img_logo_impression Population

Population

Rhône-Alpes Region

In March 1999, the population of the Rhône-Alpes Region was 5,645,407. Home to 9.6% of the population of France, the Region has gained almost 300,000 inhabitants over the last decade, showing an average annual growth rate of 0.6%.

The increase is basically due to a birthrate/mortality ratio that accounts for three quarters of regional population growth. In 1999 the Region had 71,000 births as against 45,000 deaths. This natural surplus of 25,000 represents a growth rate of 4.6 per 1000.

However, the age structure has changed, with the number of young people declining in relation to that of their elders. The under-25 bracket now represents less than a third of the overall population, as against 35% in 1990. One inhabitant out of 5 is aged 60 or over.

 Urban and rural areas
Just under one inhabitant out of 2 lives in one of the region's ten largest urban areas. This gives the region a well-balanced urban framework. The metropolitan areas of Annecy, Geneva-Annemasse (French sector) and Chambéry have shown the strongest annual population growth - 0.8% - while St Etienne, Roanne and Saint Chamond continue to show a loss. This partly reflects territorial inequalities in terms of employment. Lyon and Grenoble, the region's two largest cities, have continued to expand as before, with respective growth rates of 0.4% and 0.3%.

 Employment
The total labor force for the region in 1999 was 2.6 million, an increase of 155,000 since 1990. However, observable changes within age brackets are leading to overall ageing of the working population. This shift is due in part to the decline in the number of young people in the region, but also to the longer duration of studies. Another feature is the expanding role of women on the labor market (+12% since 1990)

 Unemployment
The unemployment rate in 1999 was 11.9% as against 8.9% in 1990, the most severely affected départements being the Drôme and the Loire. Unemployment hits women and young people hardest. In terms of the départements, the map shows the eastern Lyon area suffering from a major imbalance, with unemployment in Vaulx-en-Velin running at 23%.