List of French departments by population

Population Density by Department

This table lists the 101 French departments in descending order of population, area and population density.

Data Description

The figures include:

population without double counting for 1999;
municipal population (legal population in 2008, with effect from 1 January 2011)^[1] published in decree No. 2010-1723 of 30 December 2010 as amended by Decree No. 2011-343 of 28 March 2011 which corresponds to data compiled as at 1 January 2008.
municipal population (legal population in 2009 with effect from 1 January 2012)^[2]

The total population takes into account double counting.

Evolution

Between 1999 and 2006 all French departments have grown in population with the exception of the following seven departments: Allier and Cantal in Auvergne, Creuse in Limousin, Ardennes and Haute-Marne in Champagne-Ardenne, Nièvre in Burgundy, and Vosges in Lorraine.

In contrast the seven departments that have gained the most population in absolute value are Haute-Garonne, Gironde, Bouches-du-Rhône, Seine-Saint-Denis, Loire-Atlantique, Hauts-de Seine, and Hérault.

Guadeloupe has seemingly lost population between 1999 and 2008. However, this diminution of the legal population is due to the creation of the overseas communities of Saint Barthelemy and Saint-Martin. In the 1999 census, the population of Guadeloupe without the arrondissement of Saint-Martin-Saint-Barthélemy was 386,566 inhabitants. The department's population has actually increased by more than 15,000 people over the period based on a constant territory.

