The figures from the population census carried out in 2021 were recently published by INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies). Demographic data which shows that the municipality of Balaruc-les-Bains had 7,136 inhabitants on January 1, 2022. That is 331 Balarucoises more than in 2016, again according to INSEE. An increase of 4.86% over the period, reduced to 0.81% per year.
A rather high average age
The spa town thus remains attractive and follows the evolution of most of the thirteen other municipalities in the territory of Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée. A constant demographic dynamic therefore, but which, still according to the latest statistics, tends to stabilize, driven more by the migratory balance while the natural balance is negative.
Another observation, the average size of households is decreasing to 2.07 (a rate lower than that of neighboring municipalities) and the average age of the population is rather high: 45/59 year olds represent 21.7%, 60 /74 years 23.4% and those over 75 15.1%.
Another particularity of the spa resort is the weight of second homes which reaches 55% of a real estate stock which only has 13.07% social housing.
Balaruc-les-Bains still remains on an upward curve, which is, among other things, interesting for the town’s finances. Indeed, it must be remembered that these legal population figures published by INSEE are important for the municipalities since they are the ones taken into account in the calculation. grants paid by the State to local authorities, in particular for the main grant allocated to municipalities, the overall operating grant (DGF). Hence the concern of local elected officials in the year 2025 which could see the State revise downwards these allocations.
Finally, note that at the municipal level, population figures are also used to determine the number of municipal councilors to be elected, but also the voting method to be applied during municipal elections.
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