France's birth rate falls to historic low in first half of 2026

France birth rate 2026 demographic decline Emmanuel Macron demographic rearmament paid birth leave regional birth drop

France recorded 313,931 births in the first six months of 2026, a 1.1% decline from the same period in 2025 when 317,583 babies were born. The drop is observed across almost every region, with the exceptions of Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes, Corsica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane and Mayotte. The most marked regional falls were in Hauts‑de‑France (‑1%) and Île‑de‑France (‑0.7%). In June alone, births were 0.7% lower than in June 2025.

Annual data show a continued downward trend: births fell 6.6% in 2023, 2.8% in 2024 and 2.3% in 2025. The 2025 total of 644,000 births is about a quarter fewer than the 2010 peak. Projections suggest 2026 could end with roughly 635,000 births, a new historic low.

President Emmanuel Macron has called for a "demographic rearmament" of France. In response, the government introduced a compensated birth leave of up to two months for each parent, effective from July 2024, aimed at supporting families amid the declining fertility trend.

Entities

Didier Breton · Emmanuel Macron · France · French Polynesia · French State · French government · INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) · Institut de la Statistique de Polynésie française

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] 313,931 babies were born in France between January and June 2026. www.lalsace.fr · www.paudal.com · www.estrepublicain.fr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] 317,583 babies were born in France between January and June 2025. www.lalsace.fr · www.paudal.com · www.estrepublicain.fr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] In June 2026, births were 0.7% lower than in June 2025. www.lalsace.fr · www.paudal.com · www.estrepublicain.fr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Births fell 1% in Hauts‑de‑France and 0.7% in Île‑de‑France during the first half of 2026. www.lalsace.fr · www.paudal.com · www.estrepublicain.fr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Births fell 1.1% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. www.lalsace.fr · www.paudal.com · www.estrepublicain.fr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] President Emmanuel Macron called for a “demographic rearmament” and the government introduced a compensated birth leave of up to two months for each parent starting in July. www.lalsace.fr · www.paudal.com · www.estrepublicain.fr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Births declined across almost all French regions except Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes, Corsica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane and Mayotte. www.lalsace.fr · www.paudal.com · www.estrepublicain.fr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Annual births decreased 6.6% in 2023, 2.8% in 2024 and 2.3% in 2025. www.lalsace.fr · www.paudal.com · www.estrepublicain.fr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +2 more