France faces historic decline in fertility and birth rates

France is experiencing a significant decline in birth rates, with the total fertility rate falling to 1.56 in 2025. This represents the lowest level for the country since the end of the First World War. In 2025, the nation recorded approximately 645,000 births, a 24% decrease from the 2010 peak.

For the first time since the Second World War, France's natural population change turned negative in 2025, with roughly 6,000 more deaths than births. This demographic shift has entered political discourse, with President Emmanuel Macron previously calling for a “demographic rearmament” to bolster national power.

The decline is part of a broader trend across Europe and other high-income nations. Data indicates that younger generations in France increasingly express intentions to have fewer children or none at all.