CENSUS France’s population continues to grow, but the pace is slowing in almost all regions except Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
The crowd in downtown Lyon on September 11, 2021 (illustration). — KONRAD K.
On January 1, 2020, France had 67.16 million inhabitants (excluding Mayotte). However, the growth of the French population is attenuated in almost all regions due to a lower natural balance (number of deaths subtracted from the number of births).
The French population increased by an average of 0.3% each year between 2014 and 2020, against 0.5% between 2009 and 2014, according to figures for 2020 published Thursday by INSEE. This slowdown is due to to a lower contribution from the natural balance in all regions except Guyana, explained the National Institute of Statistics. Generally speaking, all regions saw their population growth weaken between 2014 and 2020, the exception of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur where the rhythm stayed identical to that of previous years (+0.4%).
Guyana, Corsica and Occitanie are the regions where population increases the most
Despite the slowdown, the regions which saw their population increase the most are Guyana (+ 2.1%), Corsica (+ 1%) and Occitanie (+ 0.7%). Conversely, it’s in Martinique and Guadeloupe that it has fallen the most. (-1 % and -0.7 % respectively). In Martinique, “numerous departures, mainly to metropolitan France, mainly concern young people who are studying or looking for a job,” and these departures are not compensated for. s by the natural excess, a phenomenon found in Guadeloupe, explains INSEE.
In Ile-de-France, the population has slightly progressed (+ 0.3%), an evolution which results from a high natural balance. and a negative net migration.
Declining population at Paris, but not in the inner suburbs
In detail, the population has fallen; between 2014 and 2020 in 21 departments, located mainly in the North-East, the Center and the Massif Central. Nièvre, Meuse and Haute-Marne in particular experienced sharp declines. Paris is also one of the departments concerned, with a decline of 0.6% on average each year.
On the other hand, the population has increased. in departments around Paris such as Seine-Saint-Denis or along the Atlantic coast, such as Gironde and Loire-Atlantique as well as in the South, such as Hérault and Corsica.
Cities generally continue to attract residents. The population increased twice as fast in urban areas as in rural areas (+0.4% per year on average, against + 0.2 %).