France’s birth rate is set to rise again in 2021 after six years of decline

742,100 babies were born in France in 2021, up 0.9% on the previous year, the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Research (Insee) said on Thursday, September 29. INSEE notes that designs have accelerated after each lockdown linked to Covid. “This increase ends a six-year decline in the number of births between 2015 and 2020.specified by the National Institute of Statistics.

However, 2021 also began with a very noticeable decline in births until mid-February, corresponding to babies conceived during the first births, in the spring of 2020. “The context of the health crisis [liée au Covid] and strong economic uncertainty” Then he was able to encourage couples “Put off parents’ plans”Explains INSEE, which did not observe the same phenomenon of declining births nine months after the second birth in November 2020.

older mothers

In any case, the two periods of imprisonment were followed by an acceleration in the number of conceptions, the institute notes. Result: The number of births increased in March and April 2021, as well as from August 2021, when the number of births until the end of the year was monthly “very tall” Until the same months of 2020.

The oldest women increased their fertility last year, details INSEE. Birth rates increased by 3.5% for women aged 30 to 34, 4.8% for women aged 35 to 39 and 5.3% for women aged 40 and over. On the other hand, the birth rate of mothers under the age of 30 is decreasing.

In 2022, the number of births in the first half is higher than in the same period in 2021, but lower than in the first half of 2020. In detail, the number of births decreased in January, nine months after the third restraint. , then increased in February. “It’s hard to know at this point.” If there is a sharp increase in the birth rate this fall, like last year, comments INSEE.