Main residences in Metropolitan France
Main residences in Metropolitan France stood at 31,102 thousands in 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the Housing stock and social housing table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1982 to 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Housing stock and social housing table
| Indicator | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of main residences - Total - Metropolitan France | 31,102 | 30,888 | 30,658 | 30,396 | 30,123 | 29,827 | 29,577 | 29,309 | 29,053 | 28,786 | |
| Number of second homes and occasional dwellings - Metropolitan France | 3,692 | 3,670 | 3,657 | 3,625 | 3,592 | 3,567 | 3,534 | 3,494 | 3,466 | 3,420 | |
| Number of vacant dwellings - Metropolitan France | 2,817 | 2,827 | 2,849 | 2,848 | 2,845 | 2,853 | 2,847 | 2,834 | 2,793 | 2,775 |
Understanding main residences in Metropolitan France
The indicator measures the exact count of housing units serving as the primary, habitual residence of households within Metropolitan France. It specifically isolates properties where occupants spend the majority of the calendar year, separating them from properties dedicated to seasonal leisure or left unoccupied. This measurement captures demographic dwelling demand directly, acting as the baseline numerator for calculating tenure structures across the territory.
When evaluating these figures, analysts must account for administrative lag in address matching and potential reclassifications when households shift properties between primary and secondary status. Year-on-year comparisons provide a reliable gauge of structural housing demand, smoothing out the minor reporting lags inherent in administrative registers. A common interpretive error involves treating this figure as equivalent to the total housing inventory, ignoring the significant proportion of units dedicated to non-primary uses.
Frequently asked questions
- What defines a main residence versus a secondary home?
- A main residence is the habitual home where occupants reside for the majority of the year, whereas secondary homes are used for occasional or seasonal stays.
- Are institutional living quarters counted under main residences?
- No, institutional housing such as dormitories, nursing homes, and barracks are excluded from standard private dwelling counts.
- Why might this series experience sudden baseline adjustments?
- Methodological refinements in matching tax files and census sampling can cause administrative breaks between release cycles.