France's Birth Rate Hits Record Low

President Macron Announces 'Demographic Rearmament' in Response to Aging Population

France's birth rate has hit its lowest level since the end of World War II, with fewer than 700,000 births recorded in 2023, down 20% from 2010.
The fertility rate fell to 1.68 children per woman of childbearing age, moving further away from the generational renewal threshold of 2.1.
President Emmanuel Macron has announced a 'demographic rearmament' for the country, including the creation of 'birth leave' for both parents and a plan to combat infertility.
The decline in the fertility rate is accelerating the aging of France, posing a significant challenge for the financing of the country's social welfare system.
Despite the declining birth rate, France's population did not decline due to a decrease in deaths and an increase in immigration.