Its the average apartment price is €2,168.00 per m² (2022) — 124th highest of the 199 cities reporting this Eurostat field.
Its 1991–2020 climate normal is a mean annual temperature of 11.0 °C with 1,191 mm of precipitation a year (Copernicus ERA5-Land).
In its wider region (NUTS FRC21), GDP was €33,700 per inhabitant (2024, Eurostat) — a regional figure, not a city value.
This profile reports 31 of the 50 indicators currently tracked for European cities; the rest are not reported for Besançon. Source: official datasets listed in the source registry.
Population & demographics
Population on 1 January, total
#183 of 426 · 57th pct · #5 in France
Population density (population divided by GISCO area)
#85 of 381 · 78th pct · #3 in France
1,839
persons per km2 · 2022
Share of population aged 65 and over
#304 of 386 · 21st pct · #9 in France
18.3%
of population · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Population on 1 January, total
Besançon: Population on 1 January, total in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 120,057. Higher than 243 of 426 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 38,669 to 3,677,472; median 104,735.
38,669
3,677,472
median 104,735
Besançon: Population on 1 January, total in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 120,057 Higher than 243 of 426 records in the same comparison group Median 104,735
Population density (population divided by GISCO area)
Besançon: Population density (population divided by GISCO area) in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 1,839. Higher than 296 of 381 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 28 to 9,215; median 1,069.
28
9,215
median 1,069
Besançon: Population density (population divided by GISCO area) in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 1,839 Higher than 296 of 381 records in the same comparison group Median 1,069
Share of population aged 65 and over
Besançon: Share of population aged 65 and over in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 18.3%. Higher than 81 of 386 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 9.1% to 32.5%; median 20.9%.
9.1%
32.5%
median 20.9%
Besançon: Share of population aged 65 and over in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 18.3% Higher than 81 of 386 records in the same comparison group Median 20.9%
Climate (ERA5-Land normals)
Besançon climate by month Besançon monthly 1991-2020 normals. Temperature 2.7°C to 20.0°C; warmest Jul, coldest Jan. Precipitation up to 124mm per month.
20 200 15 150 10 100 5 50 0 0
°C
mm
J F M A M J J A S O N D
● mean temperature (°C, left) · ▮ precipitation (mm, right) Besançon monthly climate normals Month Temp Precip Jan 2.7°C 108mm Feb 3.3°C 96mm Mar 6.7°C 96mm Apr 10.2°C 90mm May 14.1°C 112mm Jun 17.8°C 88mm Jul 20.0°C 80mm Aug 19.9°C 82mm Sep 15.8°C 95mm Oct 11.7°C 107mm Nov 6.5°C 115mm Dec 3.5°C 124mm
ERA5-Land 1991–2020 normals.
Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#248 of 601 · 58th pct · #48 in France
11.0
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#291 of 601 · 51st pct · #57 in France
2.7
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#222 of 601 · 63rd pct · #26 in France
20.0
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal)
ERA5-Land reanalysis total precipitation at the city centroid grid cell; not station weather.
#54 of 601 · 91st pct · #8 in France
1,191
mm per year · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal)
ERA5-Land mean surface solar radiation; this is irradiance, NOT sunshine hours.
#250 of 601 · 58th pct · #36 in France
144
W per m2 · centroid · 1991-2020
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Besançon: Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 11.0. Higher than 351 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1.3 to 24.5; median 10.6.
1.3
24.5
median 10.6
Besançon: Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 11.0 Higher than 351 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 10.6
Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Besançon: Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 2.7. Higher than 309 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range -9.3 to 13.5; median 2.6.
-9.3
13.5
median 2.6
Besançon: Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 2.7 Higher than 309 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 2.6
Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Besançon: Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 20.0. Higher than 379 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 12.5 to 38.1; median 19.3.
12.5
38.1
median 19.3
Besançon: Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 20.0 Higher than 379 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 19.3
Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal)
Besançon: Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 1,191. Higher than 547 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 261 to 2,516; median 816.
261
2,516
median 816
Besançon: Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 1,191 Higher than 547 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 816
Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal)
Besançon: Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 144. Higher than 351 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 96 to 230; median 136.
96
230
median 136
Besançon: Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 144 Higher than 351 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 136
Air quality (EEA annualized)
Annual mean NO2 concentration from EEA monthly city averages
#153 of 329 · 53rd pct · #15 in France
Annual mean O3 concentration from EEA monthly city averages
#63 of 281 · 78th pct · #11 in France
Annual mean PM2.5 concentration from EEA monthly city averages
#111 of 298 · 63rd pct · #1 in France
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Annual mean NO2 concentration from EEA monthly city averages
Besançon: Annual mean NO2 concentration from EEA monthly city averages in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 17. Higher than 176 of 329 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 5 to 35; median 16.
