French fertility intentions and outcomes continue to slide, according to a new study by the national demographic institute Ined. The survey of 12,800 adults shows the average ‘ideal’ family size has fallen to 2.3 children from 2.7 in 1998, while the longstanding two-child norm is now considered a ceiling by 65 % of 18-49-year-olds. Among women aged 18-24, the desired number of children has dropped to 1.9. The findings reinforce official data showing just 663,000 babies were born in 2024, the lowest tally since the Second World War, and a fertility rate that has slipped from 2.0 to 1.6 children per woman over the past decade. With the birth-rate decline threatening pension and health-care financing, Minister of Labour, Health, Solidarities and Family Catherine Vautrin outlined a population-boosting package. Key measures include a shorter but better-paid ‘congé de naissance’ that either parent could use after maternity leave, a nationwide message sent to every 29-year-old warning of age-related infertility risks, and the creation of 30 additional ovocyte-preservation centres by 2027. Vautrin cited estimates that 10–15 % of couples encounter fertility problems and called the demographic downturn ‘a major challenge for the country’s future’. The pressure on family policy is mirrored in France’s housing stock. A separate Insee report finds that one household in four now lives in a home with at least three extra rooms, a proportion that has risen from 22 % in 2006 to 25 % in 2022. The 7.6 million under-occupied dwellings are concentrated among over-60s and reflect both ageing and smaller family sizes, underscoring the economic and social ramifications of France’s waning natality.