More than a quarter of new Bretons arrive from the Paris region

2023-11-23 14:29:29

It shares the title with Nouvelle-Aquitaine. According to an INSEE study, Brittany is the French region with the highest net migration. In one year, more than 71,000 people came to settle there, while 49,000 people left (to return better, no doubt), reported the national statistics institute in an analysis published this Thursday. Are you wondering where these new residents come from and who they are? From Paris, of course! Conducted in 2019, the study reveals that 27% of arrivals are from Île-de-France. A figure which could even be underestimated compared to reality, since this survey was carried out before the Covid-19 epidemic and the urban exodus generated by episodes of confinement.

Paris leader, Nantes of course the podium

This is a figure that will not be likely to attenuate the vision of the “Parisian invader”. In 2019, 19,100 inhabitants of Île-de-France moved to Brittany, or 27% of new arrivals. This is much more than the two neighboring regions of Pays-de-la-Loire (13,700 arrivals) and Normandy (6,500 arrivals). Based on census data, this figure does not take into account secondary residents but only primary residences. The scene of great tension on the question of housing, Brittany regularly points out the problem of second homes, which represent up to 80% of housing in certain coastal communities. A third of these properties belong to Ile-de-France residents.

Retirees but not the majority

The image of the retiree coming to enjoy his old days on the coast seems to be reinforced by this investigation. According to INSEE, Brittany is, with Corsica, the most attractive region for retirees, who first come to settle in Morbihan. This result is particularly marked among 60-64 year olds, the age group which marks the start of retirement. The 20-24 year olds, however, are the most numerous to arrive but are even more numerous to leave, often due to studies. It seems that these young people will return later. According to INSEE, one in five arrivals was born in the region. An observation that is even more marked among 25-34 year olds “thus marking a return to the region of origin after studies or a first job”. They then target the Rennes and Brest metropolises and the economic centers.

More and more foreigners

In 2019, more than 10,000 people arriving from abroad settled in Brittany, or 12.3% of new arrivals. A figure which is one of the lowest in the regions of mainland France. According to INSEE, 46% of these people are of French nationality, 22% lived in the European Union, 18% in Africa and 10% in Asia. The British represent the most represented nation with 500 arrivals, ahead of the Romanians (400 arrivals). New arrivals of foreign nationality have a low activity rate, with an unemployment rate of 40.7% among the active population.