List of Departments by Descending Population

2010 Rank	Department	Legal Population in 1931	Legal Population in 1999	Legal Population in 2008	Legal Population in 2010	Area (km²)	Aroen (Pop./km²)	INSEE Dept. No.
1	Nord	7006202944900000000♠2,029,449	7006255502000000000♠2,555,020	7006256495900000000♠2,564,959	7006257677000000000♠2,576,770	7003574300000000000♠5,743	7002449000000000000♠449	59
2	Paris	7006289102000000000♠2,891,020	7006212524600000000♠2,125,246	7006221129700000000♠2,211,297	7006224383300000000♠2,243,833	7002105000000000000♠105	7004213700000000000♠21,370	75
3	Bouches-du-Rhône	7006110167200000000♠1,101,672	7006183571900000000♠1,835,719	7006196600500000000♠1,966,005	7006197201800000000♠1,972,018	7003508700000000000♠5,087	7002388000000000000♠388	13
4	Rhône	7006104602800000000♠1,046,028	7006157886900000000♠1,578,869	7006169049800000000♠1,690,498	7006172517700000000♠1,725,177	7003324900000000000♠3,249	7002531000000000000♠531	69
5	Hauts-de-Seine	7005949231000000000♠949,231	7006142888100000000♠1,428,881	7006154961900000000♠1,549,619	7006157249000000000♠1,572,490	7002176000000000000♠176	7003893500000000000♠8,935	92
6	Seine-Saint-Denis	7005769315000000000♠769,315	7006138286100000000♠1,382,861	7006150646600000000♠1,506,466	7006152204800000000♠1,522,048	7002236000000000000♠236	7003644900000000000♠6,449	93
7	Pas-de-Calais	7006120519100000000♠1,205,191	7006144156800000000♠1,441,568	7006145953100000000♠1,459,531	7006146138700000000♠1,461,387	7003667100000000000♠6,671	7002219000000000000♠219	62
8	Gironde	7005852768000000000♠852,768	7006128733400000000♠1,287,334	7006142127600000000♠1,421,276	7006144924500000000♠1,449,245	7004107250000000000♠10,725	7002145000000000000♠145	33
9	Yvelines	7005408282000000000♠408,282	7006135430800000000♠1,354,308	7006140605300000000♠1,406,053	7006140876500000000♠1,408,765	7003228400000000000♠2,284	7002617000000000000♠617	78
10	Val-de-Marne	7005657322000000000♠657,322	7006122725000000000♠1,227,250	7006131087600000000♠1,310,876	7006132773200000000♠1,327,732	7002245000000000000♠245	7003541900000000000♠5,419	94
11	Seine-et-Marne	7005406108000000000♠406,108	7006119376700000000♠1,193,767	7006130370200000000♠1,303,702	7006132486500000000♠1,324,865	7003591500000000000♠5,915	7002224000000000000♠224	77
12	Loire-Atlantique	7005652079000000000♠652,079	7006113426600000000♠1,134,266	7006125587100000000♠1,255,871	7006128205200000000♠1,282,052	7003681500000000000♠6,815	7002188000000000000♠188	44
13	Seine-Maritime	7005905278000000000♠905,278	7006123913800000000♠1,239,138	7006124858000000000♠1,248,580	7006125041100000000♠1,250,411	7003627800000000000♠6,278	7002199000000000000♠199	76
14	Haute-Garonne	7005441799000000000♠441,799	7006104633800000000♠1,046,338	7006121734400000000♠1,217,344	7006124364100000000♠1,243,641	7003630900000000000♠6,309	7002197000000000000♠197	31
15	Essonne	7005271094000000000♠271,094	7006113423800000000♠1,134,238	7006120585000000000♠1,205,850	7006121534000000000♠1,215,340	7003180400000000000♠1,804	7002674000000000000♠674	91
16	Isère	7005584017000000000♠584,017	7006109400600000000♠1,094,006	7006118866000000000♠1,188,660	7006120637400000000♠1,206,374	7003743100000000000♠7,431	7002162000000000000♠162	38
17	Val-d'Oise	7005353374000000000♠353,374	7006110546400000000♠1,105,464	7006116539700000000♠1,165,397	7006117116100000000♠1,171,161	7003124600000000000♠1,246	7002940000000000000♠940	95
18	Bas-Rhin	7005688242000000000♠688,242	7006102612000000000♠1,026,120	7006109101500000000♠1,091,015	7006109590500000000♠1,095,905	7003475500000000000♠4,755	7002230000000000000♠230	67
19	Alpes-Maritimes	7005493376000000000♠493,376	7006101132600000000♠1,011,326	7006108442800000000♠1,084,428	7006107872900000000♠1,078,729	7003429900000000000♠4,299	7002251000000000000♠251	06
