growing under the Capetian kings from the late 10th century into the national capital by the late 12th century.

Paris is France's largest city, and with its surrounding Île-de-France region it forms one of the most populous metropolitan areas in Europe.

City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Paris.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of France?
The capital of France is Paris.
Is Paris the largest city in France?
Yes. Paris is both the capital and the largest city of France.
What is the population of Paris?
Paris has a population of about 2,047,602 (2026 estimate), while its wider metropolitan area is home to around 13,320,752.
Where is Paris located?
Paris sits on the Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region in northern France; the river's banks through the city are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
When did Paris become the capital of France?
Paris has been the capital of France since 12th century, Paris has been France's political and cultural capital since the medieval period, growing under the Capetian kings from the late 10th century into the national capital by the late 12th century.
What time zone is Paris in?
Paris uses UTC+01:00 (CET).
What currency is used in Paris?
Paris, like the rest of France, uses the Euro (EUR, symbol €).

Capitals of neighbouring countries

Capital of AndorraCapital of BelgiumCapital of GermanyCapital of ItalyCapital of LuxembourgCapital of MonacoCapital of SpainCapital of Switzerland

See the full profile of France on its country page, or browse every capital city.

Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.