BRETAGNE - Population
The Brittany population: growing but greying
The region currently had 2 906 000 inhabitants in 1999 (which represents 5% of the French population), only slightly more than the 2 600 000 recorded in 1911. The region was the scene of some terrible bloodshed during the First World War, which was followed by three decades of stagnation. Brittany gradually overcame the rural exodus, particularly towards the Paris region, and went on to experience remarkable demographic growth: a high birth-rate, followed by a favourable turnabout in migratory balances, resulted in accelerated population growth until the 1970s.
For 20 years, the population has increased by an average of 0.4 % per year. This growth results from two movements: the natural balance in constant reduction and the migratory balance, which is improving, witness of the attractiveness of the region. In 1999, the life expectancy was slightly below the national average, both for men (74) and for women (82). In the same year, the crude birth rate was of 12.0 for 1 000 inhabitants, below the national average of 12.9.
Between 1990 and 1999, 43 000 retired people came to live in Brittany, but work nevertheless constitutes the main mobility factor: 80% of the 306 000 migrants are employed persons and their families.
Like the other French areas, Brittany is ageing: in nine years, the average age passed from 37 to 39 years. In 1999, 692 000 people were more than sixty years old, that is to say 80 000 persons more than in 1990. Considering the age distribution in 1999, the share of under 60s is below the national average, whereas that of the over 60s is above national average. Over the same period, the number of young people of less than 20 years fell by 47 000 persons. There are now as many old people as young people, and ageing should be accentuated in the future. In 1999, the share of people between 25-59 years old was one of the lowest in France, accounting for 45.7% of the population, whereas the national average was 47.7%.
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