Largest city in the Charente department: the 2026 ranking
The 359 towns of the Charente department (16) ranked by population, area and density, based on the official INSEE population figures in force in 2026.
The largest city in the Charente department is Angoulême, with 43,454 inhabitants (ranked 179th in France by population). The largest town by area is Terres-de-Haute-Charente (87 km²). Angoulême is also the most densely populated town, with 1,989 inhabitants per km². At the other end of the ranking, Saint-Georges has only 44 inhabitants.
The Charente department has 361,286 inhabitants over 5,951 km², a density of 61 inhabitants per km², 1.8 times lower than the national average (110 per km²). It accounts for 5.7% of the population of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the region it has belonged to since the 2016 reform (formerly Poitou-Charentes): see the ranking of the largest cities in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
The 20 largest cities in the Charente department by population
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angoulême | 43,454 | 22 | 1,989 | 179th |
| 2 | Cognac | 18,984 | 16 | 1,225 | 518th |
| 3 | Soyaux | 10,396 | 13 | 815 | 1,012th |
| 4 | La Couronne | 8,012 | 29 | 278 | 1,361st |
| 5 | Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente | 7,823 | 15 | 534 | 1,407th |
| 6 | Ruelle-sur-Touvre | 7,598 | 11 | 713 | 1,445th |
| 7 | Gond-Pontouvre | 5,955 | 7.5 | 799 | 1,897th |
| 8 | L'Isle-d'Espagnac | 5,791 | 6.0 | 973 | 1,981st |
| 9 | Champniers | 5,353 | 45 | 118 | 2,128th |
| 10 | Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire | 4,899 | 27 | 185 | 2,327th |
| 11 | Jarnac | 4,591 | 12 | 383 | 2,490th |
| 12 | Roullet-Saint-Estèphe | 4,422 | 42 | 107 | 2,601st |
| 13 | Brie | 4,190 | 34 | 123 | 2,729th |
| 14 | La Rochefoucauld-en-Angoumois | 4,127 | 24 | 171 | 2,785th |
| 15 | Fléac | 3,964 | 13 | 315 | 2,906th |
| 16 | Châteaubernard | 3,949 | 13 | 297 | 2,922nd |
| 17 | Terres-de-Haute-Charente | 3,896 | 87 | 45 | 2,966th |
| 18 | Châteauneuf-sur-Charente | 3,606 | 24 | 150 | 3,194th |
| 19 | Ruffec | 3,602 | 13 | 269 | 3,199th |
| 20 | Val-de-Cognac | 3,580 | 62 | 58 | 3,232nd |
Largest towns by area in the Charente department
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terres-de-Haute-Charente | 3,896 | 87 | 45 | 334th |
| 2 | Nanteuil-en-Vallée | 1,372 | 69 | 20 | 560th |
| 3 | Montmoreau | 2,485 | 65 | 38 | 651st |
| 4 | Val-de-Cognac | 3,580 | 62 | 58 | 732nd |
| 5 | Rouillac | 2,960 | 57 | 52 | 883rd |
| 6 | Val des Vignes | 1,384 | 51 | 27 | 1,132nd |
| 7 | Saint-Maurice-des-Lions | 917 | 50 | 18 | 1,178th |
| 8 | Brigueuil | 1,111 | 47 | 24 | 1,371st |
| 9 | Alloue | 498 | 47 | 11 | 1,427th |
| 10 | Champniers | 5,353 | 45 | 118 | 1,528th |
Most densely populated towns in the Charente department
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angoulême | 43,454 | 22 | 1,989 | 456th |
| 2 | Saint-Michel | 3,219 | 2.5 | 1,309 | 726th |
| 3 | Cognac | 18,984 | 16 | 1,225 | 779th |
| 4 | L'Isle-d'Espagnac | 5,791 | 6.0 | 973 | 962nd |
| 5 | Soyaux | 10,396 | 13 | 815 | 1,171st |
| 6 | Gond-Pontouvre | 5,955 | 7.5 | 799 | 1,196th |
| 7 | Ruelle-sur-Touvre | 7,598 | 11 | 713 | 1,324th |
| 8 | Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente | 7,823 | 15 | 534 | 1,747th |
| 9 | Magnac-sur-Touvre | 3,318 | 7.8 | 424 | 2,154th |
| 10 | Jarnac | 4,591 | 12 | 383 | 2,351st |
All towns in the Charente department (359)
INSEE total population in parentheses. Each town page gives its area, density, national and departmental rankings, and neighboring towns.
