Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in France
France: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 1.61 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in France, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in France is 1.61 births per woman, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in France peaked at 2.89 births per woman in 1962 and was at its lowest, 1.61 births per woman, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.81 births per woman | 2.62 births per woman | 2.89 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.17 births per woman | 1.87 births per woman | 2.55 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.84 births per woman | 1.79 births per woman | 1.86 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.76 births per woman | 1.73 births per woman | 1.81 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.94 births per woman | 1.88 births per woman | 2.01 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.95 births per woman | 1.86 births per woman | 2.03 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.74 births per woman | 1.61 births per woman | 1.83 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
- 132 Colombia 1.63 births per woman compare
- 133 United States 1.63 births per woman compare
- 134 Brazil 1.61 births per woman compare
- 136 Aruba 1.61 births per woman compare
- 137 Antigua and Barbuda 1.58 births per woman compare
- 138 New Zealand 1.57 births per woman compare
More population data for France
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.16 million people (2100)
- Population density 125.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.61 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 721,771 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.61 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.64 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 1.64 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in France?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in France was 1.61 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 2.89 births per woman in 1962.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.61 births per woman in 2024.
- How does France rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- France ranks 135th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 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 United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. 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).
About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.