Between 2011 and 2016, major urban areas support French demographic growth

At 1 January 2016, 66,362,000 inhabitants lived in France (excluding Mayotte), representing growth of 0.4% per year since 2011. The demographic increase affects all regions, except Martinique, Guadeloupe and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. However, demographic dynamism is weakening.

Strong population increases particularly benefit the départements of regional metropolitan areas on the Atlantic coast, in Occitanie and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Conversely, 24 départements, including Paris, report a fall. The population increase represents a demographic revival of major urban centres and the dynamism of their commuting zone.