5
35
median 16
Besançon: Annual mean NO2 concentration from EEA monthly city averages in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 17 Higher than 176 of 329 records in the same comparison group Median 16
Annual mean O3 concentration from EEA monthly city averages
Besançon: Annual mean O3 concentration from EEA monthly city averages in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 57. Higher than 218 of 281 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 33 to 81; median 52.
33
81
median 52
Besançon: Annual mean O3 concentration from EEA monthly city averages in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 57 Higher than 218 of 281 records in the same comparison group Median 52
Annual mean PM2.5 concentration from EEA monthly city averages
Besançon: Annual mean PM2.5 concentration from EEA monthly city averages in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 11. Higher than 187 of 298 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 3 to 22; median 9.
3
22
median 9
Besançon: Annual mean PM2.5 concentration from EEA monthly city averages in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 11 Higher than 187 of 298 records in the same comparison group Median 9
Average price for buying a house
#137 of 201 · 32nd pct · #5 in France
Average price for buying an apartment
#141 of 218 · 35th pct · #3 in France
Average price for buying a house per m2
#109 of 200 · 46th pct · #6 in France
€2,793.00
EUR per m2 · 2022
Average price for buying an apartment per m2
#124 of 199 · 38th pct · #5 in France
€2,168.00
EUR per m2 · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Average price for buying a house
Besançon: Average price for buying a house in the same year and geography grain Besançon: €300,571. Higher than 64 of 201 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €20,136 to €1,399,882; median €380,298.
€20,136
€1,399,882
median €380,298
Besançon: Average price for buying a house in the same year and geography grain
Besançon €300,571 Higher than 64 of 201 records in the same comparison group Median €380,298
Average price for buying an apartment
Besançon: Average price for buying an apartment in the same year and geography grain Besançon: €134,331. Higher than 77 of 218 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €14,900 to €652,648; median €176,563.
€14,900
€652,648
median €176,563
Besançon: Average price for buying an apartment in the same year and geography grain
Besançon €134,331 Higher than 77 of 218 records in the same comparison group Median €176,563
Average price for buying a house per m2
Besançon: Average price for buying a house per m2 in the same year and geography grain Besançon: €2,793.00. Higher than 91 of 200 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €334.72 to €10,678.11; median €2,900.69.
€334.72
€10,678.11
median €2,900.69
Besançon: Average price for buying a house per m2 in the same year and geography grain
Besançon €2,793.00 Higher than 91 of 200 records in the same comparison group Median €2,900.69
Average price for buying an apartment per m2
Besançon: Average price for buying an apartment per m2 in the same year and geography grain Besançon: €2,168.00. Higher than 75 of 199 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €337.85 to €9,427.65; median €2,543.00.
€337.85
€9,427.65
median €2,543.00
Besançon: Average price for buying an apartment per m2 in the same year and geography grain
Besançon €2,168.00 Higher than 75 of 199 records in the same comparison group Median €2,543.00
Unemployment rate
Eurostat city or greater-city unemployment rate for the stated year; national definitions and observation flags still apply.
#44 of 288 · 85th pct · #6 in France
14.8%d
of population · 2022
Total employment/jobs (workplace based)
Workplace-based jobs reported for the Eurostat city or greater-city geography; not employed residents or job openings.
#157 of 411 · 62nd pct · #4 in France
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Unemployment rate
Besançon: Unemployment rate in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 14.8%. Higher than 244 of 288 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1.3% to 33.0%; median 7.8%.
1.3%
33.0%
median 7.8%
Besançon: Unemployment rate in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 14.8% Higher than 244 of 288 records in the same comparison group Median 7.8%
Total employment/jobs (workplace based)
Besançon: Total employment/jobs (workplace based) in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 73,211. Higher than 254 of 411 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 8,769 to 2,091,000; median 54,000.
8,769
2,091,000
median 54,000
Besançon: Total employment/jobs (workplace based) in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 73,211 Higher than 254 of 411 records in the same comparison group Median 54,000
Education
Share of students in higher education in the total population
#20 of 301 · 93rd pct · #2 in France
202
students per 1000 residents · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Share of students in higher education in the total population
Besançon: Share of students in higher education in the total population in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 202. Higher than 281 of 301 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 579; median 62.
0
579
median 62
Besançon: Share of students in higher education in the total population in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 202 Higher than 281 of 301 records in the same comparison group Median 62
Crude birth rate
Annual live births per 1000 residents for the reported Eurostat geography; not a fertility rate.
#62 of 366 · 83rd pct · #10 in France
10
births per 1000 residents · 2022
Crude death rate
Annual deaths per 1000 residents for the reported Eurostat geography; age structure strongly affects comparisons.
#355 of 400 · 11th pct · #9 in France
8
deaths per 1000 residents · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Crude birth rate
Besançon: Crude birth rate in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 10. Higher than 303 of 366 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 4 to 24; median 8.
4
24
median 8
Besançon: Crude birth rate in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 10 Higher than 303 of 366 records in the same comparison group Median 8
Crude death rate
Besançon: Crude death rate in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 8. Higher than 45 of 400 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 5 to 20; median 12.
