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2026 ranking · unemployment rate (census)

The towns in Pays de la Loire with the highest unemployment rate

Coulaines (Sarthe) has the highest unemployment rate in Pays de la Loire, as reported in the census: 23.4%. Next come Bessé-sur-Braye (Sarthe, 19.8%) and Mamers (Sarthe, 19.2%).

428 towns ranked out of 1,228

Coulaines, 1stThe next 19

The podium

  1. 1stCoulaines 23.4% Sarthe
  2. 2ndBessé-sur-Braye 19.8% Sarthe
  3. 3rdMamers 19.2% Sarthe

This ranking covers 428 of the 1,228 towns in Pays de la Loire. Not ranked: towns with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. The table is split into pages of 100 towns. At the other end of the ranking, Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance (Maine-et-Loire) comes last with 3.4%.

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: highest unemployment rates in Pays de la Loire

Rank Town Department Unemployment rate (ages 15–64) Proportional bar Population
1 Coulaines Sarthe (72) 23.4 8,226
2 Bessé-sur-Braye Sarthe (72) 19.8 2,018
3 Mamers Sarthe (72) 19.2 5,150
4 Sillé-le-Guillaume Sarthe (72) 18.7 2,276
5 Allonnes Sarthe (72) 17.5 10,846
6 Sablé-sur-Sarthe Sarthe (72) 16.4 12,850
7 Le Mans Sarthe (72) 15.7 148,876
8 Mesquer Loire-Atlantique (44) 15.7 2,220
9 Angers Maine-et-Loire (49) 15.4 162,290
10 Angles Vendée (85) 15.1 3,154
11 La Tranche-sur-Mer Vendée (85) 15.0 3,191
12 Saint-Jean-de-Monts Vendée (85) 14.2 9,079
13 L'Aiguillon-la-Presqu'île Vendée (85) 14.2 2,875
14 Montval-sur-Loir Sarthe (72) 14.2 5,827
15 La Châtaigneraie Vendée (85) 14.2 2,638
16 Jard-sur-Mer Vendée (85) 13.9 3,273
17 Saumur Maine-et-Loire (49) 13.8 27,096
18 Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon Loire-Atlantique (44) 13.8 3,372
19 Le Pouliguen Loire-Atlantique (44) 13.8 4,275
20 Saint-Calais Sarthe (72) 13.8 3,146
21 Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm Vendée (85) 13.6 2,398
22 La Ferté-Bernard Sarthe (72) 13.5 8,981
23 Fresnay-sur-Sarthe Sarthe (72) 13.5 2,969
24 Châteaubriant Loire-Atlantique (44) 13.4 12,716
25 Vernantes Maine-et-Loire (49) 13.1 2,036
26 Nantes Loire-Atlantique (44) 13.1 332,515
27 Saint-Nazaire Loire-Atlantique (44) 13.0 76,243
28 tied Noyant-Villages Maine-et-Loire (49) 13.0 5,541
28 tied Villaines-la-Juhel Mayenne (53) 13.0 2,713
30 Fontenay-le-Comte Vendée (85) 12.9 14,668
31 La Flèche Sarthe (72) 12.9 15,884
32 Piriac-sur-Mer Loire-Atlantique (44) 12.7 2,747
33 Trélazé Maine-et-Loire (49) 12.7 16,518
34 Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez Vendée (85) 12.4 13,344
35 Laval Mayenne (53) 12.4 51,719
36 Marolles-les-Braults Sarthe (72) 12.3 2,061
37 Cholet Maine-et-Loire (49) 12.2 56,363
38 Le Lude Sarthe (72) 12.2 4,036
39 Candé Maine-et-Loire (49) 12.2 2,845
40 Paimbœuf Loire-Atlantique (44) 12.0 3,138
41 La Turballe Loire-Atlantique (44) 12.0 4,956
42 L'Île-d'Yeu Vendée (85) 11.9 5,021
43 Les Sables-d'Olonne Vendée (85) 11.8 50,924
44 Fégréac Loire-Atlantique (44) 11.8 2,298
45 Guémené-Penfao Loire-Atlantique (44) 11.7 5,340
46 Noirmoutier-en-l'Île Vendée (85) 11.6 4,605
47 Luçon Vendée (85) 11.6 9,704
48 Renazé Mayenne (53) 11.5 2,560
49 Beauvoir-sur-Mer Vendée (85) 11.5 4,093
50 Challans Vendée (85) 11.4 23,627
51 La Roche-sur-Yon Vendée (85) 11.3 57,683
52 tied Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie Vendée (85) 11.3 8,741
52 tied Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson Mayenne (53) 11.3 2,366
54 Bretignolles-sur-Mer Vendée (85) 11.2 5,446
55 Montreuil-Bellay Maine-et-Loire (49) 11.1 3,978
56 Coëx Vendée (85) 11.0 3,465
57 La Bernerie-en-Retz Loire-Atlantique (44) 11.0 3,581
58 Gennes-Val-de-Loire Maine-et-Loire (49) 11.0 8,592
59 Saint-Herblain Loire-Atlantique (44) 10.9 51,681
60 Mayenne Mayenne (53) 10.9 13,612
61 Notre-Dame-de-Monts Vendée (85) 10.9 2,450
62 Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou Maine-et-Loire (49) 10.7 9,964
63 Commequiers Vendée (85) 10.7 3,789
64 Longué-Jumelles Maine-et-Loire (49) 10.6 6,665
65 Aubigné-Racan Sarthe (72) 10.6 2,177
66 Durtal Maine-et-Loire (49) 10.5 3,456
67 Pornichet Loire-Atlantique (44) 10.5 13,103
68 tied Bonnétable Sarthe (72) 10.4 3,755
68 tied Ingrandes-le-Fresne-sur-Loire Maine-et-Loire (49) 10.4 3,133
70 Bouloire Sarthe (72) 10.3 2,154
71 La Baule-Escoublac Loire-Atlantique (44) 10.3 17,435
72 Ombrée d'Anjou Maine-et-Loire (49) 10.2 9,000
73 Le Croisic Loire-Atlantique (44) 10.1 4,108
74 Givrand Vendée (85) 10.1 2,255
75 Brem-sur-Mer Vendée (85) 10.1 3,040
76 La Barre-de-Monts Vendée (85) 10.0 2,401
77 Loir en Vallée Sarthe (72) 9.9 2,115
78 tied Trignac Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.8 8,517
78 tied Longeville-sur-Mer Vendée (85) 9.8 2,660
78 tied Avessac Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.8 2,513
81 Nalliers Vendée (85) 9.7 2,425
82 Seiches-sur-le-Loir Maine-et-Loire (49) 9.6 2,898
83 tied Batz-sur-Mer Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.6 2,988
83 tied Gorron Mayenne (53) 9.6 2,485
85 Chantonnay Vendée (85) 9.5 9,049
86 tied Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.5 29,151
86 tied Les Ponts-de-Cé Maine-et-Loire (49) 9.5 13,704
88 Pouzauges Vendée (85) 9.4 5,868
89 La Plaine-sur-Mer Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.4 4,836
90 tied Avrillé Maine-et-Loire (49) 9.4 15,655
90 tied La Ménitré Maine-et-Loire (49) 9.4 2,121
92 Allonnes Maine-et-Loire (49) 9.3 2,959
93 tied Talmont-Saint-Hilaire Vendée (85) 9.3 8,658
93 tied Moisdon-la-Rivière Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.3 2,031
95 Doué-en-Anjou Maine-et-Loire (49) 9.2 11,303
96 Rezé Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.2 44,286
97 tied Pornic Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.2 19,257
97 tied Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne Mayenne (53) 9.2 17,255
99 Brain-sur-Allonnes Maine-et-Loire (49) 9.2 2,097
100 Ancenis-Saint-Géréon Loire-Atlantique (44) 9.1 12,005

