Fertility and wanted fertility in France
France: Fertility and wanted fertility was 1.61 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.61
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
135th
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.89
in 1962
All-time low
1.61
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Fertility and wanted fertility in France, 1960–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility and wanted fertility in France is 1.61, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility and wanted fertility in France peaked at 2.89 in 1962 and was at its lowest, 1.61, in 2024.
France ranks 135th of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Fertility and wanted fertility in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.85 | — |
| 1961 | 2.87 | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 2.89 | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 2.89 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 2.87 | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 2.84 | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 2.8 | -1.4% |
| 1967 | 2.75 | -1.8% |
| 1968 | 2.69 | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 2.62 | -2.6% |
| 1970 | 2.55 | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 2.47 | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 2.38 | -3.6% |
| 1973 | 2.28 | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 2.18 | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 2.09 | -4.1% |
| 1976 | 2.01 | -3.8% |
| 1977 | 1.94 | -3.5% |
| 1978 | 1.89 | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 1.87 | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 1.85 | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 1.85 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.86 | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 1.86 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.86 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.86 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.85 | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 1.83 | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 1.81 | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 1.79 | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 1.77 | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 1.75 | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 1.74 | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 1.73 | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 1.73 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.74 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 1.75 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 1.77 | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.78 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 1.81 | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 1.89 | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 1.9 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 1.88 | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 1.89 | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 1.92 | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 1.94 | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 2 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 1.98 | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 2.01 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 2 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 2.03 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 2.01 | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 2.01 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.99 | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 2 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 1.96 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 1.92 | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 1.89 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 1.87 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.86 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 1.82 | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 1.83 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 1.78 | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 1.66 | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 1.61 | -3.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 1.61 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- France's 1.61 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.44, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.81 | 2.62 | 2.89 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.17 | 1.87 | 2.55 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.84 | 1.79 | 1.86 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.76 | 1.73 | 1.81 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.94 | 1.88 | 2.01 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.95 | 1.86 | 2.03 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.74 | 1.61 | 1.83 | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
- 132 Colombia 1.63 compare
- 133 United States 1.63 compare
- 134 Brazil 1.61 compare
- 136 Aruba 1.61 compare
- 137 Antigua and Barbuda 1.58 compare
- 138 New Zealand 1.57 compare
More population data for France
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.58 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1885 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 65,827 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1504 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1075 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.033 (2100)
- Population density 125.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.16 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility and wanted fertility in France?
- Fertility and wanted fertility in France was 1.61 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility and wanted fertility recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 2.89 in 1962.
- What is the lowest fertility and wanted fertility recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.61 in 2024.
- How does France rank for fertility and wanted fertility?
- France ranks 135th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility and wanted fertility rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility and wanted fertility. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).