Population of Réunion

Réunion has an estimated population of approximately 885,000 residents, a figure that ranks among the largest territories in the Indian Ocean. The island's population density is high, with approximately 352 people per km² (912 per sq mi), though residents are unevenly distributed due to the rugged volcanic landscape. Urbanization is extremely high, with about 95% of the population living in urban centers along the coast. The population continues to grow at a moderate pace, primarily through a consistent natural increase where births outpace deaths.

Historically, Réunion was uninhabited until the mid-17th century when it was settled by the French East India Company in 1665. The population grew through the arrival of French settlers and enslaved people from Africa and Madagascar, who were brought to work on coffee and later sugar plantations. The abolition of slavery in 1848 led to the arrival of indentured laborers from India, which further expanded and diversified the island's demographic makeup. In 1946, Réunion transitioned from a colony to an overseas department of France. This administrative change brought significant improvements in healthcare and infrastructure, sparking a period of rapid population growth during the mid-20th century as mortality rates plummeted. While growth has since moderated, the historical blend of European, African, Malagasy, and Indian influences remains the foundation of the island's modern society.

Recent data indicates that Réunion is experiencing moderate population growth, currently estimated at 0.4% per year. Unlike many other regions in the Eastern Africa subregion, the island's growth is primarily driven by natural increase—the surplus of births over deaths—rather than significant net migration. The fertility rate remains relatively high at approximately 2.3 children per woman, which is above the replacement level and notably higher than the rate in mainland France. Projections suggest that the population will continue to increase in the coming decades, though at a gradually slowing pace. As the population ages, the death rate is expected to rise, eventually narrowing the natural increase gap. Despite this, Réunion's demographic profile remains younger than many other French departments, providing a stable base for social and economic development in the near future.

The population density of Réunion is approximately 352 people per km² (912 per sq mi), which is significantly higher than most regional neighbors and mainland France.

Approximately 95% of the population lives in urban areas, a high rate that reflects the concentration of residents in coastal cities like Saint-Denis to avoid the island's mountainous interior.

In the regional context of Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean, Réunion ranks among the largest island populations, smaller than Mauritius but significantly larger than the neighboring Seychelles. Unlike Madagascar, which has a population exceeding 30 million, Réunion is characterized by its high population density and advanced level of urbanization, more comparable to its Mascarene neighbor, Mauritius. On a global scale, Réunion holds a unique position as an integrated part of the French Republic while being located thousands of kilometers from Europe, leading to a demographic trajectory that differs from many of its sovereign neighbors in the region.