20	Moselle	7005693408000000000♠693,408	7006102344700000000♠1,023,447	7006104223000000000♠1,042,230	7006104506600000000♠1,045,066	7003621600000000000♠6,216	7002168000000000000♠168	57
21	Hérault	7005514819000000000♠514,819	7005896441000000000♠896,441	7006101979800000000♠1,019,798	7006104455800000000♠1,044,558	7003610100000000000♠6,101	7002171000000000000♠171	34
22	Var	7005377104000000000♠377,104	7005898441000000000♠898,441	7006100140800000000♠1,001,408	7006100818300000000♠1,008,183	7003597300000000000♠5,973	7002169000000000000♠169	83
23	Ille-et-Vilaine	7005562558000000000♠562,558	7005867533000000000♠867,533	7005967588000000000♠967,588	7005988140000000000♠988,140	7003677500000000000♠6,775	7002146000000000000♠146	35
24	Finistère	7005744295000000000♠744,295	7005852418000000000♠852,418	7005890509000000000♠890,509	7005897628000000000♠897,628	7003673300000000000♠6,733	7002133000000000000♠133	29
25	La Réunion	-	7005706300000000000♠706,300	7005808250000000000♠808,250	7005821136000000000♠821,136	7003250400000000000♠2,504	7002328000000000000♠328	974
26	Oise	7005407432000000000♠407,432	7005766441000000000♠766,441	7005799725000000000♠799,725	7005803595000000000♠803,595	7003586000000000000♠5,860	7002137000000000000♠137	60
27	Maine-et-Loire	7005475991000000000♠475,991	7005732942000000000♠732,942	7005774823000000000♠774,823	7005784810000000000♠784,810	7003716600000000000♠7,166	7002110000000000000♠110	49
28	Haut-Rhin	7005516726000000000♠516,726	7005708025000000000♠708,025	7005746072000000000♠746,072	7005749782000000000♠749,782	7003352500000000000♠3,525	7002213000000000000♠213	68
29	Loire	7005664822000000000♠664,822	7005728524000000000♠728,524	7005742076000000000♠742,076	7005748947000000000♠748,947	7003478100000000000♠4,781	7002157000000000000♠157	42
30	Haute-Savoie	7005252794000000000♠252,794	7005631679000000000♠631,679	7005716277000000000♠716,277	7005738088000000000♠738,088	7003438800000000000♠4,388	7002168000000000000♠168	74
31	Meurthe-et-Moselle	7005592632000000000♠592,632	7005713779000000000♠713,779	7005729768000000000♠729,768	7005732207000000000♠732,207	7003524600000000000♠5,246	7002140000000000000♠140	54
32	Morbihan	7005537528000000000♠537,528	7005643873000000000♠643,873	7005710034000000000♠710,034	7005721657000000000♠721,657	7003682300000000000♠6,823	7002106000000000000♠106	56
33	Gard	7005406815000000000♠406,815	7005623125000000000♠623,125	7005694323000000000♠694,323	7005709700000000000♠709,700	7003585300000000000♠5,853	7002121000000000000♠121	30
34	Calvados	7005401356000000000♠401,356	7005648385000000000♠648,385	7005678206000000000♠678,206	7005683105000000000♠683,105	7003554800000000000♠5,548	7002123000000000000♠123	14
35	Loiret	7005342679000000000♠342,679	7005618126000000000♠618,126	7005650769000000000♠650,769	7005656105000000000♠656,105	7003677500000000000♠6,775	7001970000000000000♠97	45
36	Pyrénées-Atlantiques	7005422719000000000♠422,719	7005600018000000000♠600,018	7005647420000000000♠647,420	7005653515000000000♠653,515	7003764500000000000♠7,645	7001850000000000000♠85	64
37	Vendée	7005390396000000000♠390,396	7005539664000000000♠539,664	7005616906000000000♠616,906	7005634778000000000♠634,778	7003672000000000000♠6,720	7001940000000000000♠94	85
38	Puy-de-Dôme	7005500590000000000♠500,590	7005604266000000000♠604,266	7005628485000000000♠628,485	7005632311000000000♠632,311	7003797000000000000♠7,970	7001790000000000000♠79	63
39	Charente-Maritime	7005415249000000000♠415,249	7005557024000000000♠557,024	7005611714000000000♠611,714	7005622323000000000♠622,323	7003686400000000000♠6,864	7001910000000000000♠91	17
40	Ain	7005322918000000000♠322,918	7005515270000000000♠515,270	7005581355000000000♠581,355	7005597341000000000♠597,341	7003576200000000000♠5,762	7002104000000000000♠104	01
