Lens · report
People and new homes in Lens
In 2022 the population grew by 223 while 423 homes were started: 0.5 new residents for every new home.
- New residents per new home, 2022
- 0.5
- Population change, 2022
- +223
Population change and homes started in Lens
The population's yearly change, apparent net migration plus births minus deaths, against homes started. INSEE and SDES.
Population change
Show the numbers
| Year | Population change |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 223 |
| 2021 | 79 |
| 2020 | 160 |
| 2019 | 997 |
| 2018 | -145 |
| 2017 | 191 |
| 2016 | 726 |
| 2015 | 276 |
| 2014 | -985 |
| 2013 | -249 |
| 2012 | -1,016 |
| 2011 | -1,527 |
| 2010 | -842 |
| 2009 | -798 |
| 2008 | -290 |
Homes started
Show the numbers
| Year | Homes started |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 423 |
| 2021 | 299 |
| 2020 | 348 |
| 2019 | 268 |
| 2018 | 265 |
| 2017 | 265 |
| 2016 | 172 |
| 2015 | 215 |
| 2014 | 129 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2012 | — |
| 2011 | — |
| 2010 | — |
| 2009 | — |
| 2008 | — |
Year by year
| Year | Net migration | Births minus deaths | Population change | Homes started |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | −480 | +190 | −290 | — |
| 2009 | −914 | +116 | −798 | — |
| 2010 | −943 | +101 | −842 | — |
| 2011 | −1,665 | +138 | −1,527 | — |
| 2012 | −1,119 | +103 | −1,016 | — |
| 2013 | −317 | +68 | −249 | 17 |
| 2014 | −1,063 | +78 | −985 | 129 |
| 2015 | +226 | +50 | +276 | 215 |
| 2016 | +672 | +54 | +726 | 172 |
| 2017 | +141 | +50 | +191 | 265 |
| 2018 | −138 | −7 | −145 | 265 |
| 2019 | +932 | +65 | +997 | 268 |
| 2020 | +172 | −12 | +160 | 348 |
| 2021 | +52 | +27 | +79 | 299 |
| 2022 | +173 | +50 | +223 | 423 |
Births and deaths are INSEE's civil registration, by place of residence. INSEE publishes no yearly migration for places, so migration here is what is left of the population change once births and deaths are taken out, and each year's population is itself drawn from five years of census surveys: read it as a trend. France counts no homes finished, so homes started (SDES Sitadel) stand in; most are finished about two years later. A home houses a household, not a person: two or three new residents per new home is roughly one home per new household.
Other reports for Lens
At the median sale price, a 90 m² home costs €139,500. With 10% down and a 30-year mortgage, the payment is €543 a month. The HCSF caps it at 35% of a household's income.
- Payment, two incomes
- 17%
- Payment, one income
- 35%
Owning a 90 m² apartment costs less each month than renting it. Owning counts interest, running costs and the return the deposit could earn, at apartments' median sale price; rent is the asking rent. Repaying the loan is saving, so it is left out.
- Rent per month
- €1,074
- Owning per month
- €558
Figures for Pas-de-Calais: Lens has no reliable figures of its own.
11.4% fewer homes were licensed for construction in the last 12 months than in an average year of the past decade.
- Licensed, 12 months
- 6,067
10.6% of the 17,874 homes counted in the 2023 census stood empty, whether for sale, to let or for other reasons.
- Empty, 2023 census
- 10.6%
- Empty homes
- 1,895
In 2025, 16% of the homes authorised were in existing buildings: conversions, extensions and changes of use.
- Homes in existing buildings, 2025
- 16%
Public bodies signed €3.8M of housing works here in 2024, and €3.8M since 2024.
- Signed in 2024
- €3.8M
- Per resident, 2024
- €114