Per inhabitant, the town with the most licensed pétanque players in France is Agde, with 14.6 / 1 000 hab., ahead of Lavaur (13.8 / 1 000 hab.) and Onet-le-Château (13.6 / 1 000 hab.).
The table below ranks the top 100 of the 1,035 cities in the dataset, each with its département, its region and the figure it is ranked on (pétanque players per 1,000 inhabitants), so you can see not just the order but how far apart the places are. The numbers are official public data: INSEE legal populations and the IGN commune registry, with the exact method and the exact scope stated under the table rather than left to be guessed at.
The same data answers neighbouring questions too: see The French cities with the most golfers and The French cities with the most hikers, or all rankings for the full list. All of it comes from Hexagone, a free daily game that gives you five French cities and one of these statistics and asks you for the order.
| # | City | Region | Players / 1,000 | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 34Agde | Occitanie | 14.6 / 1 000 hab. | 29,939 |
| 2 | 81Lavaur | Occitanie | 13.8 / 1 000 hab. | 10,965 |
| 3 | 12Onet-le-Château | Occitanie | 13.6 / 1 000 hab. | 12,080 |
| 4 | 31Saint-Gaudens | Occitanie | 13.5 / 1 000 hab. | 12,139 |
| 5 | 12Villefranche-de-Rouergue | Occitanie | 13.4 / 1 000 hab. | 11,271 |
| 6 | 03Yzeure | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 13.3 / 1 000 hab. | 12,897 |
| 7 | 11Limoux | Occitanie | 13.2 / 1 000 hab. | 10,532 |
| 8 | 22Ploufragan | Bretagne | 13.1 / 1 000 hab. | 11,507 |
| 9 | 66Argelès-sur-Mer | Occitanie | 13.1 / 1 000 hab. | 10,616 |
| 10 | 34Frontignan | Occitanie | 12.5 / 1 000 hab. | 24,136 |
| 11 | 66Saint-Cyprien | Occitanie | 12.3 / 1 000 hab. | 12,068 |
| 12 | 31Auterive | Occitanie | 12.2 / 1 000 hab. | 10,456 |
| 13 | 84Le Pontet | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 12.1 / 1 000 hab. | 18,386 |
| 14 | 07Guilherand-Granges | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 11.7 / 1 000 hab. | 11,235 |
| 15 | 48Mende | Occitanie | 11.5 / 1 000 hab. | 12,464 |
| 16 | 13Pélissanne | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 11.5 / 1 000 hab. | 11,085 |
| 17 | 34Mauguio | Occitanie | 11.3 / 1 000 hab. | 16,522 |
| 18 | 13Fos-sur-Mer | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 11.3 / 1 000 hab. | 15,862 |
| 19 | 66Canet-en-Roussillon | Occitanie | 11 / 1 000 hab. | 13,227 |
| 20 | 12Millau | Occitanie | 10.9 / 1 000 hab. | 22,044 |
| 21 | 26Portes-lès-Valence | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 10.9 / 1 000 hab. | 10,477 |
| 22 | 81Graulhet | Occitanie | 10.8 / 1 000 hab. | 13,129 |
| 23 | 06Mandelieu-la-Napoule | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 10.6 / 1 000 hab. | 21,640 |
| 24 | 30Bagnols-sur-Cèze | Occitanie | 10.6 / 1 000 hab. | 18,112 |
| 25 | 03Cusset | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 10.6 / 1 000 hab. | 13,316 |
| 26 | 34Mèze | Occitanie | 10.5 / 1 000 hab. | 12,669 |
| 27 | 66Pia | Occitanie | 10.4 / 1 000 hab. | 11,615 |
| 28 | 79Bressuire | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 10.3 / 1 000 hab. | 19,970 |
| 29 | 43Le Puy-en-Velay | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 10.3 / 1 000 hab. | 18,540 |
| 30 | 31Villeneuve-Tolosane | Occitanie | 10.2 / 1 000 hab. | 11,044 |
| 31 | 31Seysses | Occitanie | 10.2 / 1 000 hab. | 10,539 |
| 32 | 84Pernes-les-Fontaines | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 10.2 / 1 000 hab. | 10,504 |
| 33 | 12Rodez | Occitanie | 10 / 1 000 hab. | 23,981 |
| 34 | 972La Trinité (972) | Martinique | 9.9 / 1 000 hab. | 11,454 |
| 35 | 53Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne | Pays de la Loire | 9.8 / 1 000 hab. | 16,584 |
