Beyond its postcard-perfect allure, Nice reveals a dynamic and complex identity through its numbers, where a million-strong metropolitan heartbeat, a mature population profile, and a tourism-powered economy paint a portrait of a city far more nuanced than its famous sea and sunshine might suggest.
Key Takeaways
- The population of Nice municipality in 2021 was 342,934 inhabitants according to INSEE census data.
- Nice metropolitan area (urban unit) had 1,005,230 residents in 2020.
- 12.8% of Nice's population was under 15 years old in 2019.
- GDP per capita in Nice metropolitan area was €38,500 in 2019.
- Tourism sector employed 15.2% of Nice's workforce in 2022.
- Nice Côte d'Azur Airport handled 13.6 million passengers in 2023.
- Nice welcomed 5.5 million tourists in 2023.
- Promenade des Anglais stretches 7 kilometers along the coast.
- Old Town (Vieux Nice) attracts 2 million visitors annually.
- Nice founded by Greeks as Nikaia in 350 BC.
- Nice annexed to France in 1860 via Treaty of Turin.
- Liberation of Nice from Italian occupation on September 30, 1943.
- 2020 average annual temperature in Nice was 15.4°C.
- Nice covers 71.92 km² land area.
- Annual precipitation in Nice averages 767 mm.
Nice is a large, diverse, and aged coastal city with a tourism-focused economy.
Demographics and Population
- The population of Nice municipality in 2021 was 342,934 inhabitants according to INSEE census data.
- Nice metropolitan area (urban unit) had 1,005,230 residents in 2020.
- 12.8% of Nice's population was under 15 years old in 2019.
- The median age in Nice was 44.2 years in 2021.
- 22.1% of Nice residents were over 75 years old in 2020.
- Foreign-born population in Nice constituted 19.5% in 2018.
- Italian nationals made up 4.2% of Nice's population in 2019.
- 8.7% unemployment rate in Nice in Q4 2022.
- Average household size in Nice was 1.9 persons in 2021.
- 55.3% of Nice population were women in 2020.
- Life expectancy at birth for women in Nice area was 85.4 years in 2019.
- 15.2% of households in Nice were single-parent families in 2018.
- Population growth rate in Nice was 0.4% annually from 2015-2020.
- 6.8% of Nice residents had a disability limiting daily activities in 2018.
- Highest education level: 32.4% had baccalauréat or higher in 2019.
- 28.5% of Nice's working population commuted from outside the city in 2017.
- Immigrant population from North Africa was 7.3% in 2019.
- 41.2% of population aged 15-64 were employed in 2021.
- Nice's population density is 5,384 inhabitants per km² in 2021.
- 3.1% of births in Nice were to foreign mothers in 2020.
Demographics and Population Interpretation
Nice is aging gracefully into a chic retirement hub, where nearly a quarter of its residents are over 75, women comfortably outlive the national average, and the city buzzes with a youthful influx of international commuters and immigrants who keep its vibrant spirit alive.
Economy and Employment
- GDP per capita in Nice metropolitan area was €38,500 in 2019.
- Tourism sector employed 15.2% of Nice's workforce in 2022.
- Nice Côte d'Azur Airport handled 13.6 million passengers in 2023.
- Average gross monthly salary in Nice was €2,450 in 2021.
- Unemployment rate for youth (15-24) in Nice was 22.4% in 2022.
- Retail trade sector accounted for 12.1% of Nice's employment in 2020.
- Hotel occupancy rate in Nice averaged 72% in summer 2023.
- Nice's economy grew by 2.8% in 2022 post-COVID.
- 4,200 new businesses created in Nice department in 2022.
- Construction sector contributed 6.5% to Nice's GDP in 2019.
- Average housing price in Nice city center was €5,800 per m² in 2023.
- Professional services sector employs 18.7% of workforce in 2021.
- Nice port handled 2.1 million tons of cargo in 2022.
- IT and tech startups in Nice numbered 450 in 2023.
- Inflation rate in Nice area was 5.2% in 2022.
- 9.3% of employment in health and social work in 2020.
- Corporate tax revenue for Nice was €120 million in 2022.
- Energy sector employment grew 3.4% yearly 2018-2022.
Economy and Employment Interpretation
Nice is a city of stark contrasts: a glamorous, high-cost economy buoyed by tourism and tech startups that keeps the champagne flowing, yet a troublingly high youth unemployment rate and eye-watering property prices suggest not everyone is invited to the party.
