Nantes: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Nantes: The unemployment rate in Nantes was 12.0% in 2023 (12.1% for women, 12.0% for men).
What is the population of Nantes?
Nantes had 323,204 inhabitants (city proper) on 1 January 2021, according to a complete census (usual residents) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Nantes rank among cities in France?
Of the 39 cities the UN table lists for France (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is 6th largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Nantes?
Women and girls made up 51.8% of residents (167,419 female, 155,785 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyWhat is the population of Nantes?
Nantes had 479,393 residents on 1 January 2023 according to the EU Urban Audit; 16.2% were under 15 and 16.0% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Nantes growing?
The population grew by 7.5% between 2012 and 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in Nantes?
The infant mortality rate was 3.0 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the death rate in Nantes?
There were 7.4 deaths per 1,000 residents in 2022 and 12.6 births per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die young in Nantes?
Of 3,496 deaths in Nantes in 2025, 531 (15%) were of people under 65.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many road deaths are there in Nantes?
9 people were killed in road accidents in Nantes in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Nantes?
44% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2023 (442 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Nantes?
62,791 students were enrolled in higher education in Nantes in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Nantes have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Nantes in 2023, 61% had a degree-level education, 29% an upper secondary education and 11% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Nantes?
An apartment in Nantes cost €175,908 to buy on average in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Nantes?
A house cost €384,797 to buy on average in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Nantes?
50% of the 246,152 households in Nantes were people living alone in 2023, and 5.7% were lone parents with children under 18.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Nantes?
43% of households owned their home in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- The wider urban agglomeration had 677,080 inhabitants. Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copy
Notes from the UN table: City proper refers to commune or municipality. City proper refers to commune or municipality. City proper refers to commune or municipality.
Who runs Nantes?
In France, cities and towns are run by intercommunal groupings: Councillors chosen at the same time as municipal councillors (or from them in small communes). Waste, water, public transport, economic development, often planning. Membership is compulsory for almost every commune.
How local power works in France
Cities of a similar size in France
- Paris 2,133,111
- Marseille 873,076
- Lyon 522,250
- Toulouse 504,078
- Nice 348,085
- Montpellier 302,454
- Strasbourg 291,313
- Bordeaux 261,804
- Lille 236,710
- Rennes 225,081
Up a level: all cities in France · France · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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