Largest city in the Charente-Maritime department: the 2026 ranking
The 462 towns of the Charente-Maritime department (17) ranked by population, area and density, based on the official INSEE population figures in force in 2026.
The largest city in the Charente-Maritime department is La Rochelle, with 81,843 inhabitants (ranked 62nd in France by population). The largest town by area is Marans (82 km²). La Rochelle is also the most densely populated town, with 2,879 inhabitants per km². At the other end of the ranking, Lussac has only 40 inhabitants.
The Charente-Maritime department has 688,067 inhabitants over 6,864 km², a density of 100 inhabitants per km², close to the national average (110 per km²). It accounts for 10.9% 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-Maritime department by population
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Rochelle | 81,843 | 28 | 2,879 | 62nd |
| 2 | Saintes | 26,773 | 46 | 588 | 341st |
| 3 | Rochefort | 24,081 | 22 | 1,097 | 382nd |
| 4 | Royan | 19,985 | 19 | 1,035 | 494th |
| 5 | Aytré | 9,881 | 12 | 809 | 1,073rd |
| 6 | Périgny | 9,055 | 11 | 840 | 1,181st |
| 7 | Tonnay-Charente | 8,396 | 34 | 244 | 1,294th |
| 8 | Lagord | 7,945 | 8.0 | 988 | 1,374th |
| 9 | Saujon | 7,549 | 18 | 418 | 1,452nd |
| 10 | Saint-Jean-d'Angély | 7,218 | 19 | 384 | 1,529th |
| 11 | Surgères | 7,152 | 29 | 249 | 1,541st |
| 12 | Puilboreau | 6,875 | 7.9 | 872 | 1,607th |
| 13 | Châtelaillon-Plage | 6,750 | 6.6 | 1,024 | 1,642nd |
| 14 | Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron | 6,731 | 41 | 166 | 1,645th |
| 15 | Dompierre-sur-Mer | 6,486 | 18 | 353 | 1,735th |
| 16 | Marennes-Hiers-Brouage | 6,264 | 51 | 122 | 1,795th |
| 17 | Nieul-sur-Mer | 5,884 | 11 | 537 | 1,925th |
| 18 | Saint-Xandre | 5,806 | 13 | 437 | 1,971st |
| 19 | Saint-Georges-de-Didonne | 5,189 | 11 | 490 | 2,195th |
| 20 | Sainte-Soulle | 5,133 | 22 | 235 | 2,228th |
Largest towns by area in the Charente-Maritime department
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marans | 4,540 | 82 | 55 | 376th |
| 2 | La Tremblade | 4,704 | 69 | 68 | 553rd |
| 3 | Marennes-Hiers-Brouage | 6,264 | 51 | 122 | 1,093rd |
| 4 | Saint-Just-Luzac | 2,164 | 48 | 45 | 1,320th |
| 5 | Saint-Savinien | 2,557 | 47 | 54 | 1,374th |
| 6 | Benon | 1,876 | 47 | 40 | 1,420th |
| 7 | Saint-Georges-d'Oléron | 4,123 | 47 | 89 | 1,426th |
| 8 | Saintes | 26,773 | 46 | 588 | 1,507th |
| 9 | Clérac | 1,083 | 43 | 25 | 1,720th |
| 10 | Cercoux | 1,322 | 42 | 32 | 1,835th |
Most densely populated towns in the Charente-Maritime department
| # | Town | Population | km² | per km² | France rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Rochelle | 81,843 | 28 | 2,879 | 310th |
| 2 | Rochefort | 24,081 | 22 | 1,097 | 868th |
| 3 | Royan | 19,985 | 19 | 1,035 | 900th |
| 4 | Châtelaillon-Plage | 6,750 | 6.6 | 1,024 | 916th |
| 5 | Lagord | 7,945 | 8.0 | 988 | 951st |
| 6 | Puilboreau | 6,875 | 7.9 | 872 | 1,092nd |
| 7 | Périgny | 9,055 | 11 | 840 | 1,137th |
| 8 | Aytré | 9,881 | 12 | 809 | 1,177th |
| 9 | L'Houmeau | 3,048 | 4.2 | 722 | 1,303rd |
| 10 | Vaux-sur-Mer | 4,083 | 6.0 | 684 | 1,383rd |
All towns in the Charente-Maritime department (462)
INSEE total population in parentheses. Each town page gives its area, density, national and departmental rankings, and neighboring towns.
