As of January 1, 2024, the population of Reunion was estimated by INSEE at 885,700 inhabitants. Even if she gets old, she remains young : those under 20 represent 29% of the total population, over 60s, 21 %.
In France, there are fewer young people than seniors (23% versus 28%). Two other overseas departments have a much younger population than average : Guyana and Mayotte, where those under 20 represent respectively 40,7 % et 53,8% of inhabitants. Reunion is, from afar, the most populous of the French Overseas Territories : it brings together nearly 40% of the Domian population. In 2023, 5,490 people residing in Reunion Island have died. The number of deaths increases compared to 2019, before the health crisis (+420, i.e. +8,4 %). This increase is much stronger than in France (+3,9 %). At the same time, 12,870 babies of mothers living on the island were born last year. The number of births therefore falls again in 2023 (-330, i.e. -2,3 %). This decline is, however, weaker than in France (-6,7 %). Also in other French regions, births decreased in 2023. Reunion is the second region where this decline is lowest, after Guyana (-0,5 %). The natural balance, difference between the number of births and deaths, reached +7,390, down compared to 2019. This is the lowest level since 1950, with the exception of the year 2022, marked by a high number of deaths.
