107 000 nouveaux Girondins

The document “107 000 nouveaux Girondons” is an analytical report produced by the research and publishing collective a’urba. It presents a detailed examination of population growth in the Gironde department of France between 2017 and 2023, focusing on the implications of this growth for urban development, including housing demand and sustainability challenges.

Gironde added 107 000 inhabitants over the six‑year period, a rise of + 6.8 %. This makes the department the fourth‑largest among French regions for demographic expansion, trailing only Haute‑Garonne, Hérault and Corse du Sud. The annual average growth rate slowed slightly from + 1.3 % (2012‑2017) to + 1.1 % (2017‑2023). In Bordeaux Métropole alone, 62 400 of the new residents settled, confirming the metropolitan area as a key driver of the department’s demographic change.

Most intercommunalities experienced a slowdown, but four – Blaye, Bazadais, Coteaux Bordelais and Médoc Atlantique – continued to register strong inflows. Conversely, Grand‑Saint‑Émilionnais kept losing inhabitants, while the Pays Foyen saw a modest decline and Castillon/Pujols lost two residents. Within the métropole, growth accelerated in Parempuyre, Villenave‑d’Ornon, Bassens, Blanquefort, Le Bouscat, Martignas‑sur‑Jalle, Mérignac and Talence. Saint‑Vincent‑de‑Paul also reversed a previous decline thanks to a new centre‑bourg project.

Gironde is the only “néo‑aquitain” department to retain a positive natural balance (births > deaths) in the latest period, yet 14 intercommunalities now show a negative balance, up from 11 in the previous cycle. Migration – the net result of people moving in versus out – intensified in several intercommunalities, notably Blaye, Bazadais, Fronsadais, Coteaux Bordelais and Médoc Atlantique. This migratory pressure contributes directly to housing demand, especially for sustainable, energy‑efficient dwellings.

The surge of 62 400 new residents in Bordeaux Métropole heightens the need for housing solutions that align with EU climate targets and local sustainability policies. While the overall growth rate remains above the departmental average, the uneven spatial pattern suggests that targeted interventions are required in fast‑growing communes. The positive natural balance in the métropole, coupled with continued net migration, indicates a persistent demand for new homes, retrofitting of existing stock, and the integration of green building standards.

• Total departmental increase: + 107 000 inhabitants (+ 6.8 %)
• Annual average growth (2017‑2023): + 1.1 % (down from + 1.3 %)
• New residents in Bordeaux Métropole: 62 400
• Intercommunalities with continued growth: Blaye, Bazadais, Coteaux Bordelais, Médoc Atlantique
• Intercommunalities with negative natural balance: 14 (up from 11)

For stakeholders interested in sustainable housing across Europe, the Gironde case illustrates how demographic trends can drive urban expansion while simultaneously presenting opportunities to implement low‑carbon construction, densification strategies, and renewable‑energy integration. The data underscore the importance of aligning housing policies with migration patterns and natural demographic change to achieve resilient, climate‑compatible urban environments.