Marseille - Statistics & Facts
Marseille is located in the South-East of France, by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône department, and prefecture of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The second largest city in the country in terms of population, it was home to over 870,000 people in 2020. The city was founded around 600 BC by Greek sailors and merchants originating from Phocaea, in Asia Minor. Since antiquity, Marseille has been an important port of commerce and transit. During the colonial period and especially during the 19th century, it experienced a significant commercial expansion and became a prosperous industrial and trading city.
The port of Marseille is also one of the most important in Europe in terms of cargo. In 2021, it handled more than 70,000 thousand metric tons of freight, and was sixth in the ranking of main cargo ports in Europe. Liquid goods constitute the most important part of French imports transiting through it, and in 2021, more than 26,630,000 tons of liquid goods were imported into France through the port of Marseille, of which about 15,366,100 tons of crude oil.
In terms of labor market, the city had nearly 363,000 jobs in 2021, most of which were in trade and transportation, as well as administration, education, and health.
The unemployment rate in Marseille is one of the highest in the country. In 2021, it was nearly 15 percent, about double the national average. The youth unemployment rate was also higher than in the rest of the country, indeed in 2021, more than a quarter of Marseille residents between the ages of 15 and 24 were unemployed, compared to around 19 percent of French people of the same age.
But this image is also that of a poor city, marked by crime, banditry, and so forth. Marseille is one of the cities containing the poorest districts in France. In 2021, the poverty rate was 26 percent, more than ten points higher than the national rate. And in 2022, the average monthly income per tax household was about 2,117 euros, while it was just over 2,435 in the rest of the country.
The city is also known for its crime and its settlements of accounts linked to trafficking of all kinds. Delinquency was actually the second aspect mentioned by Marseillais, after dirtiness, when they were questioned in 2022 about what made their city unpleasant.
A maritime and port city
Inheriting this past, the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille (GPMM) and the maritime economy constitute one of the major poles of regional and national activity. Its infrastructure allows it to handle all types of traffic, such as hydrocarbons, liquid bulk, general cargo, solid bulk, and passengers. Regarding passengers, Marseille is the first French port: in 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, it recorded over 123,000 passengers, and was also the second busiest cruise port in the Mediterranean Sea.The port of Marseille is also one of the most important in Europe in terms of cargo. In 2021, it handled more than 70,000 thousand metric tons of freight, and was sixth in the ranking of main cargo ports in Europe. Liquid goods constitute the most important part of French imports transiting through it, and in 2021, more than 26,630,000 tons of liquid goods were imported into France through the port of Marseille, of which about 15,366,100 tons of crude oil.
Economy and job market
Marseille had over 78,600 businesses in 2021, of which more than 19,500 were operating in the wholesale and retail trade, transport, accomodations and food service activities sector (i.e., about 25 percent). Of the 22,888 businesses created in 2022, more than 6,600 belonged to this sector. As in the rest of the country, most Marseille businesses employ between one and nine employees.In terms of labor market, the city had nearly 363,000 jobs in 2021, most of which were in trade and transportation, as well as administration, education, and health.
The unemployment rate in Marseille is one of the highest in the country. In 2021, it was nearly 15 percent, about double the national average. The youth unemployment rate was also higher than in the rest of the country, indeed in 2021, more than a quarter of Marseille residents between the ages of 15 and 24 were unemployed, compared to around 19 percent of French people of the same age.
Contrasting perceptions of the city
Marseille's image is rather mixed: it is perceived as an attractive, lively city, where culture and tourism are factors of economic development. It is, among other things, the city that welcomes the most French tourists, except for Paris, and its monuments and cultural sites attract several hundred thousand visitors each year.But this image is also that of a poor city, marked by crime, banditry, and so forth. Marseille is one of the cities containing the poorest districts in France. In 2021, the poverty rate was 26 percent, more than ten points higher than the national rate. And in 2022, the average monthly income per tax household was about 2,117 euros, while it was just over 2,435 in the rest of the country.
The city is also known for its crime and its settlements of accounts linked to trafficking of all kinds. Delinquency was actually the second aspect mentioned by Marseillais, after dirtiness, when they were questioned in 2022 about what made their city unpleasant.