41	Côtes-d'Armor	7005539531000000000♠539,531	7005542373000000000♠542,373	7005581570000000000♠581,570	7005591641000000000♠591,641	7003687800000000000♠6,878	7001860000000000000♠86	22
42	Indre-et-Loire	7005335226000000000♠335,226	7005554003000000000♠554,003	7005585406000000000♠585,406	7005590515000000000♠590,515	7003612700000000000♠6,127	7001960000000000000♠96	37
43	Eure	7005305788000000000♠305,788	7005541054000000000♠541,054	7005577087000000000♠577,087	7005586543000000000♠586,543	7003604000000000000♠6,040	7001970000000000000♠97	27
44	Somme	7005466626000000000♠466,626	7005555551000000000♠555,551	7005568086000000000♠568,086	7005570741000000000♠570,741	7003617000000000000♠6,170	7001930000000000000♠93	80
45	Marne	7005412156000000000♠412,156	7005565229000000000♠565,229	7005566010000000000♠566,010	7005565307000000000♠565,307	7003816200000000000♠8,162	7001690000000000000♠69	51
46	Sarthe	7005384619000000000♠384,619	7005529851000000000♠529,851	7005559587000000000♠559,587	7005563518000000000♠563,518	7003620600000000000♠6,206	7001910000000000000♠91	72
47	Saône-et-Loire	7005538741000000000♠538,741	7005544893000000000♠544,893	7005553968000000000♠553,968	7005555663000000000♠555,663	7003857500000000000♠8,575	7001650000000000000♠65	71
48	Vaucluse	7005241689000000000♠241,689	7005499685000000000♠499,685	7005538902000000000♠538,902	7005555240000000000♠555,240	7003356700000000000♠3,567	7002152000000000000♠152	84
49	Aisne	7005489368000000000♠489,368	7005535489000000000♠535,489	7005538790000000000♠538,790	7005540508000000000♠540,508	7003736900000000000♠7,369	7001730000000000000♠73	02
50	Doubs	7005305500000000000♠305,500	7005499062000000000♠499,062	7005522685000000000♠522,685	7005527770000000000♠527,770	7003523400000000000♠5,234	7002101000000000000♠101	25
51	Côte-d'Or	7005333800000000000♠333,800	7005506755000000000♠506,755	7005521608000000000♠521,608	7005524358000000000♠524,358	7003876300000000000♠8,763	7001600000000000000♠60	21
52	Manche	7005433473000000000♠433,473	7005481471000000000♠481,471	7005496937000000000♠496,937	7005498747000000000♠498,747	7003593800000000000♠5,938	7001840000000000000♠84	50
53	Drôme	7005267080000000000♠267,080	7005437778000000000♠437,778	7005478069000000000♠478,069	7005484715000000000♠484,715	7003653000000000000♠6,530	7001740000000000000♠74	26
54	Pyrénées-Orientales	7005238647000000000♠238,647	7005392803000000000♠392,803	7005441387000000000♠441,387	7005448543000000000♠448,543	7003411600000000000♠4,116	7002109000000000000♠109	66
55	Eure-et-Loir	7005254790000000000♠254,790	7005407665000000000♠407,665	7005423559000000000♠423,559	7005428933000000000♠428,933	7003588000000000000♠5,880	7001730000000000000♠73	28
56	Vienne	7005303072000000000♠303,072	7005399024000000000♠399,024	7005424354000000000♠424,354	7005427193000000000♠427,193	7003699000000000000♠6,990	7001610000000000000♠61	86
57	Savoie	7005235544000000000♠235,544	7005373258000000000♠373,258	7005408842000000000♠408,842	7005414959000000000♠414,959	7003602800000000000♠6,028	7001690000000000000♠69	73
58	Dordogne	7005383720000000000♠383,720	7005388293000000000♠388,293	7005409388000000000♠409,388	7005414149000000000♠414,149	7003906000000000000♠9,060	7001460000000000000♠46	24
59	Guadeloupe	-	7005422496000000000♠422,496	7005401784000000000♠401,784	7005403355000000000♠403,355	7003162800000000000♠1,628^[3]	7002248000000000000♠248	971
60	Martinique	-	7005381427000000000♠381,427	7005397693000000000♠397,693	7005394173000000000♠394,173	7003112800000000000♠1,128	7002349000000000000♠349	972
61	Landes	7005257186000000000♠257,186	7005327334000000000♠327,334	7005373142000000000♠373,142	7005384320000000000♠384,320	7003924300000000000♠9,243	7001420000000000000♠42	40