5
20
median 12
Besançon: Crude death rate in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 8 Higher than 45 of 400 records in the same comparison group Median 12
Number of registered cars per 1000 population
Registered cars per resident, not congestion, traffic speed or household car access.
#102 of 247 · 59th pct · #8 in France
500
cars per 1000 population · 2022
People killed in road accidents per 10000 population
Small annual rates can be volatile; do not present as a full traffic-safety score.
#308 of 358 · 12th pct · #12 in France
0
deaths per 10000 population · 2022
Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime
This is a transport-cost input, not a full cost-of-living index.
#20 of 75 · 73rd pct · #10 in France
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Number of registered cars per 1000 population
Besançon: Number of registered cars per 1000 population in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 500. Higher than 145 of 247 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 272 to 4,237; median 479.
272
4,237
median 479
Besançon: Number of registered cars per 1000 population in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 500 Higher than 145 of 247 records in the same comparison group Median 479
People killed in road accidents per 10000 population
Besançon: People killed in road accidents per 10000 population in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 0. Higher than 43 of 358 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 2; median 0.
0
2
median 0
Besançon: People killed in road accidents per 10000 population in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 0 Higher than 43 of 358 records in the same comparison group Median 0
Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime
Besançon: Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime in the same year and geography grain Besançon: €12. Higher than 55 of 75 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €3 to €32; median €6.
€3
€32
median €6
Besançon: Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime in the same year and geography grain
Besançon €12 Higher than 55 of 75 records in the same comparison group Median €6
Country price context (PPP)
Country price level index for GDP
109
EU27_2020=100 · FR · 2024
Tourism
Total nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments
#33 of 92 · 64th pct · #4 in France
486,301e
nights / year · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Total nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments
Besançon: Total nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 486,301. Higher than 59 of 92 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 29,246,038; median 294,774.
0
29,246,038
median 294,774
Besançon: Total nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 486,301 Higher than 59 of 92 records in the same comparison group Median 294,774
Number of cinema seats per 1000 residents
Cinema-seat capacity per resident; not annual attendance or a culture score.
#114 of 267 · 57th pct · #8 in France
17
seats per 1000 residents · 2022
Cinema attendance per year
Culture attendance count where reported; not a full cultural-offer index.
#118 of 246 · 52nd pct · #8 in France
267,212
visits per year · 2022
Number of museum visitors per year
Museum visitor count where reported; not a count of museums or all cultural visits.
#50 of 226 · 78th pct · #2 in France
290,250
visits per year · 2022
Number of public libraries (all distribution points)
Library distribution points where reported; not library visits or service quality.
#216 of 425 · 43rd pct · #4 in France
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Number of cinema seats per 1000 residents
Besançon: Number of cinema seats per 1000 residents in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 17. Higher than 152 of 267 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 89; median 16.
0
89
median 16
Besançon: Number of cinema seats per 1000 residents in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 17 Higher than 152 of 267 records in the same comparison group Median 16
Cinema attendance per year
Besançon: Cinema attendance per year in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 267,212. Higher than 128 of 246 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 8,226,299; median 239,309.
0
8,226,299
median 239,309
Besançon: Cinema attendance per year in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 267,212 Higher than 128 of 246 records in the same comparison group Median 239,309
Number of museum visitors per year
Besançon: Number of museum visitors per year in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 290,250. Higher than 176 of 226 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 23,305,990; median 60,998.
0
23,305,990
median 60,998
Besançon: Number of museum visitors per year in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 290,250 Higher than 176 of 226 records in the same comparison group Median 60,998
Number of public libraries (all distribution points)
Besançon: Number of public libraries (all distribution points) in the same year and geography grain Besançon: 7. Higher than 182 of 425 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1 to 336; median 8.
1
336
median 8
Besançon: Number of public libraries (all distribution points) in the same year and geography grain
Besançon 7 Higher than 182 of 425 records in the same comparison group Median 8
Regional context (NUTS) Values describe the city's NUTS region, not the city itself
Regional GDP per inhabitant
€33,700
EUR per inhabitant · FRC21 · 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes
Common questions What is the population of Besançon? Besançon had a population of 120,057 on 1 January 2022 (Eurostat city figure), the 183rd largest of the 426 reporting city records in the same year.
What is the climate of Besançon? Its 1991–2020 ERA5-Land normal is a mean annual temperature of 11.0 °C (January 2.7 °C, July 20.0 °C) with 1,191 mm of precipitation a year. This is reanalysis, not station weather.
Not reported for this city: Resident perception survey. Eurostat Urban Audit coverage is voluntary, so some indicators are unavailable for some cities.
Eurostat flags: d = definition differs · e = estimated
Every figure is an official indicator with its source linked. Ranks compare only records with the same reference year and geography grain. See the methodology .
Compare Besançon with another city →