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In France, the birth rate is continuously declining. What are the reasons for such a decrease? A new survey conducted among young people reveals one of the reasons for their anxiety about becoming parents.
According to INSEE, 334,000 babies were born in France in the first quarter of 2023, or 25,000 fewer than in 2022 over the same period. How can we explain such a decline? To better understand the aspirations of Millennials (25-35 years old) and Generation Z (18-24 years old), the Merck laboratory conducted the survey.
Eco-anxiety causing a drop in birth rates?
According to INSEE, the drop in birth rates did not concern a particular age group. And according to the first results of the Merck survey, young French people are not opposed to the idea of having a child, quite the contrary! No less than 70% of young French people would like to become parents if all the conditions were met, both socially and environmentally.
The environment is a real subject of concern since 78% say they are worried about climate issues (i.e. 8 points more than the European average).
This result confirms a survey carried out by researchers from University College London (England) which was the first to explore the impact of climate change on the birth rate. Conducted with more than 10,000 people between 2012 and 2020 (mainly in Western countries), this analysis showed that the people most concerned about climate change were also those who admitted to wanting fewer children than others, or were more many don’t want it at all.
At the origin of this decision: ethical arguments, uncertainty over the future, concern about the environmental impact caused by the increase in the world population. Some also cited political reasons, fearing that having children would take time and energy away from fighting climate change. Finally, others refused to have children until a profound political revolution had taken place.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
Young French people want to be better informed about fertility
According to the Merck survey, when young French people are asked what their expectations are on fertility issues, 61% respond that they want more awareness about infertility and the factors that affect it. 57% of them would also like there to be less stigma around infertility and associated treatments.
Among the other health issues linked to fertility and reproductive health that they would like to explore, the 3 priority subjects cited are: sexual health (38% of respondents), the different assisted reproduction treatments (33%) and diseases that are linked to it such as endometriosis (31%).