France’s birthrate fell to its lowest level since the end of World War I, with only 663,000 babies born in 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). This marks a 2.2% decline from the previous year and the lowest recorded births since 1946. The fertility rate also dropped to 1.62 children per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement level needed to maintain population stability.
Efforts by President Emmanuel Macron’s administration to address the decline, including a “demographic rearmament” scheme, have failed to reverse the trend. The French National Union of Family Associations (UNAF) highlighted economic pressures, housing challenges, and insufficient childcare options as key obstacles to higher birthrates.
A survey of French citizens of childbearing age revealed that couples aspire to have an average of 2.27 children, but practical constraints often prevent them from reaching that goal. Among women surveyed by a parental app, 34% said they would have more children if childcare and daily logistics were simplified. Additionally, over half reported that concerns about the “climate crisis” had reduced their desire for larger families.
While France’s total population increased slightly to 68.6 million in early 2025, this growth was largely driven by migration. Net migration contributed an estimated 152,000 people to the population, accounting for nearly all of the 169,000-person increase.
For the first time, France’s census will include an optional question on parental country of birth, a move criticized by leftist groups. Organizations such as the Human Rights League argue the measure risks fostering unequal treatment and discrimination.
The situation in France mirrors trends in other Western European countries. In England and Wales, for example, foreign-born women accounted for 31.8% of births in 2023, despite migrants making up roughly 16% of the population. This disparity reflects broader demographic shifts across the region as native populations decline and migration becomes the primary driver of population growth.
