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2026 ranking · population density

The most densely populated towns in Pays de la Loire in 2026

Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) is the most densely populated town in Pays de la Loire, with 5,101 inhabitants per km². Next come Angers (Maine-et-Loire, 3,800 inhabitants per km²) and Rezé (Loire-Atlantique, 3,214 inhabitants per km²).

1,228 towns ranked

Nantes, 1stThe next 19

The podium

  1. 1stNantes 5,101per km² Loire-Atlantique
  2. 2ndAngers 3,800per km² Maine-et-Loire
  3. 3rdRezé 3,214per km² Loire-Atlantique

Photos: © Pymouss44, CC BY-SA 3.0

This ranking covers all 1,228 towns in Pays de la Loire. The table is split into pages of 100 towns. At the other end of the ranking, Nauvay (Sarthe) comes last with 4 inhabitants per km².

In France, a commune is the smallest unit of local government, from large cities to tiny villages. Paris, Lyon and Marseille are ranked as whole communes: their arrondissements (districts) have no rank of their own.

The ranking: most densely populated towns in Pays de la Loire

Rank Town Department Density (per km²) Proportional bar Population Area (km²)
1 Nantes Loire-Atlantique (44) 5,101 332,515 65
2 Angers Maine-et-Loire (49) 3,800 162,290 43
3 Rezé Loire-Atlantique (44) 3,214 44,286 14
4 Le Mans Sarthe (72) 2,819 148,876 53
5 Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire Loire-Atlantique (44) 2,500 29,151 12
6 Coulaines Sarthe (72) 2,093 8,226 3.9
7 La Montagne Loire-Atlantique (44) 1,828 6,653 3.6
8 Saint-Herblain Loire-Atlantique (44) 1,722 51,681 30
9 Saint-Nazaire Loire-Atlantique (44) 1,629 76,243 47
10 Paimbœuf Loire-Atlantique (44) 1,569 3,138 2.0
11 Laval Mayenne (53) 1,511 51,719 34
12 Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire Loire-Atlantique (44) 1,457 16,679 11
13 Trélazé Maine-et-Loire (49) 1,354 16,518 12
14 Mallièvre Vendée (85) 1,300 260 0.2
15 Le Temple-de-Bretagne Loire-Atlantique (44) 1,256 2,010 1.6
16 Orvault Loire-Atlantique (44) 1,054 29,176 28
17 Pornichet Loire-Atlantique (44) 1,034 13,103 13
18 Mamers Sarthe (72) 1,020 5,150 5.1
19 Avrillé Maine-et-Loire (49) 988 15,655 16
20 Le Pouliguen Loire-Atlantique (44) 974 4,275 4.4
21 Bourg-le-Roi Sarthe (72) 931 335 0.4
22 Le Croisic Loire-Atlantique (44) 913 4,108 4.5
23 Indre Loire-Atlantique (44) 892 4,209 4.7
24 Thouaré-sur-Loire Loire-Atlantique (44) 876 11,182 13
25 Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie Vendée (85) 853 8,741 10
26 La Baule-Escoublac Loire-Atlantique (44) 786 17,435 22
27 Saint-Brevin-les-Pins Loire-Atlantique (44) 773 14,909 19
28 Vertou Loire-Atlantique (44) 748 26,684 36
29 Les Sorinières Loire-Atlantique (44) 722 9,394 13
30 Basse-Goulaine Loire-Atlantique (44) 720 9,894 14
31 Les Ponts-de-Cé Maine-et-Loire (49) 701 13,704 20
32 Mayenne Mayenne (53) 685 13,612 20
33 Clisson Loire-Atlantique (44) 683 7,723 11
34 Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou Maine-et-Loire (49) 683 9,964 15
35 Bouguenais Loire-Atlantique (44) 662 20,862 32
36 La Roche-sur-Yon Vendée (85) 659 57,683 88
37 Cholet Maine-et-Loire (49) 644 56,363 87
38 La Chapelle-sur-Erdre Loire-Atlantique (44) 637 21,281 33
39 Bouaye Loire-Atlantique (44) 613 8,482 14
40 La Ferté-Bernard Sarthe (72) 600 8,981 15
41 Allonnes Sarthe (72) 600 10,846 18
42 Les Sables-d'Olonne Vendée (85) 594 50,924 86
43 Trignac Loire-Atlantique (44) 592 8,517 14
44 La Bernerie-en-Retz Loire-Atlantique (44) 588 3,581 6.1
45 Candé Maine-et-Loire (49) 579 2,845 4.9
46 Montreuil-Juigné Maine-et-Loire (49) 573 7,913 14
47 Couëron Loire-Atlantique (44) 553 24,367 44
48 Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau Loire-Atlantique (44) 541 6,164 11
49 Arnage Sarthe (72) 516 5,548 11
50 Sautron Loire-Atlantique (44) 502 8,679 17
51 Carquefou Loire-Atlantique (44) 495 21,509 43
52 Geneston Loire-Atlantique (44) 466 3,750 8.0
53 Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance Maine-et-Loire (49) 445 2,273 5.1
54 Ancenis-Saint-Géréon Loire-Atlantique (44) 435 12,005 28
55 Fontenay-le-Comte Vendée (85) 431 14,668 34
56 La Chaize-Giraud Vendée (85) 420 1,139 2.7
57 La Haie-Fouassière Loire-Atlantique (44) 412 4,870 12
58 Saumur Maine-et-Loire (49) 409 27,096 66
59 Saint-Pavace Sarthe (72) 398 2,055 5.2
60 Varrains Maine-et-Loire (49) 395 1,343 3.4
61 La Chapelle-Saint-Aubin Sarthe (72) 391 2,319 5.9
62 Châteaubriant Loire-Atlantique (44) 378 12,716 34
63 Savenay Loire-Atlantique (44) 378 9,816 26
64 Mûrs-Erigné Maine-et-Loire (49) 376 6,501 17
65 Treillières Loire-Atlantique (44) 372 10,800 29
66 Challans Vendée (85) 364 23,627 65
67 Gorges Loire-Atlantique (44) 353 5,561 16
68 Mulsanne Sarthe (72) 351 5,352 15
69 Sablé-sur-Sarthe Sarthe (72) 348 12,850 37
70 Verrières-en-Anjou Maine-et-Loire (49) 339 8,421 25
71 Bouchemaine Maine-et-Loire (49) 339 6,718 20
72 Saint-Léger-les-Vignes Loire-Atlantique (44) 339 2,200 6.5
73 La Châtaigneraie Vendée (85) 332 2,638 7.9
74 Saint-Léger-sous-Cholet Maine-et-Loire (49) 331 3,177 9.6
75 L'Aiguillon-la-Presqu'île Vendée (85) 329 2,875 8.7
76 Pont-Saint-Martin Loire-Atlantique (44) 328 7,179 22
77 L'Huisserie Mayenne (53) 325 4,780 15
78 Batz-sur-Mer Loire-Atlantique (44) 322 2,988 9.3
79 Sarrigné Maine-et-Loire (49) 320 950 3.0
80 Saint-Georges-du-Bois Sarthe (72) 319 2,308 7.2
81 Luçon Vendée (85) 308 9,704 32
82 Haute-Goulaine Loire-Atlantique (44) 304 6,253 21
83 Beaucouzé Maine-et-Loire (49) 302 5,834 19
84 Beaumont-sur-Sarthe Sarthe (72) 300 1,989 6.6
85 Le Plessis-Grammoire Maine-et-Loire (49) 297 2,715 9.1
86 Saint-Saturnin Sarthe (72) 296 2,864 9.7
87 Le Pallet Loire-Atlantique (44) 295 3,468 12
88 La Plaine-sur-Mer Loire-Atlantique (44) 295 4,836 16
89 Aigrefeuille-sur-Maine Loire-Atlantique (44) 295 4,299 15
90 Rouillon Sarthe (72) 291 2,666 9.2
91 Saint-André-des-Eaux Loire-Atlantique (44) 291 7,196 25
92 Le Fenouiller Vendée (85) 285 5,080 18
93 Sargé-lès-le-Mans Sarthe (72) 285 3,941 14
94 Écouflant Maine-et-Loire (49) 283 4,819 17
95 Mortagne-sur-Sèvre Vendée (85) 282 6,193 22
96 Préfailles Loire-Atlantique (44) 279 1,360 4.9
97 Mouilleron-le-Captif Vendée (85) 274 5,408 20
98 Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez Vendée (85) 273 13,344 49
99 Arçonnay Sarthe (72) 273 2,142 7.9
100 La Turballe Loire-Atlantique (44) 267 4,956 19

