France faces demographic crisis as birth rates hit historic lows

In 2025, France recorded 645,000 births against 651,000 deaths, marking the first time since 1945 that deaths have outnumbered births. The fertility rate has fallen to 1.56 children per woman, its lowest level in over a century.

Experts identify the housing market as a critical factor in this demographic decline. High rents, a shortage of rental supply in major cities, and a decrease in new construction are causing young households to delay or forgo parenthood. Economic data indicates that the rising cost of real estate has significantly reduced living space for young workers; for instance, a median-salary employee has lost an average of 25 square meters of living space over the last twenty-five years.

The financial burden of children is also a deterrent. In 2023, while a couple without children spent an average of 14% of their income on rent, that figure rose to 21% for couples with one child, representing a nearly 50% increase in the effort rate.