French countryside empties

29 November 1999



French countryside empties

DEPOPULATION has afflicted large areas of Frances countryside driving down the proportion of the population in rural areas from 41% in 1954 to 26% in 1990.

The Financial Times examines the phenomenon using as an illustration the town of Saint-Merd-lex-Oussines in the Limousin region of central France.

• Threat to small French farms, FWi, 19 November, 1999
• French government acts to preserve rural farmer, FWi, 14 October, 1998
• France proposes radical action to save countryside, FWi, 29 April, 1998
• Financial Times 29/11/99 page 3