France's domains: the local digital divide

France counts more than 4.3 million .fr domain names, but density varies hugely by department: from ~21 to ~235 domains per 1,000 inhabitants. Paris dominates, several regional metros perform strongly, while a diagonal of rural/industrial areas remains below 30/1000.

Sources: AFNIC Open Data (August 2025), INSEE (2024 population). Method: density = active domains / population × 1,000. CaptainDNS study (Oct. 2025).

A ratio from 21 to 235 domains per 1,000 inhabitants

The national average sits around 52 .fr domains per 1,000 inhabitants. The gap is striking: Meuse is close to 21/1000 while Paris reaches ~235/1000 (roughly one domain for every four Parisians). The economic and administrative weight of Greater Paris explains part of the concentration (companies, agencies, digital entrepreneurs).

Dynamic clusters in the South and the West

Beyond Paris, we spot strong clusters in the South-East (Rhône, Alpes-Maritimes, Vaucluse, Var) and the South-West (Gironde, Landes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques), as well as in Haute-Savoie and Haute-Garonne. These areas combine economic appeal, entrepreneurship, and dense digital ecosystems.

Top 10 departments (.fr domains per 1,000 inhabitants)

Rank	Department	Population	.fr domains	/1,000 inhab.
1	Paris (75)	2,129,257	499,926	234.8
2	Hauts-de-Seine (92)	1,663,026	193,726	116.5
3	Rhône (69)	1,933,160	162,480	84.1
4	Haute-Savoie (74)	869,929	68,080	78.3
5	Alpes-Maritimes (06)	1,128,455	85,445	75.7
6	Haute-Garonne (31)	1,479,413	103,678	70.1
7	Hérault (34)	1,235,457	83,620	67.7
8	Yvelines (78)	1,493,882	98,432	65.9
9	Gironde (33)	1,701,107	111,179	65.4
10	Val-de-Marne (94)	1,428,350	89,385	62.6

Visualization (SVG) — Top 10 density

Domains follow freelance hotspots

The departments rich in .fr domains are also those where digital freelancers concentrate: wherever independents settle, the domains follow. In 2025, owning a domain has become a core identity marker (site, portfolio, shop, email). The .fr extension still signals local trust and remains an SEO lever for French-language queries.

Low-density pockets

The diagonal from Haute-Marne to Creuse via Nièvre stays under 30/1000. A production-oriented economy, lower business density and aging demographics help explain the gap.

Bottom 10 departments (.fr domains per 1,000 inhabitants)

Rank	Department	Population	.fr domains	/1,000 inhab.
1	Meuse (55)	185,753	3,837	20.7
2	Haute-Marne (52)	174,637	4,031	23.1
3	Ardennes (08)	273,109	6,451	23.6
4	Pas-de-Calais (62)	1,481,487	35,198	23.8
5	Aisne (02)	536,985	13,318	24.8
6	Indre (36)	222,400	5,863	26.4
7	Orne (61)	283,434	7,634	26.9
8	Nièvre (58)	207,295	5,621	27.1
9	Somme (80)	575,480	16,086	27.9
10	Creuse (23)	118,874	3,364	28.3

Visualization (SVG) — Bottom 10 density

Metros as the .FR engine

Density tracks major regional metros (Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). The market is still centralized: a substantial share of accredited registrars cluster in Greater Paris, well ahead of Lyon, Marseille, or Toulouse.

.fr, the signature of an entrepreneurial web

The .fr extension is now a tool of independence and digital identity, especially for sole traders and micro-businesses (digital services, communications, e-commerce). It inspires trust and remains an SEO lever for French-language queries.

Methodology

CaptainDNS study (Oct. 2025). Sources: AFNIC Open Data (Aug. 2025), INSEE 2024. Calculations based on active domains / population × 1,000 per department.