Geography and Climate
- 2020 average annual temperature in Nice was 15.4°C.
- Nice covers 71.92 km² land area.
- Annual precipitation in Nice averages 767 mm.
- Highest point in Nice is Mont Boron at 328 m.
- Nice located at 43°42′N 7°16′E coordinates.
- Baie des Anges spans 5 km wide.
- Mediterranean Sea water temperature averages 18°C yearly.
- Nice has 300 sunny days per year on average.
- Var River forms eastern boundary of Nice.
- July average high temperature is 27.4°C.
- January average low is 5.2°C.
- Nice elevation averages 10 m above sea level.
- 1,200 ha of parks and green spaces in Nice.
- Mistral wind affects Nice occasionally, up to 100 km/h.
- Paillon River buried underground since 1972.
- Nice coastline length is 9 km pebble beaches.
- Annual sunshine hours: 2,724 in Nice.
- Relative humidity averages 70% yearly.
- Nice in Köppen climate classification Csa (Mediterranean).
- 2023 recorded 48 rainy days in Nice.
- Colline du Château rises 93 m high.
Geography and Climate Interpretation
With its nearly year-round sunshine, mild Mediterranean climate, and sheltered coastline, Nice boasts an enviable statistical recipe for the good life, cleverly packaged with just enough breeze, rain, and underground rivers to keep things interesting.
History and Culture
- Nice founded by Greeks as Nikaia in 350 BC.
- Nice annexed to France in 1860 via Treaty of Turin.
- Liberation of Nice from Italian occupation on September 30, 1943.
- Population of Nice in 1801 was 26,320 inhabitants.
- First Nice Carnival held in 1873.
- Matisse lived in Nice from 1917 until his death in 1954.
- Nice was capital of County of Nice under House of Savoy until 1860.
- 1561 Paix des Dames treaty affected Nice's status.
- Construction of Promenade des Anglais began in 1822.
- Nice Airport opened in 1910 as aerodrome.
- 1942-1943 Nice under Vichy French and Italian control.
- First railway to Nice from Genoa in 1865.
- Chagall settled in Nice in 1949.
- Nice's Belle Époque architecture boom 1880-1914.
- 1706 siege of Nice repelled Savoyard forces.
- Opera de Nice founded in 1770.
- 1860 plebiscite: 25,743 voted for France, 160 against.
- Nice's Jewish community dates to 14th century.
- Raimon Féraud, trobador, active in Nice 12th century.
History and Culture Interpretation
From its ancient Greek founding to a brief Italian occupation, Nice’s turbulent history of changing hands is outshone only by its enduring appeal to sun-seekers and artists, who’ve voted with their feet, paintbrushes, and tourism euros for centuries.
Tourism and Attractions
- Nice welcomed 5.5 million tourists in 2023.
- Promenade des Anglais stretches 7 kilometers along the coast.
- Old Town (Vieux Nice) attracts 2 million visitors annually.
- Nice Carnival drew 1.5 million spectators in 2024.
- Matisse Museum in Nice houses 68 paintings by Henri Matisse.
- 1.2 million overnight stays in Nice hotels in 2023 summer.
- Cours Saleya flower market operates 6 days a week.
- Nice has 52 beaches totaling 4.5 km of coastline.
- Jazz Festival in Nice attracts 50,000 attendees yearly.
- Chagall National Museum displays 17 large-format paintings.
- 3.4 million cruise passengers visited Nice port 2019 pre-COVID.
- La Voglia restaurant in Old Nice serves 1,000 socca daily.
- Nice's average hotel room rate was €180/night in 2023 peak.
- 45% of tourists to Nice are international, 55% domestic in 2022.
- Marc Chagall Biblical Message cycle has 12 paintings.
- Nice's tourism revenue reached €2.1 billion in 2023.
- Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Nice built in 1912 with 5 domes.
- 250,000 visitors to Nice's Christmas market annually.
- Bellanda Tower offers views from 17th-century fortress.
- Nice Jazz Festival spans 10 days with 30 concerts.
Tourism and Attractions Interpretation
While Nice's museums and historic sites offer a feast for the soul, the real masterpiece is a city that brilliantly balances 5.5 million annual tourists, 1.2 million summer overnight stays, and a whopping €2.1 billion in revenue, all without spilling a single glass of rosé on its 7-kilometer promenade.
Sources & References
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- Reference 16FRfr.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 17METEOFRANCEmeteofrance.comVisit source
- Reference 18ENen.climate-data.orgVisit source