History of the Settlement and Populating of France
The area that is today known as France was originally a part of Gaul, a region that was inhabited by primarily Celts. During the second century B.C. the Roman Empire began to slowly gain control of Gaul using military force along with colonization. Once Julius Caesar became general, it was not long before military conquest brought the entirety of Gaul under Roman rule. The expansion of the Roman Empire increased the population of the area dramatically. Immigrants from Germanic descent began populating the area. The southern portion of this area was frequently visited by traders of Phonecian and Greek descent, so settlements along the coastline began to increase rapidly. Eventually the remnants of the Roman Empire disappeared from the area altogether. After being under the direction of numerous kings, France became its own country during the ninth century. France soon became the dominant power in Europe and since then the population of France has been increasing steadily. Today, according to the 2011 Census, the country of France is home to 65,436,552 people.
Research Findings on Settlement
According to scientists, immigration of the area today known as France began during Paleolithic times by pre-modern hominid populations. Many of the first settlements were found along the coastline suggesting that trade was abundant. The presence of steel and other metals in the area allowed for the development of numerous tools and weapons. The geography of France allowed for further settlement and increases in populations with the abundance of both forested environments as well as oceanic ones. Along with these environments came an abundance of fish and game which allowed the region to thrive.
Population of France
Population density of France.
Population of France in 2010.
The Difference in France's Population: 1950 vs. 2011
The two population pyramids shown above show the population distribution of France in 1950 and in 2011. As you can see the oldest group of people has increased for near 80 years to almost 100 years since 1950. Additionally the population of people aged 25-35 has increased significantly since 1950 as well. There are many other differences that you can compare using these two charts.
Population of France Today
As shown by the graph above, the population of males and females in France is very similar. It is very interesting to the see symmetry among the male and female populations. Males and females between the ages of 30 and 60 account for the majority of the population. Although, children and young adults account for a significant portion of the population as well. According to the graph it seems that life expectancy for those living in France seems to be relatively high in comparison to other countries in the world.
Want to know more?
Explore the following websites to learn additional information about the settlements and populations of France.
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/France-history.htm
http://history-world.org/A%20history_of_france.htm
http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/france/history
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/France-history.htm
http://history-world.org/A%20history_of_france.htm
http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/france/history