Demography: how attractiveness is strengthened in the rural territories of Occitanie

Vue de Loupian, commune de l'Hérault sise dans l'aire d'attraction de Sète.

Each department of Occitanie had more arrivals than departures between 2015 and 2021. Focus on the specificities of the five of former Languedoc-Roussillon and Aveyron, where the rurality seduced… provided it is not too far from an urban area.

"In all departments of Occitanie, arrivals are more numerous than departures between 2015 and 2021. This attractiveness compensates for the deterioration of natural balances. " 

This natural balance (difference between births and deaths) is in fact positive only in two departments, Haute-Garonne and Hérault, the two most populous, as well as l& rsquo;indicates INSEE.

But in the thirteen departments of the region, the migratory balance is positive compared to the period 2010-2015, proof of their attractiveness, even in rural areas. On one condition however: not being too far from an urban unit.

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In Aude, a clear migratory surplus

Illustration of this subject in Aude. Where the population increases "mainly in the east, along the coast" (in most of the municipalities which border), and "on the Narbonne-Carcassonne-Castelnaudary axis". Thanks to a significant migratory surplus (+1.1% in the Narbonne area for example), and despite a negative natural balance, as noted by INSEE.

On the other hand, the demographics are declining between Ariège and Pyrénées-Orientales. Ditto in the agglomeration of Lézignan-Corbières, due to "almost zero migratory flows".

L’Aveyron wins in the center and in Rodez

Among the main urban areas of Aveyron, only Rodez gains inhabitants between 2015 and 2021 (+0.2% per year), thanks to its attractiveness because its natural balance is zero.

To the south or north, the two other main agglomerations of the department lose more (-1.1% per year for that of Decazeville) or less (-0.4% for that of Millau) inhabitants over the period 2015 -2021.

But migration balances remain in balance. It even becomes surplus to the urban area of ​​Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

Gard: the population grows around A9

Le Gard offers a fairly coherent summary of the general situation of the thirteen departments of Occitanie, combining all the factors of progression: the population increased between 2015 and 2021 (+0.4% per year), exclusively thanks to the migratory surplus, mainly on the outskirts of the main towns of the department, and around the major axes (the A9 motorway, the two-lane link of the RN 106 between Alès and Nîmes).

If we consider the areas of attraction (it defines for a city the extent of its influence on surrounding municipalities, measured by home-work travel), INSEE considers that all those of the Gard towns are gaining inhabitants, which is not necessarily the case for the central municipalities (Nîmes is losing some, for example).

This downside however : population growth is stagnating or slowing down compared to the period 2010-2015 for several areas of the department, with the exception of those of Alès and Pont-Saint -Spirit.

Hérault: a top rate of growth

The second most populous department in Occitanie is also the first in mainland France, tied with Haute-Garonne, for the rate of its demographic growth (+1.2%). Each year the department gains 13,600 inhabitants, including 7,400 in the Montpellier agglomeration alone, notably thanks to its strong migratory surplus (+1%).

But all the towns in the department are gaining residents, which has repercussions on the peri-urban areas of these towns, but also beyond. Only the attraction areas of Bédarieux and Pézenas are losing inhabitants. But the population is increasing around Montpellier, Béziers, Sète, Agde, and Lodève.

Lozère, small but resistant

With 76,519 inhabitants, Lozère remains the least populated department in France. But not the least demographically resilient. Firstly, the population proved to be stable over the period 2015-2021, while it was slightly decreasing over 2010-2015. And if in this department the natural deficit continues to widen (-0.5% from now on), "the migratory surplus increases to +0.6% and allows the population to stabilize" appreciates INSEE.

Another positive point: the four main towns of the department (Mende, Marvejols, Saint-Chély-d’Apcher, Langogne) are all gaining inhabitants, " only thanks to a renewed attractiveness" ensures INSEE.

These dynamic Pyrénées-Orientales

In the Pyrénées-Orientales, situation similar to that of Gard: the population is increasing thanks to excellent net migration (+0.8% per year), but mainly around Perpignan and along the main axes circulation.

It therefore progresses along the national road 116, between Perpignan and Prades, in the towns bordering the A9, and following the Argelès-sur-Mer axis. Ceret.

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