France is experiencing a continued decline in its fertility rate and birth rate, according to recent studies and official data. The Institut national d’études démographiques (Ined) has highlighted a marked decrease in the desire to have children among the French population over the past 20 years, with the average number of children desired dropping from 2.7 to 2.3 per generation. This trend is influenced by factors such as climate anxiety, evolving social norms including the pursuit of gender equality, and economic pressures. Women in France are having their first child later, with the average age rising to 29.1 years in 2023, an increase of five years compared to 1974. For the first time since 1945, France recorded more deaths than births between May 2024 and May 2025, with 651,200 deaths compared to 650,400 births, resulting in a negative natural population growth. This demographic shift has sparked concerns about the long-term implications for French society and public finances.