62	Vosges	7005377980000000000♠377,980	7005380952000000000♠380,952	7005380145000000000♠380,145	7005379724000000000♠379,724	7003587400000000000♠5,874	7001650000000000000♠65	88
63	Haute-Vienne	7005335873000000000♠335,873	7005353893000000000♠353,893	7005373940000000000♠373,940	7005376191000000000♠376,191	7003552000000000000♠5,520	7001680000000000000♠68	87
64	Tarn	7005302994000000000♠302,994	7005343402000000000♠343,402	7005371738000000000♠371,738	7005375379000000000♠375,379	7003575800000000000♠5,758	7001650000000000000♠65	81
65	Deux-Sèvres	7005308481000000000♠308,481	7005344392000000000♠344,392	7005365059000000000♠365,059	7005369270000000000♠369,270	7003599900000000000♠5,999	7001620000000000000♠62	79
66	Aude	7005296880000000000♠296,880	7005309770000000000♠309,770	7005349237000000000♠349,237	7005356467000000000♠356,467	7003613900000000000♠6,139	7001580000000000000♠58	11
67	Charente	7005310489000000000♠310,489	7005339628000000000♠339,628	7005351581000000000♠351,581	7005351577000000000♠351,577	7003595600000000000♠5,956	7001590000000000000♠59	16
68	Allier	7005373924000000000♠373,924	7005344721000000000♠344,721	7005342807000000000♠342,807	7005342908000000000♠342,908	7003734000000000000♠7,340	7001470000000000000♠47	03
69	Yonne	7005275755000000000♠275,755	7005333221000000000♠333,221	7005342359000000000♠342,359	7005342510000000000♠342,510	7003742700000000000♠7,427	7001460000000000000♠46	89
70	Lot-et-Garonne	7005247500000000000♠247,500	7005305380000000000♠305,380	7005326399000000000♠326,399	7005331123000000000♠331,123	7003536100000000000♠5,361	7001620000000000000♠62	47
71	Loir-et-Cher	7005241592000000000♠241,592	7005314968000000000♠314,968	7005326599000000000♠326,599	7005330079000000000♠330,079	7003634300000000000♠6,343	7001520000000000000♠52	41
72	Ardèche	7005282911000000000♠282,911	7005286023000000000♠286,023	7005311452000000000♠311,452	7005315090000000000♠315,090	7003552900000000000♠5,529	7001570000000000000♠57	07
73	Cher	7005293918000000000♠293,918	7005314428000000000♠314,428	7005313251000000000♠313,251	7005311257000000000♠311,257	7003723500000000000♠7,235	7001430000000000000♠43	18
74	Mayenne	7005254479000000000♠254,479	7005285338000000000♠285,338	7005302983000000000♠302,983	7005306337000000000♠306,337	7003517500000000000♠5,175	7001590000000000000♠59	53
75	Aube	7005242596000000000♠242,596	7005292131000000000♠292,131	7005301327000000000♠301,327	7005303327000000000♠303,327	7003600400000000000♠6,004	7001510000000000000♠51	10
76	Orne	7005273717000000000♠273,717	7005292337000000000♠292,337	7005292282000000000♠292,282	7005291642000000000♠291,642	7003610300000000000♠6,103	7001480000000000000♠48	61
77	Ardennes	7005293746000000000♠293,746	7005290130000000000♠290,130	7005284197000000000♠284,197	7005283250000000000♠283,250	7003522900000000000♠5,229	7001540000000000000♠54	08
78	Aveyron	7005323782000000000♠323,782	7005263808000000000♠263,808	7005275889000000000♠275,889	7005276805000000000♠276,805	7003873500000000000♠8,735	7001320000000000000♠32	12
79	Jura	7005229109000000000♠229,109	7005250857000000000♠250,857	7005260740000000000♠260,740	7005261534000000000♠261,534	7003499900000000000♠4,999	7001520000000000000♠52	39
80	Corrèze	7005264129000000000♠264,129	7005232576000000000♠232,576	7005242896000000000♠242,896	7005243551000000000♠243,551	7003585700000000000♠5,857	7001420000000000000♠42	19
81	Tarn-et-Garonne	7005164259000000000♠164,259	7005206034000000000♠206,034	7005235915000000000♠235,915	7005241698000000000♠241,698	7003371800000000000♠3,718	7001650000000000000♠65	82
82	Haute-Saône	7005219257000000000♠219,257	7005229732000000000♠229,732	7005238548000000000♠238,548	7005239548000000000♠239,548	7003536000000000000♠5,360	7001450000000000000♠45	70
