Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
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.
