France

The segmentation concerned the approximately 51,000 IRIS [1] in which the French territory was divided during the 2007 Census. Based on the socio-economic data collected, the IRIS were classified, with statistical procedures, in 38 clusters. Each IRIS, containing on average about 530 families, therefore belongs to a single cluster (segment).
The 37 segments were then grouped into 12 groups based on their main characteristics.
In the following descriptions we refer to the average characteristics of each group or segment and therefore to the average of thousands of IRIS.
When we speak of "maximum value" or "minimum value" we mean the highest, or lowest, value that occurs in the average values of the segments of groups A to M, excluding therefore the special areas (group S) that represent a negligible portion of the population.
When we talk about the "presence" of a Group or Segment we refer to the absolute values of its population while when we speak of "concentration" we mean its relative share (percentage) with respect to the total population of the area to which it refers.
[1] The IRIS (Ilots Regroupés pour des Indicateurs Statistiques) are standard subdivisions of the French territory to which many periodic surveys are reported.

GROUP A - Neighborhoods 7.1% of the population

It is formed by areas inhabited by wealthy and educated. Families are smaller than average, with many singles and a population slightly older than average.
It has high levels of employment with very high levels of entrepreneurs, professionals and managers. Families mostly live in small to medium-sized apartments. It is mainly concentrated in the Île-de-France (especially the center of Paris) in the municipalities of more than 100,000 inhabitants. There is a significant share of families living in large single-family homes located in more peripheral areas of major cities.

 GROUP B - Dynamic areas 8.4% of the population

It is a rather diverse group, but it is made up of areas inhabited by a population that is considerably younger than the average with a good level of education and an income just below average.
Families have a slightly lower average size and have a rather varied structure: couples, mostly with children, but also single.
The population has near-average levels of activity and employment. The professional profile is varied with a certain prevalence of employees and employees also of good level. Many students.
Families mostly live in medium-sized apartments for rent; many HLM (habitations à loyer modéré) especially in the younger group.
It is present throughout France in municipalities over 10,000 inhabitants with a concentration in the Île-de-France and in Corsica.

GROUP C - Peaceful Province 7.9% of the population

It is made up of areas inhabited by a population that is generally younger than average and with a medium-high income and education level.
Families are larger than average and are largely made up of parents with children.
The social environment is mixed: employees, employees, traders and artisans, some farmers, a few unemployed.
They live mainly in single-family houses, rather large, in properties built mainly after 1974.
It is widespread throughout France in municipalities under 30,000.

GROUP D - Average class 8.3% of the population

It is made up of areas inhabited by population with a demographic profile and income close to the average and above-average education. Families are slightly below the average size and are made up of both single people and couples with or without children.
The population has reasonable levels of employment and the employees, the managers and in any case the employees and salaried workers prevail.
They live mainly in medium-sized apartments, divided equally between property and rent, built mostly before 1974.
It is present throughout France with a prevalence in Île-de-France and Rhône-Alpes, in municipalities over 10,000 inhabitants.

GROUP E - Intermediate areas 7.9% of the population

It is made up of areas inhabited by a population slightly older than the average with a level of income and education just above average.
Families are of medium size and mostly formed by couples with or without children.
The level of employment is good with a very varied professional profile in which the employees prevail, even at a good level but also self-employed and artisans.
They live mainly in single-family houses in medium-large properties built in various periods but especially in the 70s.
It is widely distributed in France in the municipalities between 1,000 and 30,000 inhabitants located mostly in the hinterland of the cities.

 GROUP F - Large province 8.3% of the population

It is formed by areas inhabited by a population slightly older than the average with a level of income and education slightly lower than the average.
The professional profile reflects the average of France with a greater incidence of self-employed workers (traders and artisans).
Families are slightly larger than average and mostly formed by couples with or without children and mostly elderly singles.
They mainly live in medium-large single-family homes in both recent and old buildings.
It is mainly present in the municipalities under 10,000 inhabitants and spread throughout France with a certain concentration in the Midi and the North-East.

GROUP G - Areas in transformation 6.0% of the population

It is made up of areas inhabited by a generally older population than the average with a lower income level than average and average education.
The professional profile is mainly made up of employees, employees and even workers. Many retirees.
Families are smaller than average and almost half of them are single, mostly elderly.
They live mainly in medium-sized apartments, divided into almost equal parts between property and rent, built before 1975.
It is mainly present in the municipalities above 10,000 inhabitants and in urban areas and is widespread throughout France with a certain concentration in the Midi. Overall socio-demographic indices show that in these areas, important changes are taking place in terms of population turnover.

GROUP H - Rural areas 14.0% of the population

It is made up of areas inhabited by the population with a medium demographic profile, average income and slightly lower education.
Families are larger than average and mostly formed by married couples with or without children. The population has high levels of employment: farmers, artisans, self-employed workers, even with temporary jobs. They live mainly in large single-family homes, in properties, built in all ages.
It is mainly present in municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants and spread throughout France with the exception of Midi.

GROUP I - Old Province 11.0% of the population 

It is formed by areas inhabited by a rather old population and with lower than average income and educational characteristics. Families are below average size and are generally formed by couples without children and lonely people.
The level of employment is slightly below the average: high concentration of farmers, artisans, traders, workers. Many retirees and foreigners, not just immigrants.
They mainly live in medium-large single-family homes, owned, built mostly before 1975.
It is mainly present in municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants and spread throughout France.

GROUP L - Semi-industrial areas 7.8% of the population

It is made up of areas inhabited by a generally younger population than the average with a lower than average income and education level.
Families are quite large and generally formed by couples mostly with children.
The level of employment is discrete, even with a certain level of unemployment: workers and employees prevail, but the activity rate, especially for women and lower than average.
The population lives mainly in large single-family dwellings, in properties, built before 1975 ..
It is mainly present in municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants and concentrated in the North.

GROUP M - Disadvantaged areas 12.7% of the population

It is made up of areas inhabited by a generally younger population than the average with a level of income and education that is well below the average.
Families are larger than average and mostly formed by couples, mostly with children and by single people, mostly elderly.
The level of employment is lacking (many are unemployed) and the activity rate, especially for women, is low. Wage workers prevail among the employed, above all workers and clerks.
The population lives mainly in medium-sized apartments, for rent, for half HLM, built mostly before 1975 ..
It is mainly present in municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants and concentrated mainly in the Île-de-France and in the DOM.
  

GROUP S - Special areas 0.2% of the population

It concerns sections of the census that have only the majority population in the community (barracks, hospices, prisons, etc.) or have characteristics that can not be classified.