France records more deaths than births for first time since end of second world war

"For the first time since the end of the second world war, France has recorded more deaths than births, suggesting that the country's long-held demographic advantage over other EU countries is slipping away. Across the country in 2025, there were 651,000 deaths and 645,000 births, according to newly released figures from the national statistics institute Insee. France had long been an exception across Europe, with birthrates that topped many of its neighbours'."

"On Tuesday, Insee said the fertility rate in France had dropped to 1.56 children per woman in 2025. This was the lowest rate since the end of the first world war. It was also a 24% drop compared with the 2.01 rate registered 15 years ago, the institute's Sylvie Le Minez said. Since 2010, births have been declining year after year in France."

"A public consultation carried out by the National Assembly late last year gave insight into why this may be happening. Of the more than 30,000 respondents, 28% cited the financial costs of raising and caring for children as the principal obstacle to having them, while 18% cited worries about the future of society and 15% pointed to the difficulties in balancing the needs of a family with work and personal life."

France recorded 651,000 deaths and 645,000 births in 2025, the first year since the end of the second world war with more deaths than births. The fertility rate fell to 1.56 children per woman in 2025, the lowest since the end of the first world war and a 24% decline from 2.01 fifteen years earlier. Births have declined every year since 2010. A National Assembly consultation found respondents cited financial costs (28%), worries about society's future (18%) and work–family balance (15%) as main obstacles to childbearing. Life expectancy reached record highs and the share aged 65+ rose to 22%, creating pressures on labor supply and eldercare.

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