Source: INSEE (official population figures); IGN / Observatoire des territoires (areas); total population divided by area. Tied values share the same rank. Data sources.

FAQ

Most densely populated towns in Pays de la Loire: FAQ

What is the most densely populated town in Pays de la Loire in 2026?

Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) is the most densely populated town in Pays de la Loire, with 5,101 inhabitants per km².

What are the 10 most densely populated towns in Pays de la Loire?

In order: Nantes (5,101 inhabitants per km²), Angers (3,800 inhabitants per km²), Rezé (3,214 inhabitants per km²), Le Mans (2,819 inhabitants per km²), Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire (2,500 inhabitants per km²), Coulaines (2,093 inhabitants per km²), La Montagne (1,828 inhabitants per km²), Saint-Herblain (1,722 inhabitants per km²), Saint-Nazaire (1,629 inhabitants per km²), and Paimbœuf (1,569 inhabitants per km²).

What is the least densely populated town in Pays de la Loire?

Nauvay (Sarthe) is the least densely populated town in Pays de la Loire, with just 4 inhabitants per km². See The least densely populated towns in Pays de la Loire.

How many towns in Pays de la Loire are ranked?

All of them: the 1,228 towns in Pays de la Loire appear in this ranking.

How is density calculated?

Density is the official total population of the commune (INSEE) divided by its area in square kilometers.

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