The island is small, less than 1 by 0.9 km (0.56 mi), and covers under 75 hectares (190 acres) of non-foreshore land. The community and port are on the east side, opposite a tiny tidal island, the Lédénes of Molène. The area is proverbially dangerous for sailors to navigate, with one Breton rhyme being "Qui voit Molène voit sa peine. Qui voit Ouessant voit son sang. Qui voit Sein voit sa fin. Qui voit Groix voit sa croix." ("He who sees Molène sees his pain. He who sees Ushant sees his blood. He who sees Sein sees his end. He who sees Groix sees his cross").
The number of permanent residents has fallen in recent decades, but Molène remains inhabited, with a permanent population of 162 as of 2020. In French, an inhabitants of Île-Molène is called a Molénais.
Amenities
The island's electricity is produced by a small diesel generator. Potable water supplies are from rainwater catchment, with each household additionally maintaining its own cistern.
A local delicacy is Molène sausage, which has the distinction of being smoked with seaweed.