- Agudelle (132)
- Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis (4,748)
- Allas-Bocage (195)
- Allas-Champagne (286)
- Anais (317)
- Andilly (2,405)
- Angliers (1,462)
- Angoulins (4,339)
- Annepont (404)
- Annezay (170)
- Antezant-la-Chapelle (370)
- Arces (727)
- Archiac (787)
- Archingeay (769)
- Ardillières (901)
- Ars-en-Ré (1,327)
- Arthenac (340)
- Arvert (3,986)
- Asnières-la-Giraud (999)
- Aujac (378)
- Aulnay (1,427)
- Aumagne (723)
- Authon-Ébéon (416)
- Avy (519)
- Aytré (9,881)
- Bagnizeau (180)
- Balanzac (655)
- Ballans (204)
- Ballon (846)
- Barzan (478)
- Bazauges (105)
- Beaugeay (807)
- Beauvais-sur-Matha (645)
- Bedenac (708)
- Belluire (215)
- Benon (1,876)
- Bercloux (457)
- Bernay-Saint-Martin (781)
- Berneuil (1,190)
- Beurlay (1,004)
- Bignay (365)
- Biron (244)
- Blanzac-lès-Matha (350)
- Blanzay-sur-Boutonne (78)
- Bois (691)
- Boisredon (716)
- Bords (1,394)
- Boresse-et-Martron (207)
- Boscamnant (334)
- Bougneau (665)
- Bouhet (920)
- Bourcefranc-le-Chapus (3,623)
- Bourgneuf (1,493)
- Boutenac-Touvent (233)
- Bran (138)
- Bresdon (232)
- Breuil-la-Réorte (480)
- Breuil-Magné (1,982)
- Breuillet (3,113)
- Brie-sous-Archiac (226)
- Brie-sous-Matha (167)
- Brie-sous-Mortagne (234)
- Brives-sur-Charente (217)
- Brizambourg (1,013)
- Burie (1,349)
- Bussac-Forêt (1,082)
- Bussac-sur-Charente (1,361)
- Cabariot (1,523)
- Celles (337)
- Cercoux (1,322)
- Chadenac (524)
- Chaillevette (1,694)
- Chambon (993)
- Chamouillac (381)
- Champagnac (504)
- Champagne (669)
- Champagnolles (701)
- Champdolent (433)
- Chaniers (3,735)
- Chantemerle-sur-la-Soie (212)
- Charron (2,048)
- Chartuzac (168)
- Châtelaillon-Plage (6,750)
- Chatenet (227)
- Chaunac (67)
- Chenac-Saint-Seurin-d'Uzet (616)
- Chepniers (706)
- Chérac (1,143)
- Cherbonnières (353)
- Chermignac (1,301)
- Chevanceaux (1,152)
- Chives (321)
- Cierzac (325)
- Ciré-d'Aunis (1,604)
- Clam (425)
- Clavette (1,424)
- Clérac (1,083)
- Clion (854)
- Coivert (192)
- Colombiers (314)
- Consac (241)
- Contré (136)
- Corignac (329)
- Corme-Écluse (1,317)
- Corme-Royal (2,025)
- Coulonges (223)
- Courant (450)
- Courcelles (466)
- Courcerac (320)
- Courçon (2,113)
- Courcoury (737)
- Courpignac (431)
- Coux (491)
- Cozes (2,317)
- Cram-Chaban (670)
- Cravans (902)
- Crazannes (449)
- Cressé (227)
- Croix-Chapeau (1,434)
- Dampierre-sur-Boutonne (274)
- Dolus-d'Oléron (3,256)
- Dompierre-sur-Charente (480)
- Dompierre-sur-Mer (6,486)
- Dœuil-sur-le-Mignon (377)
- Échebrune (489)
- Échillais (3,834)
- Écoyeux (1,393)
- Écurat (447)
- Épargnes (956)
