Largest city in the Allier department: the 2026 ranking
The 317 towns of the Allier department (03) ranked by population, area and density, based on the official INSEE population figures in force in 2026.
The largest city in the Allier department is Montluçon, with 34,107 inhabitants (ranked 246th in France by population). The largest town by area is Lurcy-Lévis (71 km²). The most densely populated is Vichy, with 4,350 inhabitants per km². At the other end of the ranking, Veauce has only 40 inhabitants.
The Allier department has 341,713 inhabitants over 7,340 km², a density of 47 inhabitants per km², 2.4 times lower than the national average (110 per km²). It accounts for 4.1% of the population of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the region it has belonged to since the 2016 reform (formerly Auvergne): see the ranking of the largest cities in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
The 20 largest cities in the Allier department by population
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montluçon | 34,107 | 21 | 1,650 | 246th |
| 2 | Vichy | 25,445 | 5.9 | 4,350 | 366th |
| 3 | Moulins | 19,714 | 8.6 | 2,290 | 502nd |
| 4 | Cusset | 13,822 | 32 | 433 | 734th |
| 5 | Yzeure | 13,451 | 43 | 311 | 752nd |
| 6 | Bellerive-sur-Allier | 9,171 | 19 | 483 | 1,166th |
| 7 | Domérat | 8,794 | 36 | 247 | 1,221st |
| 8 | Commentry | 6,179 | 21 | 295 | 1,825th |
| 9 | Gannat | 5,794 | 37 | 157 | 1,980th |
| 10 | Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule | 5,009 | 36 | 140 | 2,276th |
| 11 | Désertines | 4,345 | 8.3 | 521 | 2,644th |
| 12 | Avermes | 4,189 | 16 | 269 | 2,730th |
| 13 | Saint-Germain-des-Fossés | 3,629 | 8.3 | 437 | 3,175th |
| 14 | Varennes-sur-Allier | 3,602 | 24 | 149 | 3,198th |
| 15 | Creuzier-le-Vieux | 3,299 | 11 | 290 | 3,484th |
| 16 | Lapalisse | 3,207 | 33 | 97 | 3,596th |
| 17 | Dompierre-sur-Besbre | 3,004 | 46 | 66 | 3,825th |
| 18 | Abrest | 2,979 | 10 | 285 | 3,859th |
| 19 | Saint-Yorre | 2,689 | 6.4 | 423 | 4,215th |
| 20 | Prémilhat | 2,605 | 21 | 123 | 4,362nd |
Largest towns by area in the Allier department
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lurcy-Lévis | 1,845 | 71 | 26 | 513th |
| 2 | Haut-Bocage | 855 | 71 | 12 | 527th |
| 3 | Cérilly | 1,326 | 71 | 19 | 530th |
| 4 | Beaulon | 1,682 | 64 | 26 | 673rd |
| 5 | Arfeuilles | 610 | 60 | 10 | 780th |
| 6 | Saligny-sur-Roudon | 714 | 58 | 12 | 841st |
| 7 | Thiel-sur-Acolin | 1,045 | 58 | 18 | 843rd |
| 8 | Bourbon-l'Archambault | 2,549 | 55 | 46 | 934th |
| 9 | Couleuvre | 589 | 54 | 11 | 976th |
| 10 | Ygrande | 777 | 53 | 15 | 1,037th |
Most densely populated towns in the Allier department
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vichy | 25,445 | 5.9 | 4,350 | 174th |
| 2 | Moulins | 19,714 | 8.6 | 2,290 | 397th |
| 3 | Montluçon | 34,107 | 21 | 1,650 | 564th |
| 4 | Désertines | 4,345 | 8.3 | 521 | 1,780th |
| 5 | Bellerive-sur-Allier | 9,171 | 19 | 483 | 1,920th |
| 6 | Saint-Germain-des-Fossés | 3,629 | 8.3 | 437 | 2,098th |
| 7 | Cusset | 13,822 | 32 | 433 | 2,121st |
| 8 | Saint-Yorre | 2,689 | 6.4 | 423 | 2,158th |
| 9 | Yzeure | 13,451 | 43 | 311 | 2,910th |
| 10 | Commentry | 6,179 | 21 | 295 | 3,072nd |
All towns in the Allier department (317)
INSEE total population in parentheses. Each town page gives its area, density, national and departmental rankings, and neighboring towns.
