COLUMN. The decline in the number of births should be seen in connection with the 'gender divergence' between increasingly progressive young women and increasingly conservative young men, observes economist Pauline Grosjean in her column.

The decline in the number of births should be seen in connection with the ‘gender divergence’ between increasingly progressive young women and increasingly conservative young men, observes economist Pauline Grosjean in her column.

The number of births has continued to decline in France in 2025. The fertility rate, at 1.56 children per woman, reached its lowest level since 1918. It is true that most of France’s neighbors are faring even worse, and France still holds its – rather relative – status as a champion of birth rates. This decline is a universal and long-term phenomenon, with explanations that have shifted over time.

The initial phase, which has been the most studied, is that of the demographic transition, marked by the shift from a regime of high mortality and fertility to one of low mortality and fertility. France was already an exception, having started its demographic transition in the 18th century, before other countries. Without this early transition, some economists estimate, France’s population would today stand at 250 million.

  • Bronzebeard@lemmy.zipEnglish
    8·
    5 hours ago

    Because the poor tend to be less educated in ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies. So we see rich people having as many kids as they want, and poor people having a lot of kids, often accidentally, and only the middle class moderating themselves.

    • pleksi@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      1·
      4 hours ago

      I dont know whats the situation in france but in finland highly educated (middle class) people have more children than working class people.

      • Nebraska_Huskers@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        23 minutes ago

        In the US there are people who you would think we’re literally unfuckable, looks, hygiene and filthy poor and yet they find someone and have 7 kids.

        I’ve seen women and men alike that almost make you want to throw up by looking at them but somehow have a fuckn kid crawling on them.

        • pleksi@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          1·
          7 minutes ago

          Oh for sure feels like that in Finland too but apparently statistically speaking for every one of those families there’s a bunch of people who never reproduce whereas middle class educated people have 2-3 children pretty consistently.