- Esnandes (2,260)
- Essouvert (1,101)
- Étaules (2,917)
- Expiremont (114)
- Fenioux (165)
- Ferrières (1,589)
- Fléac-sur-Seugne (363)
- Floirac (433)
- Fontaine-Chalendray (239)
- Fontaines-d'Ozillac (519)
- Fontcouverte (2,386)
- Fontenet (395)
- Forges (1,327)
- Fouras (4,224)
- Geay (800)
- Gémozac (3,087)
- Genouillé (884)
- Germignac (661)
- Gibourne (107)
- Givrezac (78)
- Gourvillette (119)
- Grandjean (311)
- Grézac (968)
- Guitinières (497)
- Haimps (458)
- Île-d'Aix (188)
- Jarnac-Champagne (899)
- Jazennes (556)
- Jonzac (3,778)
- Juicq (326)
- Jussas (155)
- L'Éguille (924)
- L'Houmeau (3,048)
- La Barde (515)
- La Brée-les-Bains (725)
- La Brousse (523)
- La Chapelle-des-Pots (1,046)
- La Clisse (770)
- La Clotte (721)
- La Couarde-sur-Mer (1,129)
- La Croix-Comtesse (226)
- La Devise (1,200)
- La Flotte (3,200)
- La Genétouze (221)
- La Grève-sur-Mignon (582)
- La Gripperie-Saint-Symphorien (616)
- La Jard (435)
- La Jarne (2,695)
- La Jarrie (3,532)
- La Jarrie-Audouin (273)
- La Laigne (504)
- La Rochelle (81,843)
- La Ronde (1,009)
- La Tremblade (4,704)
- La Vallée (721)
- La Vergne (620)
- La Villedieu (201)
- Lagord (7,945)
- Landes (587)
- Landrais (809)
- Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré (2,159)
- Le Château-d'Oléron (4,446)
- Le Chay (869)
- Le Douhet (725)
- Le Fouilloux (765)
- Le Gicq (121)
- Le Grand-Village-Plage (1,122)
- Le Gua (2,164)
- Le Gué-d'Alleré (1,127)
- Le Mung (323)
- Le Pin (72)
- Le Seure (277)
- Le Thou (2,146)
- Léoville (306)
- Les Éduts (58)
- Les Églises-d'Argenteuil (544)
- Les Essards (751)
- Les Gonds (1,836)
- Les Mathes (2,210)
- Les Nouillers (727)
- Les Portes-en-Ré (583)
- Les Touches-de-Périgny (558)
- Loire-les-Marais (388)
- Loiré-sur-Nie (286)
- Loix (756)
- Longèves (1,065)
- Lonzac (272)
- Lorignac (510)
- Loulay (771)
- Louzignac (178)
- Lozay (165)
- Luchat (522)
- Lussac (40)
- Lussant (1,018)
- Macqueville (306)
- Marans (4,540)
- Marennes-Hiers-Brouage (6,264)
- Marignac (422)
- Marsais (1,000)
- Marsilly (3,258)
- Massac (188)
- Matha (2,267)
- Mazeray (1,006)
- Mazerolles (247)
- Médis (3,231)
- Mérignac (240)
- Meschers-sur-Gironde (3,245)
- Messac (102)
- Meursac (1,595)
- Meux (332)
- Migré (355)
- Migron (706)
- Mirambeau (1,536)
- Moëze (607)
- Mons (451)
- Montendre (3,274)
- Montguyon (1,722)
- Montils (880)
- Montlieu-la-Garde (1,327)
- Montpellier-de-Médillan (709)
- Montroy (977)
- Moragne (542)
- Mornac-sur-Seudre (894)
- Mortagne-sur-Gironde (928)
- Mortiers (175)
- Mosnac (506)
- Muron (1,397)
- Nachamps (208)
