Paris: France has recorded more deaths than births for the first time since the end of the Second World War. New figures released by the national statistics institute Insee, show that in 2025, France registered 651,000 deaths and 645,000 births. The reversal signals that the country’s population advantage over many European neighbours is beginning to erode.
For decades, France stood out for having one of the highest birthrates in the European Union. As recently as 2023, its fertility rate of 1.65 children per woman ranked second in the bloc, behind only Bulgaria. The latest data, however, suggests France is now being drawn into the wider demographic slowdown affecting much of the continent.
Insee said the fertility rate fell further to 1.56 in 2025, the lowest level recorded since the end of the First World War. Compared with 15 years ago, when the rate stood at 2.01, this represents a decline of nearly a quarter. Births in France have been falling steadily since 2010, according to the institute.
A public consultation conducted by the National Assembly late last year offers clues to the shift. More than a quarter of respondents pointed to the rising cost of raising children as the main barrier to starting or expanding a family. Others cited concerns about the future of society and the difficulty of balancing work, family life and personal time.
#Démographie | En 2025, le solde naturel devient négatif en France, pour la première fois depuis la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale : il est estimé à ‑ 6 000.
👉 https://t.co/2D99kzjTst pic.twitter.com/DG7HtNMNLj— Insee (@InseeFr) January 13, 2026
The figures raise concerns that France could soon face the same challenges as other EU countries, including a shrinking workforce and rising pressure on pension systems and elderly care. Life expectancy continues to climb, reaching record levels last year, while people aged 65 and over now make up 22 percent of the population, almost matching the share of those under 20.
Across Europe, the trend is already well established. In 2024, 20 of the 27 EU member states recorded more deaths than births. France has now joined that group.
Despite the shift, France’s population still edged up slightly last year to 69.1 million, supported by net migration estimated at around 176,000. But with anti-immigration sentiment gaining ground in the country, the population decline could increase.
