La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in France. Gigabit broadband availability was 94.8% in 2026. Annual PM2.5 was 6.83 µg/m³ in 2024. Annual NO₂ was 10.7 µg/m³ in 2024. The unemployment rate was 15.1% at the end of 2022. Annual PM10 was 13.8 µg/m³ in 2024. La Rochelle had a population of 79,851 at the start of 2024. For La Rochelle, the foreign population count was 4,987 in 2021.
Higher unemployment than 81% of French cities that publish it and cleaner air than 93% of French cities that publish it.
Who La Rochelle may suit
Relative profile scores use comparable published values. They are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Population and city profile
The city covered 28.4 km² in 2022. Population density was 2,812.6 people per km² in 2022.
Derived from the published population and foreign-resident counts.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City area | 28.43 km2 | 2026-07-142022 | Official sourceA-ccepted source for city area and derived population density Source-backed value · place |
| Foreign residents | 4,987 people | 2026-07-152021 | Official sourceNationalité en 2021 — Base des tableaux détaillés — NAT1 Source-backed value |
| Population density | 2,812.5572 people/km² | 2026-07-142022 | Official sourceA-ccepted source for city area and derived population density Source-backed value · place |
| Population | 79,851 people | 2026-07-14Aging | Official sourceFrance official denominator source Source-backed value |
Foreign residents rose 54.2% between 2013 and 2022, from 3,761 to 5,800.
Each point keeps the source and period it was published with.
Work and income
Published unemployment rates for cities in the same country.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabit broadband availability | 94.83 % | 2026-07-15Fresh | Official sourceIndependent ARCEP municipal count of premises eligible for the >=1 Gbit/s fixed advertised-speed class, divided by the ARCEP type=all municipal premises denominator. This is availability/eligibility, not adoption, measured speed, FTTH-only coverage or mobile coverage. Source-backed value |
| Unemployment rate | 15.1498 %country median 10.5% — 44% above | 2026-07-262022 | Official sourceINSEE RP2022 ACT1 — population active by type of activity, commune Source-backed value |
Unemployment rate fell 17.5% between 2013 and 2022, from 18.4% to 15.1%.
Each point keeps the source and period it was published with.
Climate and air quality
Published monthly climate normals for this city.
Published monthly climate normals for this city.
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
Published annual means from the same national measurement network.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO₂ — annual mean | 10.729 µg/m³country median 14.8 — 28% below | 2026-07-152024 | Official source2024 validated hourly NO2 station observations transformed to the exact INSEE commune centre by deterministic nearest-station selection and equal-weight aggregation. Source-backed value |
| NO₂ — latest reading | 21 µg/m³ | 2026-07-15Fresh | Official sourceLatest valid NO2 hourly station observation on the official LCSQA E2 current-day extract, mapped to the exact INSEE centre through an exact normalized station-name crosswalk to EEA station metadata. Source-backed value |
| PM10 — annual mean | 13.7646 µg/m³country median 14.3 — 4% below | 2026-07-152024 | Official source2024 validated hourly NO2 station observations transformed to the exact INSEE commune centre by deterministic nearest-station selection and equal-weight aggregation. Source-backed value |
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 6.8346 µg/m³country median 8.5 — 19% below | 2026-07-152024 | Official source2024 validated hourly NO2 station observations transformed to the exact INSEE commune centre by deterministic nearest-station selection and equal-weight aggregation. Source-backed value |
| Average daytime high by month | Jan 9.6 · Feb 10.6 · Mar 13.6 · Apr 16.1 · May 19.6 · Jun 22.8 · Jul 24.6 · Aug 24.9 · Sep 22.5 · Oct 18.3 · Nov 13.4 · Dec 10.3 °C | 2026-07-311991 | Official sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station LA_ROCHELLE-ILE_DE_RE Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
| Average night-time low by month | Jan 4.4 · Feb 4.1 · Mar 6.1 · Apr 7.9 · May 11.3 · Jun 14.4 · Jul 16.4 · Aug 16.3 · Sep 13.6 · Oct 11.2 · Nov 7.4 · Dec 4.8 °C | 2026-07-311991 | Official sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station LA_ROCHELLE-ILE_DE_RE Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
| Average temperature by month | Jan 7 · Feb 7.3 · Mar 9.8 · Apr 12 · May 15.5 · Jun 18.6 · Jul 20.5 · Aug 20.6 · Sep 18 · Oct 14.7 · Nov 10.4 · Dec 7.5 °C | 2026-07-311991 | Official sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station LA_ROCHELLE-ILE_DE_RE Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
| Average precipitation by month | Jan 76.3 · Feb 56.1 · Mar 57.4 · Apr 60.7 · May 50.9 · Jun 39.3 · Jul 40 · Aug 46.2 · Sep 59.7 · Oct 83.7 · Nov 94.6 · Dec 89.5 mm | 2026-07-311991 | Official sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station LA_ROCHELLE-ILE_DE_RE Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
Annual PM2.5 fell 47.4% between 2013 and 2024, from 13.0 to 6.8.
Each point keeps the source and period it was published with.
Worked out from these numbers
Arithmetic on the published values above. Each one names what it assumed.
How international is the population?
6.2% of residents hold a foreign nationality — 4,987 people of 79,851 people. This counts nationality, not place of birth, so long-settled residents who naturalised are not in it.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
What is the unemployment rate in La Rochelle?
The unemployment rate is 15.1498 %. Source: INSEE RP2022 ACT1 — population active by type of activity, commune, checked 2026-07-26.
Is the air quality good in La Rochelle?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 6.8346 µg/m³. The WHO 2021 guideline is 5 µg/m³ and the EU limit value is 25 µg/m³, so this reading is above the WHO guideline but within the EU limit. Source: 2024 validated hourly NO2 station observations transformed to the exact INSEE commune centre by deterministic nearest-station selection and equal-weight aggregation., checked 2026-07-15.
How many people live in La Rochelle?
The published population is 79,851 people. Source: France official denominator source, checked 2026-07-14.
How many foreign residents live in La Rochelle?
4,987 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Nationalité en 2021 — Base des tableaux détaillés — NAT1, checked 2026-07-15.
Cities of a similar size in France
Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.
Sources
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.