For decades, Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Grenoble have made up the top three. And even the integration in 2015 of Auvergne with Clermont-Ferrand did not call this order into question.
However, this January 1, 2025, INSEE throws a wrench in the pond with the downgrading of Grenoble (Isère), now the 4th city in the region with its 156,389 intramural inhabitants.
The capital of the Alps is doubled by Lyon's little sister, Villeurbanne, which has 162,207 inhabitants. Enough to grant it a new status as the third most populous city in the region.
The Rhône has 1,907,982 inhabitants, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has seen its population increase significantly. It is the second most populous region in France with more than 8.1 million inhabitants.
This is the 2022 vintage population, which comes into force this Wednesday. Due to Covid-19, the 2021 annual census survey was postponed by one year.
Lyon remains well ahead in the region with 520,774 inhabitants, but risks falling nationally. Because Toulouse is getting closer and should double it during the next census thanks to its exceptional demographic growth.
As for Saint-Etienne (Loire), it could also soon cede its status as the second most populous city. With 172,569 inhabitants in 2022 but timid growth, she sees Villeurbanne arriving at high speed in her rearview mirror.