83	Indre	7005247912000000000♠247,912	7005231139000000000♠231,139	7005232004000000000♠232,004	7005231176000000000♠231,176	7003679100000000000♠6,791	7001340000000000000♠34	36
84	Hautes-Pyrénées	7005189993000000000♠189,993	7005222368000000000♠222,368	7005229079000000000♠229,079	7005229458000000000♠229,458	7003446400000000000♠4,464	7001510000000000000♠51	65
85	Guyane	-	7005157213000000000♠157,213	7005219266000000000♠219,266	7005229040000000000♠229,040	7004835340000000000♠83,534	7000300000000000000♠3	973
86	Haute-Loire	7005251608000000000♠251,608	7005209113000000000♠209,113	7005221834000000000♠221,834	7005224006000000000♠224,006	7003497700000000000♠4,977	7001450000000000000♠45	43
87	Nièvre	7005255195000000000♠255,195	7005225198000000000♠225,198	7005220653000000000♠220,653	7005219584000000000♠219,584	7003681700000000000♠6,817	7001320000000000000♠32	58
88	Mayotte	-	7005131320000000000♠131,320^[4]	7005186452000000000♠186,452^[5]	7005212645000000000♠212,645^[6]	7002376000000000000♠376	7002566000000000000♠566	976
89	Meuse	7005215819000000000♠215,819	7005192198000000000♠192,198	7005194218000000000♠194,218	7005193923000000000♠193,923	7003621100000000000♠6,211	7001310000000000000♠31	55
90	Gers	7005193134000000000♠193,134	7005172335000000000♠172,335	7005185266000000000♠185,266	7005188159000000000♠188,159	7003625700000000000♠6,257	7001300000000000000♠30	32
91	Haute-Marne	7005189791000000000♠189,791	7005194873000000000♠194,873	7005186470000000000♠186,470	7005184039000000000♠184,039	7003621100000000000♠6,211	7001300000000000000♠30	52
92	Lot	7005166637000000000♠166,637	7005160197000000000♠160,197	7005172796000000000♠172,796	7005174578000000000♠174,578	7003521700000000000♠5,217	7001330000000000000♠33	46
93	Haute-Corse	-	7005141603000000000♠141,603	7005162013000000000♠162,013	7005166093000000000♠166,093	7003466600000000000♠4,666	7001360000000000000♠36	Template:Tri12B
94	Alpes-de-Haute-Provence	7004875660000000000♠87,566	7005139561000000000♠139,561	7005157965000000000♠157,965	7005160149000000000♠160,149	7003692500000000000♠6,925	7001230000000000000♠23	04
95	Ariège	7005161265000000000♠161,265	7005137205000000000♠137,205	7005150201000000000♠150,201	7005152038000000000♠152,038	7003489000000000000♠4,890	7001310000000000000♠31	09
96	Cantal	7005193505000000000♠193,505	7005150778000000000♠150,778	7005148737000000000♠148,737	7005148162000000000♠148,162	7003572600000000000♠5,726	7001260000000000000♠26	15
97	Corse-du-Sud	-	7005118593000000000♠118,593	7005140953000000000♠140,953	7005143600000000000♠143,600	7003401400000000000♠4,014	7001360000000000000♠36	Template:Tri12A
98	Territoire de Belfort	7004994030000000000♠99,403	7005137408000000000♠137,408	7005141958000000000♠141,958	7005142911000000000♠142,911	7002609000000000000♠609	7002235000000000000♠235	90
99	Hautes-Alpes	7004875660000000000♠87,566	7005121419000000000♠121,419	7005134205000000000♠134,205	7005136971000000000♠136,971	7003554900000000000♠5,549	7001250000000000000♠25	05
100	Creuse	7005207882000000000♠207,882	7005124470000000000♠124,470	7005123907000000000♠123,907	7005123029000000000♠123,029	7003556500000000000♠5,565	7001220000000000000♠22	23
101	Lozère	7005101849000000000♠101,849	7004735090000000000♠73,509	7004769730000000000♠76,973	7004770820000000000♠77,082	7003516700000000000♠5,167	7001150000000000000♠15	48

References

↑ Legal Population 2008, INSEE website (French)
↑ Legal Population 2009, INSEE website (French)
↑ The population for Guadeloupe no longer includes the populations of Saint-Barthélémy and Saint-Martin (74 km²)
↑ Census in 1997
↑ Census in 2007
↑ Decree No. 2012-1453 of 24 December 2012 authenticates the results of the census of population made in Mayotte in 2012, Legifrance, 24 December 2012, consulted on 30 December 2012