| 36 | 13Port-de-Bouc | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 9.8 / 1 000 hab. | 15,802 |
| 37 | 83Sainte-Maxime | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 9.8 / 1 000 hab. | 14,118 |
| 38 | 06La Trinité (06) | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 9.8 / 1 000 hab. | 10,602 |
| 39 | 06Saint-Laurent-du-Var | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 9.7 / 1 000 hab. | 32,172 |
| 40 | 84Sorgues | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 9.7 / 1 000 hab. | 19,006 |
| 41 | 09Pamiers | Occitanie | 9.7 / 1 000 hab. | 16,473 |
| 42 | 82Castelsarrasin | Occitanie | 9.6 / 1 000 hab. | 14,343 |
| 43 | 13Saint-Martin-de-Crau | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 9.6 / 1 000 hab. | 14,145 |
| 44 | 31Castelginest | Occitanie | 9.4 / 1 000 hab. | 11,271 |
| 45 | 2APorto-Vecchio | Corse | 9.4 / 1 000 hab. | 11,198 |
| 46 | 31Plaisance-du-Touch | Occitanie | 9.3 / 1 000 hab. | 21,079 |
| 47 | 81Gaillac | Occitanie | 9.3 / 1 000 hab. | 16,162 |
| 48 | 66Saint-Estève | Occitanie | 9.2 / 1 000 hab. | 11,630 |
| 49 | 46Cahors | Occitanie | 9.1 / 1 000 hab. | 20,050 |
| 50 | 81Mazamet | Occitanie | 9.1 / 1 000 hab. | 10,085 |
| 51 | 26Pierrelatte | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 8.9 / 1 000 hab. | 13,756 |
| 52 | 85Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez | Pays de la Loire | 8.9 / 1 000 hab. | 13,074 |
| 53 | 29Fouesnant | Bretagne | 8.9 / 1 000 hab. | 10,436 |
| 54 | 11Lézignan-Corbières | Occitanie | 8.8 / 1 000 hab. | 10,343 |
| 55 | 32Auch | Occitanie | 8.7 / 1 000 hab. | 22,428 |
| 56 | 47Marmande | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 8.7 / 1 000 hab. | 17,328 |
| 57 | 84Bollène | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.7 / 1 000 hab. | 14,024 |
| 58 | 13Gignac-la-Nerthe | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.7 / 1 000 hab. | 10,343 |
| 59 | 63Gerzat | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 8.7 / 1 000 hab. | 10,335 |
| 60 | 02Tergnier | Hauts-de-France | 8.5 / 1 000 hab. | 13,045 |
| 61 | 57Stiring-Wendel | Grand Est | 8.4 / 1 000 hab. | 10,956 |
| 62 | 49Beaupréau-en-Mauges | Pays de la Loire | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 23,989 |
| 63 | 63Issoire | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 15,115 |
| 64 | 13Septèmes-les-Vallons | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 11,995 |
| 65 | 30Vauvert | Occitanie | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 11,671 |
| 66 | 31Saint-Jean | Occitanie | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 11,261 |
| 67 | 69Tarare | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 8.2 / 1 000 hab. | 10,893 |
| 68 | 30Beaucaire | Occitanie | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 15,692 |
| 69 | 13Tarascon | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 15,396 |
| 70 | 57Saint-Avold | Grand Est | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 14,755 |
| 71 | 71Autun | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 13,172 |
| 72 | 63Thiers | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 11,637 |
| 73 | 06Mouans-Sartoux | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 11,015 |
| 74 | 83La Farlède | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 10,014 |
| 75 | 05Gap | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 41,293 |
| 76 | 04Digne-les-Bains | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 17,979 |
| 77 | 71Montceau-les-Mines | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 17,064 |
| 78 | 84Monteux | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 13,301 |
| 79 | 11Castelnaudary | Occitanie | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 12,151 |
| 80 | 87Saint-Junien | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 11,415 |
