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While confinement had already led to a sudden drop in the birth rate in France, this slowing trend seems to be accelerating. During the month of July, only 1907 births were recorded daily.
No peak in births in July
Are we facing a birth crisis in France? Yes, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee).
It’s the “13th consecutive month of decline” over a year, observe the experts.
And for good reason: in the month of July 2023 alone, the number of births fell drastically (- 8.6% compared to the same period in 2022) according to the latest data issued by the Institute and reported by BFM Business.
However, since 1994, the country had always recorded – at least – 2000 births per day.
Another worrying fact: it is in the summer, and more precisely during the famous month of July, that France generally recorded the largest peak of births of the year.
“But here, we have almost as many births as in June 2023 so we do not have the peak that we usually have“, confides Chloé Tavan, INSEE executive, to BFMTV.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
Despite everything, France remains a good student
A worrying decline in the birth rate therefore, which could be explained by different factors. Decline in purchasing power, global warming, war in Ukraine, Covid-19… The reasons are many and varied.
The only positive point in this already gloomy picture: France remains a good student compared to its European neighbors.
“Fertility remains in France at a relatively high level. Since 2012, we have been the most fertile country in Europe“, notes the head of the survey and demographic studies division at INSEE.
Each French woman has, on average, 1.84 children, compared to a European average of 1.53 births. Which does not prevent INSEE from considering the worst: according to expert projections, the number of deaths in France could soon exceed that of births.