Insee Première · February 2025 · n° 2039

In ten years, office and public services consumed as much natural, agricultural and forest areas as industry

In France excluding Mayotte, economic activity represented nearly a quarter of natural, agricultural or forest areas consumed between the beginning of 2012 and the end of 2021. Land consumption is measured by the change in use of cadastral parcels, and does not account for natural restoration. It is much more concentrated in a limited number of municipalities, compared to land consumption for housing.

Industry, and office and public services activities each accounted for almost 30% of economic land consumption. Meanwhile, the trade sector was less and less land‑consuming. The number of additional payroll jobs per hectare of consumed land increased in several sectors, especially for office and public services activities, and accommodation and food services.