| 81 | 84Orange | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.9 / 1 000 hab. | 29,706 |
| 82 | 33Gujan-Mestras | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 7.9 / 1 000 hab. | 22,153 |
| 83 | 06Carros | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.9 / 1 000 hab. | 13,803 |
| 84 | 42Riorges | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 7.9 / 1 000 hab. | 11,139 |
| 85 | 83La Londe-les-Maures | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.9 / 1 000 hab. | 10,584 |
| 86 | 82Montauban | Occitanie | 7.8 / 1 000 hab. | 62,945 |
| 87 | 84Cavaillon | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.8 / 1 000 hab. | 25,636 |
| 88 | 02Laon | Hauts-de-France | 7.8 / 1 000 hab. | 24,220 |
| 89 | 85Challans | Pays de la Loire | 7.8 / 1 000 hab. | 22,943 |
| 90 | 06Biot | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.8 / 1 000 hab. | 10,511 |
| 91 | 57Marly (57) | Grand Est | 7.8 / 1 000 hab. | 10,286 |
| 92 | 63Cournon-d'Auvergne | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 7.7 / 1 000 hab. | 19,951 |
| 93 | 13Châteauneuf-les-Martigues | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.7 / 1 000 hab. | 18,455 |
| 94 | 06Villeneuve-Loubet | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.7 / 1 000 hab. | 17,548 |
| 95 | 34Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone | Occitanie | 7.7 / 1 000 hab. | 10,872 |
| 96 | 13Arles | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.6 / 1 000 hab. | 51,811 |
| 97 | 13Istres | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.6 / 1 000 hab. | 44,292 |
| 98 | 15Aurillac | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 7.6 / 1 000 hab. | 26,214 |
| 99 | 31Cugnaux | Occitanie | 7.6 / 1 000 hab. | 20,662 |
| 100 | 13Berre-l'Étang | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 7.6 / 1 000 hab. | 13,832 |
Scope: France, metropolitan and overseas, Corsica and the DROM included. This dataset holds every commune of 10,000 inhabitants or more, plus smaller communes famous enough to be household names, 1,131 in all. It is not the full list of 35,000 French communes, so a village can sit outside a ranking whose extreme it would otherwise hold. This particular ranking is a rate per inhabitant, so it covers towns of 10,000 people or more only: in a village of a hundred, three licence holders would read as thirty per thousand and outrank a town with a professional club, so no rate is published below that size rather than a meaningless one.
Method and sources: populations are the INSEE legal populations, boundaries and coordinates come from the IGN commune registry, both served by geo.api.gouv.fr. Density is the population divided by the commune's area; distances are measured as the crow flies from the commune's centre. Data read on August 11, 2026.
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Per inhabitant, the town with the most licensed pétanque players in France is Agde, with 14.6 / 1 000 hab., ahead of Lavaur (13.8 / 1 000 hab.) and Onet-le-Château (13.6 / 1 000 hab.).
In order: Agde (14.6 / 1 000 hab.), Lavaur (13.8 / 1 000 hab.), Onet-le-Château (13.6 / 1 000 hab.), Saint-Gaudens (13.5 / 1 000 hab.), Villefranche-de-Rouergue (13.4 / 1 000 hab.), Yzeure (13.3 / 1 000 hab.), Limoux (13.2 / 1 000 hab.), Ploufragan (13.1 / 1 000 hab.), Argelès-sur-Mer (13.1 / 1 000 hab.), Frontignan (12.5 / 1 000 hab.).
It is, historically: the game was invented in 1907 in La Ciotat, just along the coast, for a player whose legs no longer let him run up to throw. But a licence is a club membership, and this ranking counts them per inhabitant, so the leaders are the mid-size towns of Occitanie and the Aveyron rather than the big Mediterranean cities. Marseille has a great many players and a great many more residents.