Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situated where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.
The municipality has a population of 196,257, and the canton has 479,158 residents. In 2011, the compact agglomération franco-valdo-genevoise had 915,000 inhabitants in both – Switzerland and France . Within Swiss territory, the commuter area named "Metropole lemanique" contains a population of 1.25 million. This area is essentially spread east from Geneva towards the Riviera area and north east towards Yverdon les Bains, in the neighbouring canton of Vaud .