France of cities and campaigns: where are we?

How is the share of urban and rural populations evolving? Moreover, Historically, the city is defined by INSEE as a territory where constructions are close. However, We are in urban areas when the buildings touch almost (read our article). Moreover, From now on. Meanwhile, a new definition uses population density (the number of inhabitants per km2) which allows a new approach to the question.

INSEE data can be divided into three large groups. Moreover, Cities, rural communities under the influence of autonomous cities and rural communities which bring together 67 %, 20 %and 14 %respectively. Meanwhile, With 43 million people, urban people are therefore france cities campaigns: where we? largely in the majority. Nevertheless, The population density sometimes reaches several thousand inhabitants per km2. For example, Among them, more than 25 million live in large urban centers, 40 % of the French population. However, Metropolises like Paris, Lyon or Marseille, but smaller cities like Pau, Poitiers or Limoges are part of it. Therefore, The so -called “intermediate” urban centers are a notch below, with cities like Gap or Albi. Nevertheless, They bring together 13 % of the French population, as much as all isolated campaigns. Consequently, Small autonomous towns. Meanwhile, such as Figeac or Sarreguemines and the urban belts of cities (like Villers-lès-Nancy) bring together 16 % of the whole.

Rural space can be divided into two. In addition, On the one hand, territories of which a large part of the inhabitants works in the city. They are under influence of cities according to INSEE and belong to areas france cities campaigns: where we? of more than 50,000 inhabitants. There are villages (like Vouvray near Tours). a sparse rural habitat: a large part of what is called “peri -urban”, made up of pavilions close to urban centers. These spaces bring together one in five French people. On the other hand. a very small rural France (a few inhabitants per km2), which can be gathered in territories of less than 50,000 inhabitants, also including boroughs, such as underground in the Creuse. In total, France of autonomous campaigns has nine million inhabitants, or 14 % of the total population.

What evolution ?

These data provide a new reading of the analysis of the evolution of the population over the long period. If we observe the number of inhabitants. the growth of cities is continuous, with an acceleration between the mid -1950s and the mid -1970s. The autonomous rural population declined from the end of the 19th france cities campaigns: where we? century to the early 2000s. That of the rural environment under the influence of cities believed from the mid -1970s. it is the boom in suburban housing.

Part of this development corresponds to the overall growth of the French population, from 38 million to 67 million between the 1880s and 2020. But the evolution of the distribution by type of territory reveals a phenomenon hitherto much less visible through the. old methodology. As a percentage, the urban population has been stagnating for fifty years. In proportion, France of urban belts increased, from 15 % in the mid -1970s to almost 20 % today. The isolated campaigns continue to lose ground. It remains in our imagination because France has long remained a much rural country than these great German. British neighbors.

Each type of territory has its strengths is its own difficulties. France of cities is concentrated by shops, leisure places, public services and places of power. These territories have to face the magnitude of poverty and enormous housing difficulties. Around these cities. the influence campaigns give the advantage of having more space for oneself (especially a garden), but the disadvantage of very high travel and costs of travel, with great dependence on the automobile. Autonomous rural France is much more isolated. Up to twenty years. the campaigns emptied their inhabitants and the activities that go with it, in particular shops or public service. Hence a feeling of abandonment. This feeling is today reinforced in a society where information. images circulate everywhere: what yesterday seemed a fatality due to distance (not france cities campaigns: where we? having access) is experienced as a lack.

France of cities, pavilions and campaigns, the question of balance is not easy to find. We must meet the mass needs of large urban centers. but also that the most distant inhabitants can have a minimum to feed, treat yourself, practice leisure.

Photo: © Freysteinn-G-Jonsson / UNPLASH