Population of Hautes-Alpes département, France
Population of Hautes-Alpes département, France stood at 145,889 persons in 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the Population and demography table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1975 to 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Population and demography table
| Indicator | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Departments | |||||||||||
| Hautes-Alpes | 145,889 | 145,091 | 144,264 | 143,467 | 141,677 | 140,976 | 140,605 | 141,220 | 140,698 | 141,284 | |
| Alpes-Maritimes | 1,154,619 | 1,145,510 | 1,137,058 | 1,128,418 | 1,114,579 | 1,103,941 | 1,097,410 | 1,094,283 | 1,086,219 | 1,083,310 |
Understanding population of Hautes-Alpes département, France
This series counts the aggregate permanent population residing within the high-alpine department characterized by elevated mountain ranges and alpine valleys. The enumeration includes all habitual residents meeting standard census criteria, while excluding transient mountaineers, ski tourists, and owners of secondary alpine chalets. Within the table, this departmental row isolates a unique high-altitude demographic environment distinct from lowland and coastal counterparts.
Interpretation requires careful distinction between permanent residents and the massive influx of seasonal visitors who utilize local infrastructure without altering census counts. Year-on-year comparisons are standard practice to evaluate underlying population shifts, avoiding distortion from tourism cycles. Analysts comparing this department to urban areas must account for geographic constraints that limit continuous settlement.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the presence of ski resorts distort the permanent resident population figures?
- Resorts bring large temporary populations, but the census strictly counts only year-round permanent inhabitants.
- How do severe weather and geographic isolation impact demographic data collection in this department?
- Data collection relies on rolling municipal surveys and administrative registers designed to account for dispersed mountain settlements.
- Is it valid to compare population density per square kilometer across high-alpine and lowland departments?
- Direct density comparisons can be misleading because habitable valley floors represent only a fraction of total departmental land area.