Haute-Loire: find out if your municipality has gained or lost inhabitants

Haute-Loire is not Cantal, nor Allier, the only two departments in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region to lose inhabitants. The territory has a positive population of 822 inhabitants. It's not much, but enough to secure us behind the winning departments.

This low rate of growth of 0.1% per year between 2016 and 2022 is based solely on the arrival of new inhabitants, a phenomenon linked in part to population movements during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here are the municipalities in the department which are gaining and losing residents:

The number of deaths is always greater than the number of births. This natural balance even tends to widen. Its rate of variation was -0.1% between 2011 and 2016 and it increased to -0.3% between 2016 and 2022. On the other hand, the migratory balance (arrival of new populations) is positive at 0.4 % still over this same period (0.3% between 2011 and 2016).

The attractiveness of Haute-Loire is strengthening

Who will complain about it? Furthermore, if the department is experiencing a growth in its demographics which is certainly limited, this improvement is less pronounced than before. Between 2008 and 2013, it was 0.4% on average per year. Remember that in 1999, the population was 209,113 inhabitants, in 2008 221,834 and in 2010 224,006.
The population of Haute-Loire is growing but less rapidly than in the past. The attractive sectors are still those located near the Saint-Etienne basin (with a slight settlement, however) and along the axis of the RN 88, unlike the west facing inexorable demographic decline.

The top 5 municipalities which have gained the most inhabitants…

…And those who lost the most:

Brives confirms its increase

Brives-Charensac, the second commune in the agglomeration community, continues to increase its population for the third consecutive year. Last year, there were 143 more. This time, the population of the city on the banks of the Loire welcomes 124 additional people, to reach 4,242 inhabitants. Renovation of neighborhoods but also delivery of real estate programs are certainly the explanation.
Espaly-Saint-Marcel is on an upward curve for the second year in a row with 56 more inhabitants (3,574 in total). His dynamism is reinforced. Vals-Près-le-Puy has seen its population gradually increase for several years. With 38 more people, it stands at 3,392 inhabitants. It is not the same for Chadrac and Aiguilhe which recorded a decrease, respectively of 47 and 48 fewer inhabitants. However, in these two municipalities, the decline slows down over the years. A turnaround for Coubon which saw increases of up to 112 additional inhabitants two years ago. This other town on the banks of the Loire is losing 50 inhabitants this year (3,137).

Surprise in Saint-Germain-Laprade

In the second ring of Puy, many municipalities are still in the positive curve: Blavozy (+72), Chaspinhac (+48), Chaspuzac (+76), Loudes (+39), Ceyssac (+25), Saint-Vidal (+12), Le Monteil (+12). The most marked increase in percentage is observed in Blanzac (+1.9% annual growth, or 47 more inhabitants). For the second time, Saint-Germain-Laprade is depopulating with 152 fewer inhabitants and falling below the 3,500 mark. For a long time, this town showed spectacular increases. This time the decline is confirmed.

In several localities of the second ring, the demographic dynamism is no longer the same and follows this same movement: this is the case of Sanssac-l'Église (-58), Cussac-sur-Loire (-73), Saint -Christophe-sur-Dolaizon (-15) and now Vergezac (-27). It is not the attractiveness of these municipalities that is lacking but the aging of their population is certainly the cause. Polignac is back in the green for the second year with 11 more inhabitants while Arsac-en-Velay is stable (1,216 inhabitants).

Vielprat prances in the lead

There is an island of demographic prosperity in the south of the department which goes from Chadron (+76) to Lafarre (+14) via Goudet (+16), Salettes (+16), Arlempdes (+14). In many of these localities, a new population from former secondary residents is settling in. The small town of Vielprat is the one with the highest annual growth rate in the department (+5.35%). This represents only 18 more inhabitants for it which has 67, but in percentage terms, it is much more significant. Enough to dethrone Barges, title holder until then. The city consoles itself by still showing high growth of 3.8% per year, or 21 additional inhabitants (106 in total).

Still in the south, the situation is very disparate: depopulation continues and even increases in the municipalities of Landos (-24), Pradelles (-21), Sénéujols (-14), Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas (-6 ), Ouides (-5) Saint-Paul-de-Tartas (-8), Saint-Étienne-du-Vigan (-11). And especially Saint-Haon (-31) as well as Cayres (-40). New fact: Costaros is returning to green after a sharp decline for several years. For the first time it gained 7 inhabitants (to count 552). The improvement is confirmed for the following municipalities: Bains (+40), Solignac-sur-Loire (+22), Rauret (+5), Saint-Jean-Lachalm (+18), Saint-Vénérand (+9) and Le Brignon (+17).