- Abrest (2,979)
- Agonges (309)
- Ainay-le-Château (1,002)
- Andelaroche (219)
- Archignat (323)
- Arfeuilles (610)
- Arpheuilles-Saint-Priest (392)
- Arronnes (387)
- Aubigny (180)
- Audes (410)
- Aurouër (411)
- Autry-Issards (326)
- Avermes (4,189)
- Avrilly (147)
- Bagneux (343)
- Barberier (151)
- Barrais-Bussolles (190)
- Bayet (687)
- Beaulon (1,682)
- Beaune-d'Allier (299)
- Bègues (235)
- Bellenaves (997)
- Bellerive-sur-Allier (9,171)
- Bert (276)
- Bessay-sur-Allier (1,406)
- Besson (747)
- Bézenet (928)
- Billezois (365)
- Billy (829)
- Biozat (951)
- Bizeneuille (307)
- Blomard (226)
- Bost (194)
- Boucé (516)
- Bourbon-l'Archambault (2,549)
- Braize (259)
- Bransat (537)
- Bresnay (394)
- Bressolles (1,181)
- Broût-Vernet (1,299)
- Brugheas (1,594)
- Busset (865)
- Buxières-les-Mines (1,011)
- Cérilly (1,326)
- Cesset (438)
- Chambérat (282)
- Chamblet (1,098)
- Chantelle (1,151)
- Chapeau (241)
- Chappes (223)
- Chareil-Cintrat (396)
- Charmeil (957)
- Charmes (378)
- Charroux (351)
- Chassenard (1,052)
- Château-sur-Allier (165)
- Châtel-de-Neuvre (572)
- Châtel-Montagne (335)
- Châtelperron (132)
- Châtelus (120)
- Châtillon (322)
- Chavenon (144)
- Chavroches (275)
- Chazemais (514)
- Chemilly (590)
- Chevagnes (643)
- Chezelle (160)
- Chézy (220)
- Chirat-l'Église (131)
- Chouvigny (237)
- Cindré (282)
- Cognat-Lyonne (720)
- Colombier (332)
- Commentry (6,179)
- Contigny (587)
- Cosne-d'Allier (2,029)
- Coulandon (699)
- Coulanges (292)
- Couleuvre (589)
- Courçais (318)
- Coutansouze (161)
- Couzon (334)
- Créchy (436)
- Cressanges (654)
- Creuzier-le-Neuf (1,257)
- Creuzier-le-Vieux (3,299)
- Cusset (13,822)
- Deneuille-lès-Chantelle (97)
- Deneuille-les-Mines (358)
- Désertines (4,345)
- Deux-Chaises (385)
- Diou (1,375)
- Domérat (8,794)
- Dompierre-sur-Besbre (3,004)
- Doyet (1,131)
- Droiturier (376)
- Durdat-Larequille (1,388)
- Ébreuil (1,330)
- Échassières (370)
- Escurolles (837)
- Espinasse-Vozelle (1,023)
- Estivareilles (1,143)
- Étroussat (661)
- Ferrières-sur-Sichon (507)
- Fleuriel (342)
- Fourilles (198)
- Franchesse (454)
- Gannat (5,794)
- Gannay-sur-Loire (391)
- Garnat-sur-Engièvre (666)
- Gennetines (633)
- Gipcy (248)
- Gouise (222)
- Haut-Bocage (855)
- Hauterive (1,200)
- Hérisson (567)
- Huriel (2,578)
- Hyds (305)
- Isle-et-Bardais (278)
- Isserpent (567)
- Jaligny-sur-Besbre (568)
- Jenzat (528)
- La Celle (402)
- La Chabanne (175)
- La Chapelaude (950)
- La Chapelle (405)
- La Chapelle-aux-Chasses (201)
- La Ferté-Hauterive (261)
- La Guillermie (125)
- La Petite-Marche (170)
- Laféline (174)
- Lalizolle (404)
- Lamaids (216)
- Langy (281)
- Lapalisse (3,207)
- Laprugne (311)
- Lavault-Sainte-Anne (1,153)
- Lavoine (154)
- Le Bouchaud (195)
- Le Brethon (332)
- Le Breuil (533)
- Le Donjon (1,021)
- Le Mayet-d'École (308)
- Le Mayet-de-Montagne (1,466)
- Le Montet (473)
- Le Pin (450)
- Le Theil (397)
- Le Vernet (1,969)
- Le Veurdre (480)
- Le Vilhain (269)
- Lenax (260)
- Lételon (98)
- Liernolles (199)
- Lignerolles (772)
- Limoise (209)
- Loddes (169)
- Loriges (355)
- Louchy-Montfand (408)
- Louroux-Bourbonnais (210)
- Louroux-de-Beaune (197)
- Louroux-de-Bouble (233)
- Luneau (285)
- Lurcy-Lévis (1,845)
- Lusigny (1,669)
- Magnet (1,072)
- Malicorne (779)
- Marcenat (391)
- Marcillat-en-Combraille (920)
- Marigny (204)
- Mariol (701)
- Mazerier (332)
- Mazirat (277)
- Meaulne-Vitray (917)
- Meillard (311)
- Meillers (131)
- Mercy (250)
- Mesples (131)
- Molinet (1,125)
- Molles (923)
- Monestier (299)
- Monétay-sur-Allier (549)
