A falling and aging population, a high standard of living… The inhabitants of Paris under the microscope

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A population that continues to decrease and of grow oldwith a high standard of living but marked by strong disparities. Here is the picture painted by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) of the inhabitants of Paris. In a report published Thursday October 31, 2024, the institution responsible for producing official statistics dissected the major demographic and socio-economic markers of the capital.

A slow demographic decline

And like recent reports, the number of residents continues its slow decline. In total, 2,087,000 people live in Paris, a drop of 45,500 souls compared to the last census, in 2021. Despite a timid thinning at the start of the 21st century, the Parisian population is falling by 0,6 % on average per year since 1950s and 1960s. The City of Lights still suffers from net migration deficitwith more departures than arrivals.

Parisians also have an older average profile. According to INSEE, 23 % residents have over 60 years oldor two points less than the bracket of 15-29 ans. Figures which demonstrate a double phenomenon. The capital remains a privileged place for students and young professionals, but its population is aging, following a curve that follows the national trend. At the bottom of the demographic scale, young people under 15 years old represent 13 % of the Parisian population, i.e. five points less than the metropolis of Greater Paris.

A high-skilled employment area, the capital is over-represented by active executives and higher intellectual professionswith 49,9 % of total jobs, compared to 37.2% in Greater Paris and 19.1% in France. More than half of the inhabitants of Paris have a diploma higher than a baccalaureate + 5. At the same time, salaries are the highest in the entire national territory. Half of Parisians perceive 2 480 euros per month, and the other half is below this median.

However, the distribution of living standards remains very disparate. With 15,6 % of households living on less than 1,150 euros per month, the poverty threshold is slightly higher than the French average (14.9%). As INSEE had already shown in 2017, pockets of poverty are concentrated in the north, the northeast and the east. The 18th, 19th, 20th and part of the 13th arrondissement are particularly affected.

Dark prospects

For INSEE, demographic dynamics could consolidate by the middle of the century thanks to the aging of the generation of baby-boomers and thegradual exodus of inhabitants. The population would then approach the 2 million mark. This would constitute an earthquake on the scale of history. The capital has not fallen below this threshold since the end of the 19th century.

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