France registered more deaths than births in 2025, a phenomenon not seen since the end of World War II, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE).

The report reflects that as of January 1, 2026, the country's population reached The population reached 69.1 million, a 0.25% increase compared to the previous year, despite a negative natural increase of 6,000 people. In 2025, 645,000 babies were born, representing a 2.1% decrease compared to 2024 and a 24% drop compared to 15 years ago, when the last peak in birth rates was recorded. On the other hand, 651,000 deaths were reported, the highest number since the end of World War II, driven largely by a particularly deadly winter flu epidemic at the beginning of the year. Despite the increase in deaths, life expectancy at birth continued to rise, reaching 85.9 years for women and 80.3 for men. The aging population and the falling birth rate place France in the same demographic situation affecting much of Europe, raising concerns about the future of the labor market and the sustainability of pension systems. Philippe Crevel, an economist at the Cercle d'Epargne think tank, warned that the retirement of the large generations born in the 1960s could intensify labor tensions and workforce problems in the coming years.

Marriages on the rise

Despite the decline in births, the report highlighted an increase in legal unions: the number of marriages reached 251,000 in 2025, while Civil Solidarity Pacts (PACS) remained stable with 197,000 registrations in 2024. This suggests that, although the population faces a negative natural balance, the family structure remains active and maintains a degree of social stability.

INSEE noted that the combination of lower birth rates and higher mortality rates presents a challenge for the country's economy, social planning, and welfare policy.

Experts emphasize that France must implement pro-natalist policies and strategies to integrate older workers in order to address the effects of population aging in the coming decades. With these changes, France becomes an emblematic case of the European demographic crisis, where the population remains stable thanks to migration and life expectancy, but faces a natural decline that could affect the economy and workforce in the medium and long term.