Paris - The Capital of France
- Population
- 2,161,000
- Language
- French
- Continent
- Europe
- Since
- 987
- Eco Ranking
- 13/195
Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.
About Paris
Paris has functioned as the political center of France for over a millennium. The Capetian dynasty established it as their royal capital in 987, and successive French monarchies concentrated power there, transforming it into one of Europe's most politically consequential cities. The French Revolution of 1789 reoriented Paris from a seat of royal absolutism to the fulcrum of republican governance: the Bastille's fall, the National Assembly's assertion of popular sovereignty, and the Terror were all events that unfolded in the city and reshaped European political thought. Napoleon further cemented Paris as an imperial capital, constructing monuments intended to project French dominance across the continent. Under the Fifth Republic, established by Charles de Gaulle in 1958, France operates as a semi-presidential system. The President of the Republic resides at the Élysée Palace; the Prime Minister governs from the Hôtel Matignon; the National Assembly meets at the Palais Bourbon; the Senate convenes at the Palais du Luxembourg. All principal institutions of French state power are concentrated within the capital. Paris proper contains some 2.1 million residents, but the greater metropolitan area, Île-de-France, holds over 12 million, representing roughly one-fifth of France's total population. This demographic concentration reinforces an administrative centralization that has defined the French state since the Jacobins.
About France
France is a semi-presidential republic under the Fifth Republic constitution of 1958. The president is elected directly and holds significant executive authority, including command of the armed forces and the power to dissolve the National Assembly. The prime minister leads the government. France is a founding member of the European Union and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
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Flight time from Paris to other capitals
| City | Distance (km) | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|
| London | 300 | 0h 21m |
| Rome | 1100 | 1h 18m |
| Abu Dhabi | 5200 | 6h 7m |
| Washington, D.C. | 6200 | 7h 18m |
| Cape Town | 9300 | 10h 56m |
| Tokyo | 9700 | 11h 25m |
| Singapore | 10700 | 12h 35m |
| Buenos Aires | 11100 | 13h 4m |
| Canberra | 16900 | 19h 53m |
Capitals with similar population to Paris
| City | Population |
|---|---|
| Accra | 2,291,352 |
| Tunis | 2,291,352 |
| Brazzaville | 2,230,821 |
| Paris | 2,161,000 |
| Phnom Penh | 2,129,371 |
| Havana | 2,106,146 |
| Damascus | 2,079,000 |
Capitals with similar eco ranking to Paris
Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Paris become the capital of France?
Paris became the royal capital of France in 987 when Hugh Capet, founder of the Capetian dynasty, established his court there. The city had been the principal seat of the Frankish kingdom for centuries before that, but 987 marks its formal establishment as the dynastic capital.
What role did Paris play in the French Revolution?
Paris was the epicenter of the French Revolution. The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, now France's national day, marked the uprising against royal authority. The National Assembly, the Convention, and the Committee of Public Safety all operated from Paris, making the city the seat of revolutionary and later republican governance.
How is France governed today?
France operates as a semi-presidential republic under the Fifth Republic constitution. The president, elected by direct popular vote for five-year terms, holds strong executive powers. The prime minister leads the government and is accountable to the National Assembly. France has a bicameral legislature: the National Assembly and the Senate.
Is Paris the largest city in France?
Yes, Paris is the largest city in France. The city proper has approximately 2.1 million residents, making it the most populous municipality in the country. The greater Paris metropolitan area, Île-de-France, has over 12 million inhabitants, accounting for roughly one-fifth of France's total population.
Where do French government institutions meet in Paris?
France's key institutions are spread across Paris: the President resides at the Élysée Palace, the Prime Minister at the Hôtel Matignon, the National Assembly at the Palais Bourbon on the Left Bank of the Seine, and the Senate at the Palais du Luxembourg. The Constitutional Council meets at the Palais Royal.
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