NORD-PAS-DE-CALAIS - Population
A high population with a large proportion of youth
The region Nord-Pas-de-Calais accounted for 6.9% of the population of metropolitan France in 1999. Composed of two of the five most populated departments of France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais remains the most densely populated region of provinces of France, with 322 inhabitants/km2 and one of the most urbanised. 95% of its population lives in an area that is mostly urban.
The urban area of Lille, with more than 1.1 million inhabitants, is the fourth biggest conurbation of France. The conurbations Douai-Lens (0.6 million inhabitants) and Valenciennes (0.4 million inhabitants) are among the 20 biggest urban areas of France.
Between 1990 and 1999 the population of the region increased by 30 000 inhabitants. This growth of 0.1% per year, is due to a positive net natural growth rate (+0.49% per year), which compensates largely for the negative net migration (-0.41% per year). The region in effect registers more departures than arrivals, than any of the other French regions. However, between 1990 and 1999, the migration deficit was smaller than for the period 1982-1990. The inhabitants of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais are very attached to their region: 87% of its residents where born there. Also the region is attractive for certain activities: 15% of management staff of the region are from elsewhere, and for example the Lille Academy is the 3rd of France.
With 28% of its population aged under 20 in 1999, the population of Nord-Pas-de-Calais remains the youngest of France. The share of the population aged 60 and over (18.7%) in the region is the second lowest of the metropolitan regions, after Ile-de-France. However, like the French population as whole, it is experiencing an aging of its population.
The birth rate is the second highest in France (14.0 per 1 000 inhabitants in 1999), after Ile-de-France. Between 1990 and 1999 the number of live births fell from 59 800 to 55 900 in 1999, with the year 1994 recording the lowest level (54 100). In 2000 the number of births was 57 500 (+2.9% compared to 1999).
With 9.2 deaths per 1 000 inhabitants the rate for Nord-Pas-de-Calais is close to the national average (9.1). The infant mortality rate (4.5 deaths of children under 1 year old per 1 000 live births) is also close to the national average. Life expectancy remains below the national average, but the difference is getting smaller. On the whole the region keeps its demographic characteristics, while coming a bit closer the national trend.
In 1999 the foreign population accounted for 3.3% of the total population of Nord-Pas-de-Calais. This is below the national average (5.5%). The foreign population is mainly composed of nationals coming from countries outside the European Union (76%). Compared to the other regions of France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais had the largest proportion of Algerians (22.9%) in its foreign population in 1999.
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