Largest City in France

2026 ranking · population

The smallest towns in Pays de la Loire by population in 2026

Nauvay (Sarthe) is the smallest town in Pays de la Loire by population, with just 12 inhabitants. Next come Panon (Sarthe, 33 inhabitants) and Dureil (Sarthe, 62 inhabitants).

1,228 towns ranked

Nauvay, 1stThe next 19

The podium

  1. 1stNauvay 12inhab. Sarthe
  2. 2ndPanon 33inhab. Sarthe
  3. 3rdDureil 62inhab. Sarthe

This ranking covers all 1,228 towns in Pays de la Loire. At the other end of the ranking, Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) comes last with 332,515 inhabitants.

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: smallest towns in Pays de la Loire

Rank Town Department Population Proportional bar Area (km²)
1 Nauvay Sarthe (72) 12 2.7
2 Panon Sarthe (72) 33 2.4
3 Dureil Sarthe (72) 62 8.0
4 Livet-en-Saosnois Sarthe (72) 66 1.6
5 tied Champrond Sarthe (72) 70 6.0
5 tied Peray Sarthe (72) 70 2.5
7 Vezot Sarthe (72) 75 6.4
8 Pizieux Sarthe (72) 76 4.5
9 tied Courcival Sarthe (72) 82 8.9
9 tied Jauzé Sarthe (72) 82 5.7
11 Avesnes-en-Saosnois Sarthe (72) 93 5.7
12 Couptrain Mayenne (53) 104 0.7
13 tied Les Mées Sarthe (72) 106 6.8
13 tied Louzes Sarthe (72) 106 8.2
15 Lucé-sous-Ballon Sarthe (72) 109 6.8
16 tied Les Aulneaux Sarthe (72) 112 8.2
16 tied Rennes-en-Grenouilles Mayenne (53) 112 7.9
16 tied Thoiré-sous-Contensor Sarthe (72) 112 6.0
19 Saint-Denis-des-Coudrais Sarthe (72) 114 7.0
20 tied Béhuard Maine-et-Loire (49) 117 2.2
20 tied Vieuvy Mayenne (53) 117 7.1
22 La Lande-Chasles Maine-et-Loire (49) 118 5.2
23 La Boissière Mayenne (53) 119 6.3
24 Bannes Mayenne (53) 121 8.3
25 Marillet Vendée (85) 127 4.3
26 tied Blèves Sarthe (72) 128 2.0
26 tied Passavant-sur-Layon Maine-et-Loire (49) 128 4.9
28 tied Saint-Pierre-sur-Erve Mayenne (53) 133 9.7
28 tied Villaines-la-Carelle Sarthe (72) 133 15
30 Vouvray-sur-Huisne Sarthe (72) 135 3.3
31 Contilly Sarthe (72) 138 12
32 tied Soucé Mayenne (53) 139 6.7
32 tied Tassillé Sarthe (72) 139 6.5
32 tied Terrehault Sarthe (72) 139 5.7
35 Grandchamp Sarthe (72) 142 5.4
36 tied Boulay-les-Ifs Mayenne (53) 143 9.1
36 tied Commerveil Sarthe (72) 143 5.6
36 tied La Pellerine Maine-et-Loire (49) 143 5.3
39 Courléon Maine-et-Loire (49) 146 14
40 Chevaigné-du-Maine Mayenne (53) 152 13
41 Chérancé Mayenne (53) 155 8.7
42 tied La Bosse Sarthe (72) 157 11
42 tied Saint-Erblon Mayenne (53) 157 5.7
44 Marollette Sarthe (72) 161 5.7
45 Préaux Mayenne (53) 163 9.6
46 Saint-Mars-du-Désert Mayenne (53) 164 12
47 Thoigné Sarthe (72) 166 7.3
48 Saint-Thomas-de-Courceriers Mayenne (53) 167 13
49 Gastines Mayenne (53) 169 8.9
50 tied Saint-Martin-des-Fontaines Vendée (85) 170 5.6
50 tied Souvigné-sur-Même Sarthe (72) 170 6.3
52 Rahay Sarthe (72) 171 19
53 Hardanges Mayenne (53) 172 18
54 Le Tronchet Sarthe (72) 173 3.9
55 Cogners Sarthe (72) 174 14
56 La Pallu Mayenne (53) 175 6.7
