Viriat (French pronunciation: [viʁja]) is a commune in the Ain department of eastern France.

Settlement there goes back to at least the Celtic period.

In the twelfth century, the name "Viriacus" appears in a record, referring to church and a priory.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 2,122 —     1800 2,119 −0.02% 1806 2,199 +0.62% 1821 2,309 +0.33% 1831 2,394 +0.36% 1836 2,476 +0.68% 1841 2,535 +0.47% 1846 2,530 −0.04% 1851 2,587 +0.45% 1856 2,580 −0.05% 1861 2,578 −0.02% 1866 2,545 −0.26% 1872 2,629 +0.54% 1876 2,690 +0.58% 1881 2,708 +0.13% 1886 2,870 +1.17% 1891 2,741 −0.92% 1896 2,704 −0.27%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 2,580 −0.93% 1906 2,574 −0.05% 1911 2,529 −0.35% 1921 2,517 −0.05% 1926 2,578 +0.48% 1931 2,570 −0.06% 1936 2,579 +0.07% 1946 2,678 +0.38% 1954 2,660 −0.08% 1962 2,644 −0.08% 1968 3,012 +2.20% 1975 3,562 +2.42% 1982 3,997 +1.66% 1990 4,701 +2.05% 1999 5,288 +1.32% 2007 5,719 +0.98% 2012 6,160 +1.50% 2017 6,418 +0.82%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Viriat is twinned with:

• Voinești, Vaslui, Romania, since 1989
• Sorbolo, Italy, since 2000

• Communes of the Ain department

• Official website