- Nancras (808)
- Nantillé (334)
- Néré (674)
- Neuillac (325)
- Neulles (167)
- Neuvicq (390)
- Neuvicq-le-Château (375)
- Nieul-le-Virouil (585)
- Nieul-lès-Saintes (1,206)
- Nieul-sur-Mer (5,884)
- Nieulle-sur-Seudre (1,234)
- Nuaillé-d'Aunis (1,297)
- Orignolles (705)
- Ozillac (622)
- Paillé (333)
- Pérignac (981)
- Périgny (9,055)
- Pessines (823)
- Pisany (772)
- Plassac (691)
- Plassay (836)
- Polignac (164)
- Pommiers-Moulons (214)
- Pons (4,624)
- Pont-l'Abbé-d'Arnoult (2,102)
- Port-d'Envaux (1,228)
- Port-des-Barques (1,794)
- Pouillac (296)
- Poursay-Garnaud (315)
- Préguillac (457)
- Prignac (289)
- Puilboreau (6,875)
- Puy-du-Lac (535)
- Puyravault (765)
- Puyrolland (185)
- Réaux sur Trèfle (783)
- Rétaud (1,074)
- Rioux (986)
- Rivedoux-Plage (2,538)
- Rives-de-Boutonne (423)
- Rochefort (24,081)
- Romazières (91)
- Romegoux (649)
- Rouffiac (534)
- Rouffignac (442)
- Royan (19,985)
- Sablonceaux (1,489)
- Saint-Agnant (2,858)
- Saint-Aigulin (1,918)
- Saint-André-de-Lidon (1,289)
- Saint-Augustin (1,543)
- Saint-Bonnet-sur-Gironde (867)
- Saint-Bris-des-Bois (402)
- Saint-Césaire (906)
- Saint-Christophe (1,444)
- Saint-Ciers-Champagne (397)
- Saint-Ciers-du-Taillon (586)
- Saint-Clément-des-Baleines (705)
- Saint-Coutant-le-Grand (423)
- Saint-Crépin (348)
- Saint-Cyr-du-Doret (687)
- Saint-Denis-d'Oléron (1,385)
- Saint-Dizant-du-Bois (113)
- Saint-Dizant-du-Gua (507)
- Saint-Eugène (291)
- Saint-Félix (326)
- Saint-Fort-sur-Gironde (921)
- Saint-Froult (401)
- Saint-Genis-de-Saintonge (1,354)
- Saint-Georges-Antignac (419)
- Saint-Georges-d'Oléron (4,123)
- Saint-Georges-de-Didonne (5,189)
- Saint-Georges-des-Agoûts (282)
- Saint-Georges-des-Coteaux (2,913)
- Saint-Georges-du-Bois (1,903)
- Saint-Germain-de-Lusignan (1,436)
- Saint-Germain-de-Vibrac (189)
- Saint-Germain-du-Seudre (417)
- Saint-Grégoire-d'Ardennes (146)
- Saint-Hilaire-de-Villefranche (1,374)
- Saint-Hilaire-du-Bois (307)
- Saint-Hippolyte (1,520)
- Saint-Jean-d'Angély (7,218)
- Saint-Jean-d'Angle (708)
- Saint-Jean-de-Liversay (3,107)
- Saint-Julien-de-l'Escap (873)
- Saint-Just-Luzac (2,164)
- Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée (2,357)
- Saint-Léger (698)
- Saint-Loup (317)
- Saint-Maigrin (543)
- Saint-Mandé-sur-Brédoire (319)
- Saint-Mard (1,288)
- Saint-Martial (114)
- Saint-Martial-de-Mirambeau (309)
- Saint-Martial-de-Vitaterne (561)
- Saint-Martial-sur-Né (438)
- Saint-Martin-d'Ary (478)
- Saint-Martin-de-Coux (449)
- Saint-Martin-de-Juillers (155)
- Saint-Martin-de-Ré (2,379)
- Saint-Médard (91)
- Saint-Médard-d'Aunis (2,457)
