Densité de population des communes littorales en 2016 et évolution depuis 1962

• In 2016, the population density of mainland coastal municipalities is 265 inhabitants per km² (inhab./km²) compared to 104 inhab./km² for the national average. In overseas departments (excluding Mayotte), the average density is 45 inhab./km². This figure masks significant disparities between French Guiana, where population density is very low (6 inhab./km²) due to its size, and other overseas departments where density ranges from 240 to 375 inhab./km². • After a sharp increase in the early 1960s, the evolution of mainland coastal population has followed the same trend as the French population since 1968. It has increased by 42% since 1962, adding 79 inhabitants per km². On overseas coastlines, this growth reaches 92%.

• In 2016, population density is 299 inhab./km² on the English Channel–North Sea coast, 228 inhab./km² on the North Atlantic–Western Channel coast, 136 inhab./km² on the South Atlantic coast, and 358 inhab./km² on the Mediterranean coast. It exceeds 500 inhab./km² along the coastlines of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Seine-Maritime, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, and Alpes-Maritimes departments. It is below 100 inhab./km² for Somme, Gironde, Eure, Landes, and Corsica. • Between 2011 and 2016, population density increased on the Atlantic (from southern Finistère to the Spanish border) and Mediterranean coastlines (except in Alpes-Maritimes), as well as in French Guiana and Réunion. It declined or stagnated from northern France to Finistère and in the Antilles. • Population and population density in coastal municipalities

• From 1962 to 2016, the population of mainland coastal municipalities increased by 42%, with 1.98 million new residents, adding 79 inhabitants per km². Over the same period, the French population grew by nearly 40%, adding 30 inhabitants per km²—2.5 times less than the mainland coast. • Evolution of population density in France since 1962 • On the Mediterranean coast, the population increased by 1.2 million inhabitants (+0.9% annually) during the studied period, representing 61% of new mainland coastal residents. Population density is the highest of the 4 maritime coastlines at 358 inhabitants per km². • In the English Channel–North Sea, population density is 299 inhab./km² in 2016. Over the past fifty years, the population grew by nearly 97,000 inhabitants despite a decline observed since the late 1990s. The average annual growth rate for this coast (+0.2%) is the lowest of the 4 maritime coastlines. • Population density on the North Atlantic–Western Channel coast is 228 inhab./km², double the mainland average. The population increased by nearly 400,000 inhabitants since 1962, at an average annual growth rate of +0.5%. • At 136 inhab./km², population density on the South Atlantic coast is significantly lower than the other three coastlines. This difference is explained by the large area of coastal municipalities in Gironde and Landes. Since 1962, 270,000 additional inhabitants have settled in this area, representing average annual population growth of +0.9%. • Evolution of population density by mainland maritime coastline • In overseas departments (excluding Mayotte), the coastal population has nearly doubled since 1962 (+92%). 791,000 new inhabitants now live there, adding 21 inhabitants per km². During the 1980s and 1990s, net population growth was observed (1986 tax incentive law, known as the "Pons law"). • Population growth was very strong in French Guiana (+3.6% annually, 6 times the national average) and Réunion (+1.7%). Growth was more moderate in the Antilles: +0.7%/year in Guadeloupe and +0.5%/year in Martinique. Population densities are high in island departments, particularly Réunion and Martinique where they exceed 350 inhab./km², compared to 6 inhab./km² in French Guiana. • Evolution of population density in overseas departments (excluding Mayotte)

• Between 2011 and 2016, population change differed significantly among coastal departments. • On the mainland, a clear North-South divide emerges. Population stagnates or declines from northern France to Finistère. Decline is steep in Seine-Maritime (−10 inhab./km²), Nord (−8), Somme (−4), and Pas-de-Calais (−3). Some cities lost many residents, including Le Havre (−3,800 inhab.), Dunkirk (−3,300), Cherbourg (−1,600), and Dieppe (−1,500). Conversely, south of Finistère, along the Atlantic arc and in the Mediterranean, population increased in all coastal departments except Alpes-Maritimes. Growth was very strong in Pyrénées-Atlantiques (+47 inhab./km²), Var (+14), Hérault (+13), Pyrénées-Orientales (+12), Loire-Atlantique (+9), and Bouches-du-Rhône (+9). Strongest increases occurred in Marseille (+11,600 inhab.), Bayonne (+6,300), and Toulon (+5,700).

• Overseas, coastal population declined in the Antilles: −17 inhab./km² in Martinique and −6 inhab./km² in Guadeloupe. The Antilles lost over 25,000 inhabitants from 2011 to 2016, including nearly 5,700 in Fort-de-France. This is mainly due to negative migration balances not offset by natural increases. • In French Guiana, population increased by nearly 19,000 inhabitants. This represents modest density change given the large area of coastal municipalities. Finally, population density increased significantly in Réunion at +10 inhab./km², representing an increase of 21,000 inhabitants. • Population density of coastal municipalities by coastal department, in inhab./km²

• Population increased in hinterland areas (non-coastal municipalities in coastal cantons) across all mainland coastlines from 2011 to 2016, contrary to coastal trends. This indicates a gradual population shift inland, driven partly by high real estate costs on the coast. • For several coastal departments, population growth measured in inhabitants per km² is stronger inland than on the coast. This notably applies to English Channel–North Sea departments, where coastal population declined while hinterland population increased. Growth is also strong inland in Alpes-Maritimes, Côtes-d'Armor, and Finistère. • Conversely, coastal population growth exceeds hinterland growth in Corsica, Occitanie (outside the short coastline of Gard), and southern South Atlantic (Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques). • Evolution of population density in mainland coastal municipalities and hinterland between 2011 and 2016, in inhab./km²

• In overseas communities, population growth has been consistently strong over the past 50–60 years, notably exceeding mainland growth except for Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Wallis and Futuna. • Current population is approximately 670,000 inhabitants, the majority residing in French Polynesia and New Caledonia. • Population densities are very high in Saint Martin (670 inhab./km²) and Saint Barthélemy (under 400). They are lower elsewhere, with fewer than 100 inhabitants per km² in French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna, and fewer than 20 in New Caledonia. • Evolution of overseas community populations • > Methodology • > Geographic divisions as of 2019 • > - people with habitual residence on municipal territory, in housing or community facilities, • > - people detained in municipal penal institutions, • > - homeless people counted on municipal territory, • > - people normally residing in mobile dwellings counted on municipal territory. • > - Corresponds to population without double counting for previous censuses. • > 2 • Author: Statistical Data and Studies Service (SDES).