The Spatial Distribution of the French Population
Cayouette-Remblière, J., Fromentin, J., Le Roux, G., Translated by Van Hoorn Alkema, B. (2025). The Spatial Distribution of the French Population. Population, 80(3), 283-293. https://doi.org/10.3917/popu.2503.0333.
Abstract
The spatial distribution of the French population between rural and urban areas remains remarkably consistent. As of 2021, two-thirds of the French population (43.7 million) live in urban areas, a proportion that has remained stable for 10 years. Population growth is slowing everywhere but remains positive, thanks to the various dynamics at play in both types of space: in urban areas, growth is driven by natural population change, while growth in rural areas comes primarily from high net migration. In reality, both rural and urban areas present a high degree of internal heterogeneity.
An analysis based on the structural typology of rural spaces (Acadie and Talandier, 2023) shows that all types of rural municipality (rural centres, production-based, residential, and tourism-based) have their own dynamics. Migration flows, varying by age and social position, are gradually altering the social and demographic structure of these territories. Residential and tourism-based rural municipalities are highly attractive, the former to families in particular and the latter to retirees. Furthermore, while professionals and executives remain a small minority of the population in rural spaces, their significant positive net migration to production- and tourism-based rural municipalities is resulting in their increased presence compared with other socioprofessional categories.