- Saint-Nazaire-sur-Charente (1,226)
- Saint-Ouen-d'Aunis (2,182)
- Saint-Ouen-la-Thène (152)
- Saint-Palais-de-Négrignac (414)
- Saint-Palais-de-Phiolin (218)
- Saint-Palais-sur-Mer (3,906)
- Saint-Pardoult (214)
- Saint-Pierre-d'Amilly (586)
- Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron (6,731)
- Saint-Pierre-de-Juillers (356)
- Saint-Pierre-de-l'Isle (256)
- Saint-Pierre-du-Palais (346)
- Saint-Pierre-La-Noue (1,579)
- Saint-Porchaire (2,069)
- Saint-Quantin-de-Rançanne (275)
- Saint-Rogatien (2,414)
- Saint-Romain-de-Benet (1,825)
- Saint-Saturnin-du-Bois (930)
- Saint-Sauvant (524)
- Saint-Sauveur-d'Aunis (2,053)
- Saint-Savinien (2,557)
- Saint-Seurin-de-Palenne (170)
- Saint-Sever-de-Saintonge (661)
- Saint-Séverin-sur-Boutonne (96)
- Saint-Sigismond-de-Clermont (163)
- Saint-Simon-de-Bordes (775)
- Saint-Simon-de-Pellouaille (729)
- Saint-Sorlin-de-Conac (210)
- Saint-Sornin (419)
- Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult (939)
- Saint-Sulpice-de-Royan (3,507)
- Saint-Thomas-de-Conac (600)
- Saint-Trojan-les-Bains (1,136)
- Saint-Vaize (635)
- Saint-Vivien (1,460)
- Saint-Xandre (5,806)
- Sainte-Colombe (114)
- Sainte-Gemme (1,381)
- Sainte-Lheurine (541)
- Sainte-Marie-de-Ré (3,495)
- Sainte-Même (228)
- Sainte-Radegonde (597)
- Sainte-Ramée (114)
- Sainte-Soulle (5,133)
- Saintes (26,773)
- Saleignes (58)
- Salignac-de-Mirambeau (166)
- Salignac-sur-Charente (623)
- Salles-sur-Mer (2,523)
- Saujon (7,549)
- Seigné (93)
- Semillac (66)
- Semoussac (389)
- Semussac (2,629)
- Siecq (215)
- Sonnac (522)
- Soubise (3,361)
- Soubran (423)
- Soulignonne (770)
- Souméras (393)
- Sousmoulins (233)
- Surgères (7,152)
- Taillant (208)
- Taillebourg (820)
- Talmont-sur-Gironde (78)
- Tanzac (303)
- Taugon (781)
- Ternant (396)
- Tesson (1,169)
- Thaims (403)
- Thairé (1,939)
- Thénac (2,072)
- Thézac (339)
- Thors (487)
- Tonnay-Boutonne (1,202)
- Tonnay-Charente (8,396)
- Torxé (260)
- Trizay (1,568)
- Tugéras-Saint-Maurice (387)
- Vanzac (198)
- Varaize (544)
- Varzay (865)
- Vaux-sur-Mer (4,083)
- Vénérand (786)
- Vergeroux (1,310)
- Vergné (178)
- Vérines (2,421)
- Vervant (254)
- Vibrac (164)
- Villars-en-Pons (596)
- Villars-les-Bois (260)
- Villedoux (2,195)
- Villemorin (132)
- Villeneuve-la-Comtesse (755)
- Villexavier (271)
- Villiers-Couture (110)
- Vinax (68)
- Virollet (295)
- Virson (747)
- Voissay (176)
- Vouhé (691)
- Yves (1,611)
Other departments in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Charente (16) 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.