The area’s two main geographical features - the Alps and the Rhône river - account for both its name and character. Due to its exceptional geographical position and its history Rhône-Alpes has become a politically, economically and demographically strategic region in Europe.

Facts and figures

 Population :

  6 million people (equivalent to a country the size of Denmark)
  10% of France’s population
   Second highest population in France, after the Paris area, well ahead of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur 

 Economy :

  GDP exceeding €180bn, comparable to a country such as Poland
  10% of France’s GDP
  Higher growth rate than French average
  France’s number two region for GDP, per capita GDP or purchasing power, after Paris area
 In 13th position in the European Union for GDP, ahead of Catalonia or Lazio
 Wide range of industries, protecting it from economic cycles
 2.4 million employees in more than 365,000 companies
 Unemployment rate 1.5% lower than national average
 Rhône-Alpes accounts for almost 1% of world trade!
 Higher public research center after Paris area

Tourism :

 Second largest region in France for outward bound travel, after the Paris area
 Second biggest destination, welcoming more visitors than Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur (the French Riviera). 12% of all holidays in France!
 11% of France’s hotel capacity
 A unique skiing market - the Alps
 80 golf courses
 8 natural parks
 Magnificent towns, art treasures, history, superb landscape, lakes and mountains
 Internationally reputed wines
 Unparalleled food

Below we provide some key figures for the region and links to official sites. For a comprehensive, objective picture you can be sure of finding all the necessary information there, a task beyond the capacity of the present website.

Doing Business in Europe

Insee (office of statistics)

Regional Chamber of Commerce

Rhône-Alpes Regional Council

Entreprise Rhône-Alpes International

Rhône-Alpes Tourisme

Atout France

DRIRE Rhône-Alpes