- Abzac (523)
- Agris (900)
- Aigre (1,619)
- Alloue (498)
- Ambérac (325)
- Ambernac (385)
- Anais (606)
- Angeac-Champagne (504)
- Angeac-Charente (290)
- Angeduc (146)
- Angoulême (43,454)
- Ansac-sur-Vienne (834)
- Ars (700)
- Asnières-sur-Nouère (1,287)
- Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (316)
- Aunac-sur-Charente (663)
- Aussac-Vadalle (573)
- Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde (1,277)
- Balzac (1,438)
- Barbezières (137)
- Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire (4,899)
- Bardenac (220)
- Barret (1,097)
- Barro (428)
- Bassac (539)
- Bazac (152)
- Beaulieu-sur-Sonnette (241)
- Bécheresse (299)
- Bellevigne (1,304)
- Bellon (149)
- Benest (311)
- Bernac (477)
- Berneuil (331)
- Bessac (122)
- Bessé (120)
- Bioussac (212)
- Birac (379)
- Blanzaguet-Saint-Cybard (276)
- Boisbreteau (137)
- Boisné-La Tude (672)
- Bonnes (372)
- Bonneuil (255)
- Bors (Canton de Charente-Sud) (119)
- Bors (Canton de Tude-et-Lavalette) (226)
- Bouëx (835)
- Bourg-Charente (905)
- Bouteville (320)
- Boutiers-Saint-Trojan (1,413)
- Brettes (167)
- Bréville (446)
- Brie (4,190)
- Brie-sous-Barbezieux (111)
- Brie-sous-Chalais (157)
- Brigueuil (1,111)
- Brillac (598)
- Brossac (488)
- Bunzac (453)
- Cellefrouin (606)
- Cellettes (396)
- Chabanais (1,612)
- Chabrac (611)
- Chadurie (516)
- Chalais (1,831)
- Challignac (342)
- Champagne-Mouton (882)
- Champagne-Vigny (238)
- Champmillon (540)
- Champniers (5,353)
- Chantillac (373)
- Charmé (342)
- Charras (350)
- Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure (3,389)
- Chassenon (852)
- Chassiecq (150)
- Chassors (1,143)
- Châteaubernard (3,949)
- Châteauneuf-sur-Charente (3,606)
- Châtignac (163)
- Chazelles (1,569)
- Chenon (127)
- Cherves-Châtelars (422)
- Chillac (229)
- Chirac (794)
- Claix (1,066)
- Cognac (18,984)
- Combiers (128)
- Condac (468)
- Condéon (622)
- Confolens (2,855)
- Coteaux-du-Blanzacais (1,029)
- Coulgens (569)
- Coulonges (118)
- Courbillac (736)
- Courcôme (826)
- Courgeac (169)
- Courlac (59)
- Couture (173)
- Criteuil-la-Magdeleine (415)
- Curac (115)
- Deviat (138)
- Dignac (1,383)
- Dirac (1,550)
- Douzat (446)
- Ébréon (142)
- Échallat (491)
- Écuras (585)
- Édon (275)
- Empuré (100)
- Épenède (207)
- Esse (524)
- Étagnac (1,002)
- Étriac (214)
- Exideuil-sur-Vienne (1,047)
- Eymouthiers (326)
- Feuillade (285)
- Fléac (3,964)
- Fleurac (204)
- Fontenille (362)
- Fouquebrune (726)
- Fouqueure (437)
- Foussignac (668)
- Garat (2,148)
- Genac-Bignac (995)
- Gensac-la-Pallue (1,671)
- Genté (945)
- Gimeux (754)
- Gond-Pontouvre (5,955)
- Grassac (312)
