France has some municipalities with extremely low populations, not exceeding 12 residents. These villages reflect the demographic shifts in rural France and provide insight into a lifestyle that has become rare. Rochefourchat in Drôme holds the record with just one inhabitant, while Aingoulaincourt in Haute-Marne has 11 residents spread over 510 hectares. These communities are spread across various regions, from Jura with Mérona and its eight residents to Alpes-de-Haute-Provence where Majastres is perched at 1,143 meters above sea level. In Drôme, La Bâtie-des-Fonds marks the source of the Drôme river at over 1,000 meters, while in Doubs, Châteauvieux-les-Fossés overlooks the Loue valley from its rocky promontory. There are also examples in the north, such as Épécamps in Somme with its red brick houses or Leménil-Mitry in Meurthe-et-Moselle.
Drôme, France
Rochefourchat is the smallest commune in France with only one resident. The village preserves the remains of a medieval castle, whose ruins still dominate the hills. The chapel and the now disused church bear witness to the religious past of this isolated settlement in the Drôme. Despite its minimal population, Rochefourchat remains an official commune with its own administration.
Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
Leménil-Mitry is a small French commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department with only two residents. The village is located in a rural setting surrounded by fields and forests. This commune ranks among the least populated places in France and maintains the character of a quiet, agricultural locality. Its location far from urban centers makes Leménil-Mitry an example of the ongoing depopulation of rural areas in Lorraine.
Marne, France
Rouvroy-Ripont is a commune of three inhabitants located in the Marne department. The village sits among fields and woodlands of the Champagne region and maintains its rural character with a few traditional houses. The Saint-Martin church dates from the 16th century and displays elements of regional religious architecture. The commune ranks among the least populated places in France and represents the challenges of rural depopulation. The surrounding landscape consists of farmland and small wooded areas, characteristic of this part of Champagne.
Drôme, France
La Bâtie-des-Fonds is a commune of 4 inhabitants located at over 1,000 meters altitude in the Diois region. The village marks the source of the Drôme River, which flows through the department of the same name. This settlement ranks among the smallest inhabited communes in France and maintains a rural character in the southern Pre-Alps.
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France
Majastres sits at an elevation of 1,143 meters in the Montdenier massif and has a current population of five residents. This small settlement was first mentioned in historical records in 1040. The village ranks among the least populated municipalities in France, preserving its rural heritage in an isolated mountain location. The stone houses cling to the hillside in a region characterized by Mediterranean and alpine vegetation. Majastres represents an example of the ongoing depopulation affecting French mountain villages.
Ariège, France
Senconac is a mountain village of 6 inhabitants located at 900 meters altitude in the Pyrenees. The village sits in the Ariège department and ranks among the smallest inhabited communes in France. Its position offers direct views of the Pyrenean mountain range. The few houses are scattered across the hillside. The commune contains an old church and preserves the architecture of traditional mountain villages in this region.
Somme, France
Épécamps is one of the smallest inhabited villages in France with only 7 residents. The village sits on a hill in the Somme region and displays traditional architecture with red brick houses. The old church stands at the center of the settlement. A village pond complements the rural setting. The commune extends over agricultural land and preserves the structures of a historic rural community in Picardy.
Jura, France
Mérona is the smallest village in Jura with 8 inhabitants. The settlement consists of four houses, one farm and an 18th-century castle. This isolated rural community represents the traditional agricultural heritage of the region and displays the architecture of past centuries in a sparsely populated environment.
Doubs, France
Châteauvieux-les-Fossés is a commune of just 9 inhabitants perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the Loue valley. The village preserves the remains of an 11th-century medieval castle that once controlled the strategic position above the gorge. The few houses cluster around the old fortifications, while steep slopes surround the historic center. The remote location has preserved the rural character of this Doubs settlement.
Haute-Marne, France
Aingoulaincourt is a commune of 11 inhabitants located in the Haute-Marne department in the Grand Est region. The village covers 510 hectares at an altitude of 325 meters and sits in an agricultural area. Its small population makes Aingoulaincourt one of the smallest inhabited communes in France, preserving the rural character of the region.
Drôme, France
Aulan is a commune of four inhabitants located in the Baronnies region of Drôme. The village contains a medieval castle listed as a historical monument and a Romanesque church. The church houses a carved wooden altar dating from the 17th century. The castle was built in the 12th century and modified over the following centuries. The commune sits in a valley surrounded by forested hills.
France
Ornes is a commune located in the Meuse department in northeastern France. This small municipality belongs to the category of French villages with extremely low population, counting among the rare inhabited places with fewer than 12 residents. Ornes represents the demographic evolution of rural France, where certain territories maintain a permanent population despite significant rural depopulation. The commune sits in the Meuse region, which was heavily affected by World War I, particularly during the Battle of Verdun. The presence of such sparsely populated communes across France, from the mountainous areas of the Alps to the plains of northeastern departments, demonstrates how certain rural communities persist even with minimal population levels.
Haute-Garonne, France
Baren is a commune of five inhabitants located in the Comminges region, approximately thirty kilometres from Saint-Gaudens. The village sits between the Pyrenean peaks and the Garonne plain. This small settlement is among the least populated communes in France and preserves the character of the region's traditional rural architecture.
Aude, France
Caunette-sur-Lauquet is a commune of 6 inhabitants located in the Corbières mountains. The Lauquet river originates here before flowing into the Aude. This village sits in a landscape of limestone formations and Mediterranean vegetation. The few houses cluster around a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. The surrounding area offers hiking trails through forests and gorges.
Haute-Garonne, France
Caubous is a commune of 6 inhabitants located in the Pyrenees between 1,200 and 1,900 meters altitude. This village sits near Bagnères-de-Luchon and provides views of the surrounding mountains. The commune ranks among the smallest inhabited places in France and maintains its rural character in a high mountain setting.
Haute-Corse, France
Érone is the smallest municipality in Corsica with only 6 inhabitants. This remote village is located in Haute-Corse, in the heart of the Castagniccia, a forested mountain region. The municipality covers an area characterized by chestnut forests and steep slopes. The village preserves traditional Corsican architecture with old stone houses. Its isolation and low population make Érone an example of rural depopulation in mountainous areas. The municipality belongs to the historic Castagniccia region, known for its chestnut trees.