The observation is evident at the level of the urban district of Faulquemont. Its three flagship cities are experiencing demographic decline, according to the latest figures from INSEE. It is marked for Faulquemont and Créhange which recorded a drop of around 4.4%, Faulquemont going from 5,354 to 5,154 inhabitants, Créhange stabilizing its population at 3,745 inhabitants. Longeville-lès-Saint-Avold fares better with a decrease of 2.8%, its population increasing to 3,592 inhabitants. The commune of Téting-sur-Nied is the big loser with a decline of 7.2% in its population (1,260 inhabitants). Stable demographics elsewhere, three municipalities including Thonville, the smallest in the DUF, even experiencing a slight increase in their population.
The neighboring territory of the Saint-Avold agglomeration is also experiencing a notable drop in its population. With the exception of Macheren (+1.65%), all towns recorded a decrease in their population: Valmont (-7.35%), L'Hôpital (-4.3%), Morhange (-3.4%) %), Carling (-3.1%), Folschviller (-2.6%) and Porcelette (-2.2%). The town of Saint-Avold, for its part, lost 4% of its population, falling below the threshold of 15,000 inhabitants. The region's elected officials hope that various operations such as the revitalization of the town center of Saint-Avold or the establishment of job-generating businesses on the site of the former Carling coking plant will cause the demographic decline to stall.
Stiring-Wendel has lost 946 residents in less than six years
A drop in population also observed but much more measured in the territory of the community of communes of Freyming-Merlebach which lost 226 inhabitants for a total of 31,361. The flagship commune has halted the decline of recent years, even recording a slight increase ( + 0.08%) unlike Hombourg-Haut which is still evolving downward (- 1.23 and 6,122 inhabitants). Here again, it is the smallest municipality, Barst, which shows an increase (+ 1.70%).
The agglomeration of Forbach lost 992 inhabitants between 2020 and 2022 and shows 75,399 souls. Only five municipalities saw their population increase: Folkling (+ 1.21%), Rosbruck (+ 0.61%), Œting (+ 0.44%), Kerbach (+ 0.36%) and Diebling (+ 0. 14%). Schœneck recorded a decrease of 1.18% and Stiring-Wendel a decrease of – 1.36% in its population. The border town, although attractive, has lost 946 inhabitants in the space of six years.
Increase of 40.71% for the small rural commune of Hazembourg
Significant drop in the territory of the Sarreguemines Confluences agglomeration community which saw its population decrease by 4.39%, the declines being relative in the reference towns of the territory: Sarralbe (- 3.31%), Puttelange-aux-Lacs (- 2.11%). An exception in the general context of demography in Moselle Est, Hazembourg, a rural commune yet located outside of urban attractions, until then one of the smallest communes in the territory, saw its population increase by 40.71%. with 159 residents in 2022 compared to 113 in 2011. Other municipalities recorded a positive balance (Frauenberg + 9.48%, Blies-Guersviller (+ 7.99%).
However, the territory is also experiencing significant declines: Woustwiller (-13.66%) falls below the threshold of 3,000 inhabitants (2,870 inhabitants), Lixing-lès-Rouhling loses 114 souls (-12.13%) and Wiesviller falls below 1,000 inhabitants (-10.83%). While certain municipalities are experiencing a positive change in their population (Bining (+ 2.6%), Erching (+ 5.8%), Haspelschiedt (+ 5.3%), Loutzviller (+ 6.8%), Nousseviller-lès -Bitche (+ 6.9%) the decline in demographics continues in Pays de Bitche which lost 1,198 inhabitants between 2014 and 2020, going from 35 541 inhabitants to 34,343 (- 3.37%) Two municipalities stand out, Rimling with an increase of 11% in its population and Rohrbach-lès-Bitche (+ 6.9%), these municipalities benefiting from the advantage. of their favorable positioning between Sarreguemines, Bitche and Germany, the latter having also developed an employment and services zone.