- Graves-Saint-Amant (333)
- Guimps (503)
- Guizengeard (170)
- Gurat (186)
- Hiersac (1,166)
- Hiesse (247)
- Houlette (404)
- Jarnac (4,591)
- Jauldes (869)
- Javrezac (595)
- Juignac (390)
- Juillac-le-Coq (668)
- Juillé (173)
- Julienne (573)
- L'Isle-d'Espagnac (5,791)
- La Boixe (2,882)
- La Chapelle (178)
- La Chèvrerie (138)
- La Couronne (8,012)
- La Faye (628)
- La Forêt-de-Tessé (210)
- La Magdeleine (121)
- La Rochefoucauld-en-Angoumois (4,127)
- La Rochette (528)
- La Tâche (107)
- Lachaise (322)
- Ladiville (136)
- Lagarde-sur-le-Né (193)
- Laprade (255)
- Le Bouchage (177)
- Le Grand-Madieu (156)
- Le Lindois (341)
- Le Tâtre (434)
- Le Vieux-Cérier (129)
- Les Adjots (553)
- Les Essards (182)
- Les Gours (95)
- Les Métairies (720)
- Les Pins (519)
- Lésignac-Durand (171)
- Lessac (556)
- Lesterps (451)
- Lichères (100)
- Ligné (148)
- Lignières-Ambleville (696)
- Linars (2,151)
- Londigny (243)
- Longré (199)
- Lonnes (190)
- Louzac-Saint-André (968)
- Lupsault (111)
- Lussac (296)
- Luxé (758)
- Magnac-lès-Gardes (749)
- Magnac-sur-Touvre (3,318)
- Maine-de-Boixe (479)
- Mainxe-Gondeville (1,216)
- Mainzac (126)
- Manot (564)
- Mansle-les-Fontaines (2,118)
- Marcillac-Lanville (530)
- Mareuil (403)
- Marillac-le-Franc (844)
- Marsac (756)
- Marthon (562)
- Massignac (365)
- Mazerolles (317)
- Médillac (151)
- Mérignac (819)
- Merpins (1,110)
- Mesnac (414)
- Mons (243)
- Montboyer (348)
- Montbron (2,030)
- Montembœuf (686)
- Montignac-le-Coq (130)
- Montjean (239)
- Montmérac (742)
- Montmoreau (2,485)
- Montrollet (330)
- Mornac (2,169)
- Mosnac-Saint-Simeux (974)
- Moulidars (673)
- Moulins-sur-Tardoire (833)
- Mouthiers-sur-Boëme (2,429)
- Mouton (225)
- Mouzon (145)
- Nabinaud (102)
- Nanclars (216)
- Nanteuil-en-Vallée (1,372)
- Nercillac (1,072)
- Nersac (2,298)
- Nieuil (893)
- Nonac (271)
- Oradour (167)
- Oradour-Fanais (344)
- Orgedeuil (210)
- Oriolles (247)
- Orival (150)
- Paizay-Naudouin-Embourie (341)
- Palluaud (222)
- Parzac (144)
- Passirac (254)
- Pérignac (503)
- Pillac (251)
- Plassac-Rouffiac (380)
- Pleuville (314)
- Poullignac (108)
- Poursac (191)
- Pranzac (890)
- Pressignac (407)
- Puymoyen (2,530)
- Puyréaux (590)
- Raix (140)
- Ranville-Breuillaud (162)
- Reignac (720)
- Réparsac (644)
- Rioux-Martin (236)
- Rivières (2,043)
- Ronsenac (578)
- Rouffiac (120)
- Rougnac (399)
- Rouillac (2,960)
- Roullet-Saint-Estèphe (4,422)
- Roussines (302)
- Rouzède (233)
- Ruelle-sur-Touvre (7,598)
- Ruffec (3,602)
- Saint-Adjutory (508)
- Saint-Amant-de-Boixe (1,361)
- Saint-Amant-de-Nouère (349)
- Saint-Aulais-la-Chapelle (224)