- Monétay-sur-Loire (258)
- Montaigu-le-Blin (304)
- Montaiguët-en-Forez (285)
- Montbeugny (659)
- Montcombroux-les-Mines (298)
- Monteignet-sur-l'Andelot (274)
- Montilly (505)
- Montluçon (34,107)
- Montmarault (1,537)
- Montoldre (597)
- Montord (214)
- Montvicq (714)
- Moulins (19,714)
- Murat (269)
- Nades (164)
- Nassigny (202)
- Naves (147)
- Néris-les-Bains (2,433)
- Neuilly-en-Donjon (204)
- Neuilly-le-Réal (1,474)
- Neure (206)
- Neuvy (1,728)
- Nizerolles (292)
- Noyant-d'Allier (609)
- Paray-le-Frésil (380)
- Paray-sous-Briailles (629)
- Périgny (496)
- Pierrefitte-sur-Loire (512)
- Poëzat (156)
- Pouzy-Mésangy (381)
- Prémilhat (2,605)
- Quinssaines (1,562)
- Reugny (270)
- Rocles (330)
- Rongères (559)
- Ronnet (163)
- Saint-Angel (783)
- Saint-Aubin-le-Monial (266)
- Saint-Bonnet-de-Four (229)
- Saint-Bonnet-de-Rochefort (728)
- Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais (735)
- Saint-Caprais (104)
- Saint-Christophe-en-Bourbonnais (453)
- Saint-Clément (285)
- Saint-Désiré (432)
- Saint-Didier-en-Donjon (248)
- Saint-Didier-la-Forêt (407)
- Saint-Éloy-d'Allier (58)
- Saint-Ennemond (641)
- Saint-Étienne-de-Vicq (527)
- Saint-Fargeol (196)
- Saint-Félix (285)
- Saint-Genest (393)
- Saint-Gérand-de-Vaux (414)
- Saint-Gérand-le-Puy (981)
- Saint-Germain-de-Salles (446)
- Saint-Germain-des-Fossés (3,629)
- Saint-Hilaire (509)
- Saint-Léger-sur-Vouzance (268)
- Saint-Léon (545)
- Saint-Léopardin-d'Augy (396)
- Saint-Loup (580)
- Saint-Marcel-en-Marcillat (135)
- Saint-Marcel-en-Murat (130)
- Saint-Martin-des-Lais (126)
- Saint-Martinien (604)
- Saint-Menoux (1,148)
- Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs (151)
- Saint-Palais (169)
- Saint-Pierre-Laval (383)
- Saint-Plaisir (428)
- Saint-Pont (706)
- Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre (379)
- Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule (5,009)
- Saint-Priest-d'Andelot (148)
- Saint-Priest-en-Murat (217)
- Saint-Prix (798)
- Saint-Rémy-en-Rollat (1,801)
- Saint-Sauvier (325)
- Saint-Sornin (224)
- Saint-Victor (2,149)
- Saint-Voir (207)
- Saint-Yorre (2,689)
- Sainte-Thérence (187)
- Saligny-sur-Roudon (714)
- Sanssat (282)
- Saulcet (671)
- Saulzet (405)
- Sauvagny (84)
- Sazeret (141)
- Serbannes (886)
- Servilly (277)
- Seuillet (495)
- Sorbier (324)
- Souvigny (1,736)
- Sussat (109)
- Target (248)
- Taxat-Senat (225)
- Teillet-Argenty (563)
- Terjat (183)
- Theneuille (344)
- Thiel-sur-Acolin (1,045)
- Thionne (299)
- Tortezais (181)
- Toulon-sur-Allier (1,183)
- Treban (377)
- Treignat (443)
- Treteau (532)
- Trévol (1,692)
- Trézelles (402)
- Tronget (935)
- Urçay (298)
- Ussel-d'Allier (171)
- Valignat (65)
- Valigny (380)
- Vallon-en-Sully (1,485)
- Varennes-sur-Allier (3,602)
- Varennes-sur-Tèche (228)
- Vaumas (547)
- Vaux (1,182)
- Veauce (40)
- Venas (230)
- Vendat (2,346)
- Verneix (585)
- Verneuil-en-Bourbonnais (245)
- Vernusse (153)
- Vichy (25,445)
- Vicq (296)
- Vieure (287)
- Villebret (1,374)
- Villefranche-d'Allier (1,281)
- Villeneuve-sur-Allier (1,041)
- Viplaix (300)
- Voussac (503)
- Ygrande (777)
- Yzeure (13,451)
Other departments in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Ain (01) Ardèche (07) Cantal (15) Drôme (26) Isère (38) Loire (42) Haute-Loire (43) Puy-de-Dôme (63) Rhône (69) Savoie (73) Haute-Savoie (74) All departments
Sources: INSEE, official population figures in force on January 1, 2026 (total population); land area: IGN / Observatoire des territoires. Rankings computed across the 34,858 communes in the database.