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FRANCE EXPLAINED

MAP: Where France’s population is rising – and where it’s falling

France's steady population growth and the areas that are growing and shrinking - it's all revealed in the latest data from the French national statistics agency.

MAP: Where France's population is rising - and where it's falling
Montpellier, in the Hérault. (Photo by Sylvain THOMAS / AFP)

The population of France grew by the equivalent of the city of Reims every year between 2015 and 2021, although the latest figures from national statistics agency Insee indicate a slowdown in growth.

As of January 1st, 2021, the population of France was 67,408,000, newly published stats show, showing an average increase of 203,000 per year, or 0.3 percent, down on the 0.5 percent growth seen between 2010 and 2015.

The data breaks down to commune level, so you can see how many people live in your village/town, and whether it has grown or shrunk in the last seven years – click here, then scroll down to ‘Votre commune a-t-elle gagné ou perdu des habitants ?’ and type in the name or your commune or the postcode.

The overall population slowdown is, “due to a weaker contribution from the natural balance (the difference between births and deaths) in all regions except French Guiana,” according to Insee.

The Covid-19 pandemic, an ageing population and falling birth rate were the chief cause of the unusually low difference between births and deaths, it said.

France’s birth rate continues to be low – in 2023, the number of recorded births was at its lowest since the end of the Second World War.

Nor is population growth uniform across the country.

In 23 départements – including Nièvre, Cantal, Vosges and Orne – the population is falling. Many of the areas with a falling population are already among the most sparsely populated parts of the country, where a lack of jobs and opportunities have seen younger people moving away.

However other areas – such as the Bordeaux département of Gironde, the Paris suburbs of Seine-Saint-Denis and the Alpine area of Haute-Savoie – have seen growth of between 0.8 percent and 1.6 percent.

Paris itself has been seeing a steady fall in population – which many say is linked to rising prices that drive locals out of the city. However, almost 9 in 10 people who move out of Paris only go as far as the suburbs – all of the départements surrounding Paris have seen a rise in population.

The départements of Meuse and Haute-Marne in the east experienced a more marked decline in their population than elsewhere, while the number of inhabitants has increased most significantly in the southern areas of Haute-Garonne (which includes Toulouse) and Hérault (which includes Montpellier).

“Population growth is twice as high in urban areas (+0.4 percent) as in rural areas (+0.2 percent)”, Insee said, but noted that, “strong demographic growth is concentrated in a smaller number of départements than before, around Paris, along the Atlantic coast, in the south and the Rhône corridor”.

The data also confirmed that the French are now a thoroughly urban population – as of January 1st, 2021, 45 million people lived in urban areas, while nearly 22 million people lived in rural areas. 

Meanwhile, compared to the previous five-year period, population growth is lower in all departments, except Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Lot, Lozère and Hautes-Pyrénées – where migratory growth rather than natural balance has boosted the rise in numbers, Insee said.

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LIVING IN FRANCE

Préfectures, property and Euro 2024: Essential articles for life in France

Buying a property, préfecture problems, buying and selling concert tickets, how and where to watch Euro 2024 action - plus of course what France's snap elections mean for foreigners in France - are all this week's must-reads from The Local.

Préfectures, property and Euro 2024: Essential articles for life in France

We don’t normally do politics here – the ‘Essentials’ newsletter is supposed to be practical and we usually leave that political sort of thing to editor Emma Pearson and her election bulletins.

But there are some things we can’t ignore. And one is that there’s a snap-election coming up, and there’s a possibility that Marine Len Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National party could do well. So – from visas to cartes de séjour and French language tests – here’s a look at some RN’s policies that could affect foreigners living in France, or hoping to move here someday.

What a far-right prime minister could mean for foreigners in France

There are several things to consider before buying property in France. You may want to visit the area during different seasons to be sure that you enjoy it rain or shine, and you will want to consider how much you would end up paying in property taxes, as well as whether or not it will be a main residence or second home.

And then, there are the extra hurdles for foreigners purchasing property here. Here’s a look at some of the restrictions and challenges you will want to be aware of beforehand.

What restrictions are there on foreigners buying property in France?

Many foreigners have experienced problems with their local préfecture – from long delays in processing applications to difficulty getting appointments and problems in making contact with préfecture staff.

If you’re a non-EU citizen living in France then you will need either a visa or a carte de séjour (residency permit) – and in the early years most people will need to regularly renew their cards – this means that you will have to interact with their local préfecture, or sous-préfecture. Here are a few tips to make the process a little easier on the blood pressure…

Top tips for dealing with delays or problems at your French préfecture

A football tournament kicked off on Friday – you may have heard something about it. From TV schedules to bars, cafés and fan zones, here are your options for watching all matches of the Euro 2024 football tournament in France.

How to watch the Euro 2024 tournament on TV in France

If you are buying or selling tickets to events such as concerts, matches or festivals in France, then there are some rules to be aware of, especially as the Olympic and Paralympic Games approach.

The rules for buying and selling tickets in France

From strike action to Olympic disruption, via ‘black days’ on the roads and the €49 rail pass, here’s a look ahead to what to expect if you’re travelling to, from or within France in summer 2024.

Travel to France: What to expect on roads, rails and airports this summer

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