Why is Paris becoming less and less crowded?

undefined undefined 15 mars 2025 undefined 13h00

undefined undefined 17 mars 2025 undefined 09h03

The Editor

Paris, the city of light, the city of love, the city with a baguette under your arm and coffee on the terrace. But also, Paris, the city where rent prices make your head spin, where terraces spill over onto the sidewalks, and where a metro ticket now costs you an arm and a leg. Is the capital driving its residents away?

« I have a friend who moved to Bordeaux and he wouldn't come back for anything in the world »; « I have colleagues who are working remotely from Marseille and they are in full glow up »... Everyone has had a (or several) loved ones in this situation. So when you add it all up, it adds up to quite a bit, right? Spoiler: Paris is indeed losing residents.

According to the latest data from Insee, the capital had 2,048,472 inhabitants in January 2025, which is a significant drop compared to previous years. Since 2010, Paris has lost more than 123,000 residents. Who's to blame? It's due to a declining birth rate (less than 23,000 births in 2023 compared to over 31,000 before 2011), exorbitant real estate prices, and a massive exodus to the suburbs or the provinces. If this trend continues, Paris could see its population drop below 2 million by 2040.


Too expensive, too small, too noisy

The main reason for the exodus: real estate prices. Buying a 40 m² in Paris? A

a worthy quest for the Grail, but with more paperwork and less legend. In 2024, despite a slight decrease, the price per square meter remains above €9,500 on average. One could say that for this price you can get a villa with a pool and maybe even a fig tree in the garden in some parts of France. So naturally, Parisians are packing their bags.

On the rental side, it's not much better: tiny studios at astronomical prices, shared accommodations that feel like luxury camping, and absurd listings like "9 m² room to share with a ficus: €900/month, utilities not included". Ouch, that stings.

Let's add to that the noise, pollution, daredevil scooters, and the never-ending queues for everything, especially... the desire to breathe. After the lockdown, many discovered that having an outdoor space wasn't just a luxury, but a necessity. And given the size of Parisian balconies, other regions have taken on a heavenly vibe.


Goodbye metro, hello remote work

The pandemic sped up the trend. With remote work becoming the norm, there's no need to endure the crowded line 13 during rush hour to thrive professionally. The result? Why stay in a tiny studio under the roofs when you can work from a seaside house or a spacious apartment in Lyon, Nantes, or even in the countryside?

Especially since employers are getting on board: in 2024, more than 40% of companies in the Île-de-France region offered hybrid remote work. In other words, a 100% Paris office life is so 2019.


A city increasingly hostile to cars

Another factor prompting some Parisians to leave: the war on cars. Low-emission zones, sky-high parking fees, removal of traffic lanes… Getting around by car in Paris has become quite a headache, and those who need it for work or daily life are eventually throwing in the towel. The result? More and more residents prefer to settle in the suburbs or in the regions, where they can enjoy smoother mobility and much lower transport costs.


But why stay in Paris ?

Still, Paris has that little something extra that makes it unforgettable. The city's energy, its cultural buzz, its museums, theaters, restaurants that open every day (not just from Wednesday to Sunday lunchtime), the unexpected encounters around every corner, the sunsets over the Seine, the bakeries that smell of warm baguettes… And let’s be honest, there’s a sadistic pleasure in complaining about Paris while knowing that we’ll never truly leave it.

And if cars become unwelcome, bikes are truly having their golden age. With an increasing number of safe bike lanes, getting around Paris has never been smoother for those swapping the steering wheel for handlebars. Less stress, more freedom, and above all, a way to explore the city from a whole new perspective.


Paris never dies (well, sort of)

So, is Paris doomed to become a museum city, filled with tourists and empty offices? Not so fast. While the capital is losing some residents, it continues to attract students, young professionals, and expats. It remains a city where everything moves quickly, where anything is possible, and where a simple happy hour can turn into a memorable night (or not, as the case may be). But at what cost?

In the meantime, Parisians who leave discover another life, with space, silence, and sometimes, neighbors who actually say hello. A revolutionary concept.