Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Lyon - statistics & facts
Lyon is located in the East of France, at the country’s geographic crossroads, to the north of the Rhône corridor that runs from Lyon to Marseille. Situated between the Massif Central mountains to the west and the Alps to the east, the city of Lyon occupies a strategic position in north-south European traffic. It is the capital of the Rhône department, and also, the capital city of the Auvergne- Rhône-Alpes region. Lyon is the third largest city in the country in terms of population, it was home to over 522,000 people according to the most recent estimate. Former capital of the Gauls during the Roman Empire, Lyon became a major trading and financial centre during the Renaissance. In 2021, Lyon was the capital of the second richest French region with a GDP per capita of 35,765 euros per inhabitant.
