During the past year, 651,000 deaths were recorded compared to 645,000 births
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For the first time since the end of World War II, France recorded in 2025 a number of deaths higher than the number of births, according to the official data published by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE).
According to the report released this Tuesday, during 2025 there were 651,000 deaths compared with 645,000 births. This result marks the lowest level of births since 1942 and confirms a trend that has been deepening in recent years, characterized by a sustained decline in the birth rate and a progressive aging of the population.
This change represents a turning point for France, which had historically maintained a relative advantage over other European Union countries in terms of demographic growth. The new scenario changes that position and poses long-term structural challenges.
Bebés.
INSEE data show that the decline in births is not a recent phenomenon. Since 2011, the annual number of births has fallen by 23.6%. Demographer Gilles Le Minez described this process as "one of the most striking developments of recent years", highlighting the magnitude and persistence of the trend.
The decline in the birth rate is not limited to age groups with lower fertility, but also affects the age bracket traditionally considered the most fertile. In the group of people between 25 and 34 years old, historically the main driver of births in France, there was also a significant decrease. In that regard, Le Minez emphasized: "The speed at which births have declined in recent years is one of the most notable developments".
The fertility rate fell in 2025 to 1.56 children per woman, reaching its lowest level since World War I. This indicator also stood well below the 1.8 projected by the pension advisory council. In comparison with other European Union countries, France ranked second in fertility rate in 2023, with 1.65 children per woman, only behind Bulgaria, which recorded a rate of 1.81.
Bebé.
The impact of this demographic shift extends beyond population statistics and has direct consequences for the economy and public policies. The combination of lower birth rates and greater longevity exerts increasing pressure on the pension system and social spending.
In this context, the National Public Audit Office warned last month that demographic trends will force an increase in public spending to levels comparable to those recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the agency warned that the reduction in the working-age population will mean a smaller tax base, which adds complexity to the balance of public accounts.
The data released by INSEE thus confirm a structural change in the dynamics of the French population, with far-reaching implications for the country's economic, social, and fiscal system.
