Poverty and living standards in Hérault (Occitanie, France): official figures
The poverty rate in Hérault was 21.0% in 2023, 5.1 points higher than the 15.9% rate for metropolitan France and 7th highest of 97 departements.
How many people in Hérault depend on benefits?
Social benefits made up 6.4% of household disposable income in Hérault in 2023 (metropolitan France: 4.9%): family benefits 1.9%, housing benefits 1.4% and minimum social benefits such as the RSA 3.1%.
Source: INSEE · saved copyWhat is the burglary rate in Hérault?
Police and gendarmerie recorded 4,854 burglaries of homes in Hérault in 2025, 6.3 per 1,000 dwellings (22nd highest of 101 departements; France 5.6), 20% fewer than in 2016.
Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copyIs Hérault dangerous?
Hérault recorded 3.77 victims of non-domestic physical violence per 1,000 residents in 2025 (4,640 people), 15th highest of 101 departements against a national rate of 3.16.
Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copyHow much does Hérault spend on RSA?
RSA minimum income payments cost the council €271.92 million in 2025, €220 per resident (6th highest of 94 councils), against €236.38 million in 2019.
Source: Observatoire des finances et de la gestion publique locales (OFGL), from DGFiP accounts · saved copyMore figures
- The richest 20% of people in Hérault had 4.7 times the combined living standard of the poorest 20% in 2023 (metropolitan France: 4.6). Source: INSEE · saved copy
- Minimum social benefits (RSA, minimum old-age pension, disabled adult allowance) accounted for 3.1% of income in Hérault in 2023, 15th highest of 97 departements. Source: INSEE · saved copy
- Domestic (intrafamily) physical violence recorded in Hérault reached 4,264 victims in 2025, 3.47 per 1,000 residents, up from 1,824 in 2016 (France: 3.76 per 1,000). Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copy
- 2,232 victims of sexual violence were recorded in Hérault in 2025, a rate of 1.81 per 1,000 residents (France: 1.93). Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copy
- In 2025 926 people were implicated in drug trafficking in Hérault (0.75 per 1,000 residents) and 9,492 people reported card or payment fraud (7.7 per 1,000). Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copy
- 18 homicide victims were recorded in Hérault in 2025, along with 85 victims of attempted homicide. Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur, Service statistique ministériel de la sécurité intérieure (SSMSI) · saved copy
How Hérault compares with other departments in France
Poverty rate (60% of median living standard, %) (2023)
Hérault ranks 7 of 97, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Poverty rate (60% of median living standard, %) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Haute-Corse | 21.8% |
| 5 | Vaucluse | 21.4% |
| 6 | Aude | 21.2% |
| 7 | Hérault | 21.0% |
| 8 | Gard | 21.0% |
| 9 | Nord | 20.7% |
| 10 | Bouches-du-Rhône | 20.3% |
Minimum social benefits as a share of income (%) (2023)
Hérault ranks 15 of 97, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Minimum social benefits as a share of income (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Gard | 3.3% |
| 13 | Somme | 3.2% |
| 14 | Haute-Corse | 3.2% |
| 15 | Hérault | 3.1% |
| 16 | Hautes-Pyrénées | 3.1% |
| 17 | Lozère | 3.0% |
| 18 | Seine-Maritime | 3.0% |
Home burglaries per 1,000 dwellings (2025)
Hérault ranks 22 of 101, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Home burglaries per 1,000 dwellings |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Yonne | 6.5 |
| 20 | Essonne | 6.3 |
| 21 | Loire-Atlantique | 6.3 |
| 22 | Hérault | 6.3 |
| 23 | Saône-et-Loire | 6.2 |
| 24 | Meurthe-et-Moselle | 6.2 |
| 25 | Tarn | 6.2 |
Victims of non-domestic physical violence per 1,000 residents (2025)
Hérault ranks 15 of 101, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Victims of non-domestic physical violence per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Ardennes | 3.89 |
| 13 | Bouches-du-Rhône | 3.88 |
| 14 | Rhône | 3.84 |
| 15 | Hérault | 3.77 |
| 16 | Alpes-Maritimes | 3.76 |
| 17 | Marne | 3.73 |
| 18 | Meurthe-et-Moselle | 3.54 |
Victims of sexual violence per 1,000 residents (2025)
Hérault ranks 65 of 101, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Victims of sexual violence per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Meurthe-et-Moselle | 1.86 |
| 63 | Drôme | 1.82 |
| 64 | Pyrénées-Atlantiques | 1.81 |
| 65 | Hérault | 1.81 |
| 66 | Isère | 1.81 |
| 67 | Loir-et-Cher | 1.80 |
| 68 | Lot | 1.80 |
RSA minimum income payments per resident (€) (2025)
Hérault ranks 6 of 94, highest first.
| Rank | Area | RSA minimum income payments per resident (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gard | €254 |
| 4 | Nord | €236 |
| 5 | Bouches-du-Rhône | €225 |
| 6 | Hérault | €220 |
| 7 | Aisne | €217 |
| 8 | Pas-de-Calais | €215 |
| 9 | Ardennes | €213 |
More on Hérault: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Occitanie · France
Sources
- 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…)
- 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…)
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