Source: INSEE, population census; unemployed people aged 15 to 64 as a share of the labor force aged 15 to 64, as reported in the census, towns with 2,000 or more inhabitants. Not ranked: towns with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. Tied values share the same rank. Data sources.

FAQ

Highest unemployment rates in Pays de la Loire: FAQ

Which town in Pays de la Loire has the highest unemployment rate?

Coulaines (Sarthe) has the highest unemployment rate in Pays de la Loire, as reported in the census: 23.4%.

What are the 10 towns in Pays de la Loire with the highest unemployment rate?

In order: Coulaines (23.4%), Bessé-sur-Braye (19.8%), Mamers (19.2%), Sillé-le-Guillaume (18.7%), Allonnes (17.5%), Sablé-sur-Sarthe (16.4%), Le Mans (15.7%), Mesquer (15.7%), Angers (15.4%), and Angles (15.1%).

Which town in Pays de la Loire has the lowest unemployment rate?

Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance (Maine-et-Loire) has the lowest unemployment rate in Pays de la Loire, as reported in the census: 3.4%. See the towns in Pays de la Loire with the lowest unemployment rate.

How many towns in Pays de la Loire are ranked?

428 out of 1,228. Not ranked: towns with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants.

Which unemployment rate is ranked?

It is the share of the labor force aged 15 to 64 who report being unemployed in the INSEE population census. This self-reported measure differs from the quarterly unemployment rate based on the International Labour Organization definition, which is not published for individual communes. Only towns with 2,000 or more inhabitants are ranked: below that, census estimates rest on too few people.

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