The years are similar in Emblavez

The years follow one another and are similar in Emblavez with a demographic always pointing upwards, a sign that it is good to live there: Saint-Vincent (+70), Beaulieu (+48), Vorey-sur-Arzon (+ 32), Saint-Pierre-du-Champ (+37), Chamalières-sur-Loire (+22), Mézères (+7), Malrevers (+6). Rosières regains 4 inhabitants (for a total of 1,536). Only three municipalities are exceptions: Lavoûte-sur-Loire (-34), Saint-Étienne-Lardeyrol (-10) and Roche-en-Régnier (-24).

Craponne perks up

The situation is very disparate north of Puy. Saint-Paulien sees its population (2,419) increase by 14 inhabitants. Craponne-sur-Arzon is experiencing a turnaround in the situation. Two years ago, it lost up to 241 inhabitants.

This time, it is no longer in the red (+3) and has even crossed the 2,000 souls barrier again. Several municipalities are doing rather well: Céaux-d'Allègre, Saint-Geneys-près-Saint-Paulien, Vernassal, Vazeilles-Limandre, Sembadel, Saint-Victor-sur-Arlanc, Malvières, La Chapelle-Geneste, Saint- Jean-d'Aubrigoux but especially Bellevue-la-Montagne (+42), Lissac (+25), Fix-Saint-Geneys (+17) and Bonneval (+19). However, losses continue and even increase in several municipalities facing aging: Allègre (-37), La Chaise-Dieu (-13), Chomelix (-27), Beaune-sur-Arzon (-10), Connangles (-10), -16), Cistrières (-16), Jullianges (-5), Berbezit (-4) Monlet (-3). With 302 inhabitants, Félines is seeing its population decline, after a significant rebound.

Mézenc Meygal: land of contrast

The Mézenc Meygal sector is very contrasted with significant differences. Saint-Julien-Chapteuil gains 140 inhabitants (with a total of 2,021), the same for Saint-Pierre-Eynac (+125), Le Pertuis (+94), Queyrières (+53), Laussonne (+10), Chaudeyrolles (+ 27), Freycenet-la-Tour (+15), Moudeyres (+4). Saint-Front regains color (+12). Présailles (-16), Montusclat (-21) and Saint-Hostien (-51) recorded sharp declines, as did Les Estables (-12) and Les Vastres (-12) and Fay-sur-Lignon (-24). Lantriac is marking time with 2 fewer inhabitants. With 1,773 inhabitants, Le Monastier lost 17.

The West is becoming depopulated

In the west, depopulation continues almost everywhere with sometimes significant declines: Langeac (3,433) is experiencing a decrease of 310 inhabitants. The situation is not very good for Saugues with 108 fewer inhabitants (1,664). Just like Pinols (-15). A decrease was also noted in Auvers (-10), Chanaleilles (-11), Saint-Privat-d'Allier, Saint-Jean-de-Nay, Esplantas-Vazeilles, Venteuges, Grèzes, Alleyras, Tailhac, Chazelles, Chanteuges and Charraix. The largest drop in annual rate of change is observed in Saint-Julien-des-Chazes (-3.3%). However, several municipalities are doing well: Saint-Préjet-d'Allier (+8) and Monistrol-d'Allier (+22). La Besseyre-Saint-Mary, Thoras and Prades are recovering after a continual decline in recent years. Siaugues-Sainte-Marie welcomes 26 new residents. With 22 inhabitants, Le Vernet remains the smallest commune in Haute-Loire.

For the fourth consecutive year, the population of Brioude shows a decline which is a little less marked this year with 195 inhabitants (6,523). The comeback had nevertheless begun but it was only short-lived. The far northwest experiences disparities. Lorlanges, near the RN 102 (+51), Saint-Beauzire (+72) and Lubilhac (+15) are making leaps while Léotoing, Autrac, and Fontannes are losing momentum.

Slight settlement in Yssingelais

Yssingelais still remains the demographic locomotive. However, the progressions are no longer as significant as they were a few years ago. Yssingeaux (7,380) gains 218 inhabitants in 6 years. Monistrol-sur-Loire, the second most populous town in the department, shows an increasing population (+118) with 8,874 inhabitants. Substantial increases appear in Beauzac (2,964 inhabitants, +41), Les Villettes (1,455 inhabitants, +54), Malvalette (882 inhabitants, +54), Bas-en-Basset (4,631 inhabitants, +280), Aurec-sur- Loire (6,133 inhabitants, +22), Retournac (2,971 inhabitants, +73), Saint-Just-Malmont (4,220 inhabitants, +55), La Chapelle d'Aurec (1,111 inhabitants, +108), Saint-Maurice-de-Lignon (2,666 inhabitants, +87), Sainte-Sigolène (6,060, +101), Grazac (1,126 inhabitants, + 82), Lapte (1,774 inhabitants, +64), Saint-Romain-Lachalm (1,132 inhabitants, +50), Raucoules (947 inhabitants, +34), Saint-Julien-du-Pinet (487 inhabitants, +23). On the other hand, Montfaucon (-93), Dunières (-223), Le Chambon-sur-Lignon (-32), Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid (-36) and Le Mazet-Saint-Voy (-3) are becoming depopulated.