France's Alarming Infant Mortality Rate Highlights Healthcare Crisis

With 2,800 infant deaths annually, France now ranks 23rd in Europe, far behind nations like Finland and Sweden.

France's infant mortality rate has risen to 4.1 deaths per 1,000 births, placing it among the worst in Europe, behind countries like Poland and Bulgaria.
Approximately 2,800 infants die each year in France, with 75% of these deaths occurring within the first 28 days of life.
Key factors include the closure of three-quarters of public maternity wards over the past 50 years, leading to limited access for many families.
France faces a shortage of neonatal intensive care beds and adequately trained medical staff, particularly in rural areas, impacting care for premature babies.
Experts point to a lack of preventive care and insufficient one-on-one support from midwives, contrasting with more robust systems in Nordic countries.