Réunion is ranked 25th among French departments in terms of population, according to the latest calculation of legal populations (the figures taken into account by the regulations, especially those of local finances). As of January 1, 2018, we were 855,961 people residing on the island, whose population grew on average by 0,5% per year (+4 200 habitants) between 2013 and 2018. This growth was higher (+0,7%) between 2008 and 2013.
South (municipalities of Civis and Casud) is the most populated region (310 000 habitants), in front of the West (210 000 habitants), the North (207 000) and the east (127 000).The north of the island (the three towns of Cinor) records the strongest population growth (+1%), in front of the towns of Civis (+0,7%) and Casud (+0,6%).
The population increase is more moderate in the east (+0,4%) while the number of inhabitants of the West Coast Territory is in very slight decline (-0,1%). Four municipalities on the island lost residents between 2013 and 2018 : Sainte-Rose (-1,5%), The Port (-1,3%), Three-Basins (-0,5%) and Saint-Paul (-0,2%). A l’inverse, La Plaine-des-Palmistes saw its population increase by 2,7% over the period.
