Urban and rural spaces: a few definitions used in statistical studies
The notions “urban” and “rural” as used in France often follow INSEE’s definitions. That institution uses a range of different classifications for statistical purposes.
A question of population density
As part of EU project to formulate definitions of rural and urban spaces applicable across Europe, France’s INSEE developed a new zoning system in 2021, a “municipal density grid” that divides France up into 1km squares and can then be applied to municipalities and rural areas: the greater and more concentrated the population within contiguous, the denser the municipality. The grid distinguishes three different levels: densely populated, moderately populated—both designating urban spaces—and rural municipalities. There is also a more detailed differentiation system, made up of seven levels.
Accounting for dynamics in rural spaces
The municipal density grid cannot be used to determine social, demographic, and economic differences within these distinct spaces. To respond to this need, the Acadie Cooperative, working with Magali Talandier for France’s National territorial cohesion agency (ANCT), that used the 2020 municipal density grip to develop a structural typology of rural spaces.
Different zoning tools for different research objectives
In addition to INSEE’s density grid—which has become a reference tool for distinguishing between rural and urban spaces—there are a number of other zoning tools used to apprehend differences within France. For instance, there is the urban unit zoning system, developed in 1954 on the morphological criterion of built-on land continuity and the demographic criterion of having up to and no more than 2000 inhabitants; this tool can be used to identify conurbations. There is also zoning by Functional Urban Area (term used by the OECD), a categorization based on number of jobs and residence-workplace commuting flows; it can be used to measure the attractivity for surrounding communities of a given population center-employment hub.
Source :
Magali Barbieri (Coord.), Magali Barbieri, Joanie Cayouette-Remblière et al., 2025, "L’évolution démographique récente de la France : Une évolution démographique contrastée entre espaces ruraux et espaces urbains", Population (édition française) 80: 118 [FR]