Quick answerMarseille is a city in France, with 886,040 people inside the city limits in 2023. The wider metropolitan area had about 1.9 million people in 2023. It is best known for France's largest port, the Old Port (Vieux-Port) and the Mediterranean gateway. Its official language is French, and its currency is the Euro.
Marseille is the second-largest city in France by municipal population, with 886,040 residents in 2023, and France's largest port on the Mediterranean. Founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, it is the oldest city in France.
Key facts
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 886,040 (2023) |
| Population (metro) | 1,917,728 (2023) · INSEE aire d'attraction (functional / metropolitan area), 2023 |
| Elevation | 6 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Paris |
| Language | French |
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Coordinates | 43.2964° N, 5.37° E |
Overview
Marseille stands on the Mediterranean coast in southern France. With 886,040 residents inside the city limits in 2023, it is France's second-largest city by municipal population, and its metropolitan area of 1,917,728 people is the third largest in the country.
Founded by Greek settlers from Phocaea around 600 BC as Massalia, Marseille is the oldest city in France. Its fortunes have always come from the sea: the Old Port (Vieux-Port) has been its heart for more than two thousand years, and the modern port is the largest in France. Above the harbour stands the 19th-century Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, the city's best-known landmark. Marseille is also known for bouillabaisse, the fish stew that began as a fishermen's dish, and for the limestone calanques — steep rocky inlets — along the coast to the east.
What Marseille is known for
- France's largest port
- Old Port (Vieux-Port)
- Mediterranean gateway
- Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde
- Bouillabaisse
Landmarks
- Old Port (Vieux-Port)
- Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde
- Château d'If
- MuCEM
- Calanques National Park (nearby)
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Marseille?
Marseille had 886,040 residents inside the city limits in 2023, according to INSEE, making it the second-largest city in France by municipal population. Its metropolitan area had 1,917,728 people that year. The city covers 240.6 square kilometres on the Mediterranean coast.
Where is Marseille and what is it known for?
Marseille is on the Mediterranean coast in southern France. It is the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and France's largest port. Founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, it is the oldest city in France. Its Old Port has been the centre of city life for more than 2,000 years.
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Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.