Manche: population, economy and official figures
Manche is a department in Normandy, France. Manche had 497,928 residents on 1 January 2025, 14.9% of Normandy and 0.72% of France; 54th largest of 101 departments in France.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Manche: GDP per person was 31,900 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 80% of the EU average (98% for France); 40th highest of 101 departments in France.
- Education in Manche: 4,778 pupils in 68 colleges in Manche sat the general series of the diplôme national du brevet (DNB) in 2025; 16 of those colleges were private schools under contract, which entered 26% of candidates (France: 22%).
- Poverty and living standards in Manche: 12.0% of people in Manche lived below the poverty line (60% of the national median living standard) in 2023, 11th lowest of 97 departements; the rate for metropolitan France was 15.9%.
- Government budget and revenue in Manche: The departmental council of Manche spent €688.45 million in 2025, or €1,346 per resident, 38th highest of 94 departmental councils (average €1,260).
- Government and politics in Manche: Jean Morin has been president of the departmental council of Manche since 1 July 2021, according to the national register of elected officials.
Is the population of Manche growing?
That is 0.3% fewer people than in 2015 (499,287).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Manche?
There were 82.9 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Manche?
The median age was 48.4 years in 2025, against 42.8 for France; 31st highest of 101 departments in France.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Manche?
27.4% of residents were 65 or older and 15.2% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Manche?
In 2024 there were 3,948 live births and 6,152 deaths, a natural decrease of 2,204.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Manche?
It covers 6,007 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Manche?
The net migration rate was +4.9 per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -4.4 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyFigures come from France's own official statistics and from Eurostat's regional statistics for NUTS 3 areas. Comparisons with the EU average use purchasing power standards (PPS), which adjust for price differences.
Other departments in Normandy
- Seine-Maritime 1,261,529
- Calvados 715,481
- Eure 603,417
- Orne 272,627
Up a level: Normandy · all regions of France · how local power works in France
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjangrp3: Population on 1 January (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c748d3cba3a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_d3dens: Population density, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f4b59fe9d121…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Median age of the population (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bf6ade55a0d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Share of people aged 65 or over (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 17aa0d08ab9c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_fagec3: Live births (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cfda9b5f4ebd…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset reg_area3: Area, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75302b0aafe9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_gind3: Population change: demographic balance and crude rates by NUTS 3 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7548e948e15c…)
- Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, DEPP: Indicateurs de valeur ajoutée des collèges, sessions 2024 and 2025 of the diplôme national du brevet, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4022d6fb202a…)
- Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI): Base statistique départementale de la délinquance enregistrée par la police et la gendarmerie nationales, 2016-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 05fd70cbfe72…)
- INSEE: Indicateurs sur les revenus et la pauvreté au niveau local en 2023 (Filosofi 2023, base FILOSOFI_CC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f3822a78e3f5…)
- Ministère de l'Intérieur: Répertoire national des élus: conseillers départementaux (mise à jour du 11 août 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7af7a47ebab9…)
- Observatoire des finances et de la gestion publique locales (OFGL), from DGFiP accounts: Comptes des départements 2012-2025 (budgets principaux, 2019-2025 extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3c1b2d8de45d…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.