Yves Lacoste: key obituary facts
Is Yves Lacoste dead? Yes. Yves Lacoste died on June 20, 2026, at age 96.
Cause of death: Yves Lacoste's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Yves Lacoste known for?
He was known as French geographer and geopolitician.
More about Yves Lacoste
Born: 7 September 1929.
Place of birth: Fez.
Place of death: Bourg-la-Reine.
Gender: male.
Occupation: geographer, university teacher, historian.
Nationality: France.
Education: University of Paris, Lycée Lakanal.
Employer: Lycée Bugeaud, Paris 8 University, University of Vincennes.
Awards: Vautrin Lud Prize, Broquette-Gonin prize, Knight of the Legion of Honour, grand prix de la Société de géographie.
Spouse: Camille Lacoste-Dujardin.
Known for: Forensic analysis of the US bombing campaign of the Red River Delta.
Yves Lacoste, the French geographer and geopolitician whose work helped shape modern geopolitics, died on June 20, 2026, at the age of 96.
Born in Fez, Morocco, on September 7, 1929, he studied at the Lycée Lakanal and the Sorbonne before beginning a career in teaching and research. Lacoste taught at the Lycée Bugeaud in Algiers and later held posts at Paris 8 University and the University of Vincennes.
His reputation grew through his political commitment and his analysis of the United States bombing campaign over the Red River Delta, as well as his wider writing on geography, underdevelopment and the history of the Maghreb. He was also recognized with honors including the Vautrin Lud Prize, the Broquette-Gonin prize, and the Legion of Honour.