- Saint-Avit (223)
- Saint-Bonnet (421)
- Saint-Brice (1,000)
- Saint-Christophe (337)
- Saint-Ciers-sur-Bonnieure (322)
- Saint-Claud (1,050)
- Saint-Coutant (212)
- Saint-Cybardeaux (776)
- Saint-Félix (102)
- Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né (396)
- Saint-Fraigne (429)
- Saint-Front (357)
- Saint-Genis-d'Hiersac (959)
- Saint-Georges (44)
- Saint-Germain-de-Montbron (505)
- Saint-Gourson (136)
- Saint-Groux (138)
- Saint-Laurent-de-Céris (728)
- Saint-Laurent-de-Cognac (857)
- Saint-Laurent-des-Combes (99)
- Saint-Martial (123)
- Saint-Martin-du-Clocher (129)
- Saint-Mary (360)
- Saint-Maurice-des-Lions (917)
- Saint-Médard (307)
- Saint-Même-les-Carrières (1,042)
- Saint-Michel (3,219)
- Saint-Palais-du-Né (312)
- Saint-Preuil (310)
- Saint-Quentin-de-Chalais (247)
- Saint-Quentin-sur-Charente (204)
- Saint-Romain (520)
- Saint-Saturnin (1,319)
- Saint-Séverin (793)
- Saint-Simon (240)
- Saint-Sornin (855)
- Saint-Sulpice-de-Ruffec (45)
- Saint-Vallier (143)
- Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente (7,823)
- Sainte-Sévère (527)
- Sainte-Souline (114)
- Salles-d'Angles (1,033)
- Salles-de-Barbezieux (506)
- Salles-de-Villefagnan (322)
- Salles-Lavalette (325)
- Saulgond (537)
- Sauvagnac (66)
- Sauvignac (97)
- Segonzac (2,138)
- Sers (919)
- Sigogne (982)
- Sireuil (1,210)
- Souffrignac (151)
- Souvigné (186)
- Soyaux (10,396)
- Suaux (388)
- Taizé-Aizie (607)
- Taponnat-Fleurignac (1,618)
- Terres-de-Haute-Charente (3,896)
- Theil-Rabier (168)
- Torsac (757)
- Tourriers (823)
- Touvérac (589)
- Touvre (1,171)
- Triac-Lautrait (520)
- Trois-Palis (967)
- Turgon (84)
- Tusson (247)
- Val des Vignes (1,384)
- Val-d'Auge (805)
- Val-de-Bonnieure (1,347)
- Val-de-Cognac (3,580)
- Valence (197)
- Vaux-Lavalette (80)
- Vaux-Rouillac (298)
- Ventouse (123)
- Verdille (392)
- Verneuil (93)
- Verrières (312)
- Verteuil-sur-Charente (595)
- Vervant (149)
- Vibrac (314)
- Vieux-Ruffec (108)
- Vignolles (177)
- Villebois-Lavalette (730)
- Villefagnan (986)
- Villejoubert (384)
- Villiers-le-Roux (172)
- Villognon (338)
- Vindelle (1,068)
- Vitrac-Saint-Vincent (498)
- Vouharte (302)
- Voulgézac (248)
- Vouthon (409)
- Vouzan (831)
- Vœuil-et-Giget (1,637)
- Xambes (260)
- Yviers (549)
- Yvrac-et-Malleyrand (568)
Other departments in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Charente-Maritime (17) Corrèze (19) Creuse (23) Dordogne (24) Gironde (33) Landes (40) Lot-et-Garonne (47) Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64) Deux-Sèvres (79) Vienne (86) Haute-Vienne (87) 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.