57 Saint-Calez-en-Saosnois Sarthe (72) 180 7.2
58 tied Louvigny Sarthe (72) 182 8.7
58 tied Saint-Martin-des-Monts Sarthe (72) 182 5.7
60 Saint-Georges-de-la-Couée Sarthe (72) 183 12
61 Lesbois Mayenne (53) 184 6.0
62 Livet Mayenne (53) 192 11
63 tied Prévelles Sarthe (72) 195 4.8
63 tied Villepail Mayenne (53) 195 16
65 Pincé Sarthe (72) 196 5.8
66 Denazé Mayenne (53) 198 9.3
67 Thorigné-en-Charnie Mayenne (53) 199 18
68 Crennes-sur-Fraubée Mayenne (53) 200 13
69 Maisoncelles Sarthe (72) 204 11
70 Aillières-Beauvoir Sarthe (72) 205 15
71 Beaumont-Pied-de-Bœuf Mayenne (53) 206 13
72 Viré-en-Champagne Sarthe (72) 209 11
73 Saint-Pierre-des-Ormes Sarthe (72) 211 10
74 Faymoreau Vendée (85) 212 11
75 Saint-Aubin-Fosse-Louvain Mayenne (53) 213 14
76 tied Chemiré-en-Charnie Sarthe (72) 219 11
76 tied Saosnes Sarthe (72) 219 11
78 Théligny Sarthe (72) 221 14
79 Monhoudou Sarthe (72) 222 7.5
80 Saint-Ulphace Sarthe (72) 224 16
81 tied Moncé-en-Saosnois Sarthe (72) 225 8.8
81 tied Saint-Christophe-en-Champagne Sarthe (72) 225 7.8
81 tied Saint-Pierre-des-Bois Sarthe (72) 225 7.5
84 tied Doucelles Sarthe (72) 227 4.5
84 tied Saint-Jean-des-Échelles Sarthe (72) 227 11
86 Peuton Mayenne (53) 229 11
87 tied Mée Mayenne (53) 232 8.8
87 tied Saint-Aubin-du-Désert Mayenne (53) 232 13
87 tied Sainte-Marie-du-Bois Mayenne (53) 232 11
90 Trans Mayenne (53) 234 15
91 Saint-Christophe-du-Jambet Sarthe (72) 235 11
92 tied Auvers-sous-Montfaucon Sarthe (72) 236 7.5
92 tied La Couture Vendée (85) 236 7.0
94 tied Saint-Charles-la-Forêt Mayenne (53) 237 11
94 tied Saint-Jean-de-la-Croix Maine-et-Loire (49) 237 1.8
96 Le Housseau-Brétignolles Mayenne (53) 238 9.3
97 Ravigny Mayenne (53) 239 6.5
98 Bourg-l'Évêque Maine-et-Loire (49) 240 5.3
99 Saint-Ouen-en-Champagne Sarthe (72) 243 11
100 Dehault Sarthe (72) 244 8.9

Source: INSEE, official population figures (total population); official total population. Not ranked: towns with no inhabitants. Tied values share the same rank. Data sources.

FAQ

Smallest towns in Pays de la Loire: FAQ

What is the smallest town in Pays de la Loire by population in 2026?

Nauvay (Sarthe) is the smallest town in Pays de la Loire by population, with just 12 inhabitants.

What are the 10 smallest towns in Pays de la Loire by population?

In order: Nauvay (12 inhabitants), Panon (33 inhabitants), Dureil (62 inhabitants), Livet-en-Saosnois (66 inhabitants), Champrond (70 inhabitants), Peray (70 inhabitants), Vezot (75 inhabitants), Pizieux (76 inhabitants), Courcival (82 inhabitants), and Jauzé (82 inhabitants).

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.

Which population figure is used?

The official total population published by INSEE and in force on January 1 of this year: the municipal population plus people counted separately (students, boarders and people in institutions who have a residence in another commune).

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