Ariège (department)

Ariège
Arièja (Occitan)
From top down: view of Foix (prefecture) and its castle, Montégut-en-Couserans, Erp
Location of Ariège in France
Coordinates: 43°00′N 1°30′E / 43.000°N 1.500°E / 43.000; 1.500
CountryFrance
RegionOccitanie
PrefectureFoix
SubprefecturesPamiers, Saint-Girons
Government
 • President of the Departmental CouncilChristine Tequi
Area
 • Total
4,890 km2 (1,890 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
155,722
 • Rank97th
 • Density31.8/km2 (82.5/sq mi)
DemonymsAriègeois, Ariègeoise
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeFR-09
Department number09
Largest cityPamiers
Arrondissements3
Cantons13
Communes325
Websitewww.ariege.fr
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Ariège (French pronunciation: [aʁjɛʒ] ; Occitan: Arièja [aɾiˈɛdʒɔ]) is a department in southwestern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It is named after the river Ariège and its capital is Foix. Ariège is known for its rural landscape, with a population of 153,287 as of 2019. Its INSEE and postal code is 09. The inhabitants of the department are known as Ariègeois or Ariègeoises.