An INSEE study reveals that natives of Réunion are significantly less mobile than those of the Antilles, from Guyana and Mayotte. In 2017, a third of natives of these territories aged 15 to 64 live in another French region, i.e. a share comparable to that of the metropolitan regions closest to the Paris region. These overseas natives leave their region of birth more often than in the past, especially in Mayotte. 37% of West Indians in this age category, 33% of Mahorais and 30% of Guyanese live in another region, against 18% of Reunion Islanders. This share even decreased by one point for Reunion Islanders between 1990 and 2017, while she progressed in the other Dom. It is young people who are leaving more of their region of birth to pursue studies or look for a job. 55% of young Mahorais, 44% of young West Indians and 37% of Guyanese are in this case, against 25% of young Reunion Islanders (and 26% of young people in metropolitan areas, outside Île-de-France).
Reunion Islanders suffered less from confinement
A quarter of Reunion Islanders consider having suffered a deterioration in their financial situation during the confinement of the 2nd quarter of 2020, according to INSEE, a little less than the inhabitants of mainland France and the West Indies. The share of Reunion residents expressing a deterioration in their situation varies little depending on the initial income level. The poorest households, whose income comes more from preserved social benefits, are slightly fewer than those in mainland France to perceive a deterioration in their situation. 33% of Reunion Islanders, poor or low-income workers, yet combined a high risk of falling income and a fragile financial situation even before the start of the crisis, compared to 22% in mainland France. And like in France, more than the others, artisan-traders and workers say they have seen their financial situation deteriorate.
