Birth rates are a reflection of the overall health of a population, including physical, mental, and social aspects. Recently, the Academy of Medicine in France published a report highlighting concerns about declining birth rates in the country.
The situation is alarming. Like many developed nations, France is experiencing a long-term drop in the number of births. Last year, there were 663,000 births and 646,000 deaths, which means that while there are still slightly more births than deaths, the number of births is historically low. The average number of children a woman has is now just 1.59, the lowest in a century.
One of the reasons for this decline is that women are having children later in life. Fifty years ago, women typically had their first child at 24; today, it’s at 29. The average age for having a baby has also increased from 26.5 to 31 years.
Infertility is affecting many couples; about 15% of couples face infertility issues, often worsened by waiting until they are older to start a family. In France, around 15% of men and women over 45 do not have children, an increase of about 30% compared to the previous generation. Two-thirds of these cases are due to infertility.
To address this issue, many couples are turning to assisted reproductive technology (ART), which has become a part of the solution, accounting for about 3.7% of births. However, the effectiveness of ART decreases with age, and about a quarter of couples who undergo treatment are still without children after eight years of trying.
Despite the challenges, many people still desire to have children. According to the National Union of Families, the average ideal number of children per family is 2.27, while the actual number is only 1.7. Various factors are making it hard for couples to achieve their family goals, including economic instability, unemployment, housing crises, and global uncertainties.
Additionally, family policies in France have been weakened. In 2017, France spent 3.6% of its GDP on family support, but by 2021, that percentage dropped to 2.2%, below the European Union average. The Academy of Medicine criticizes the current family policy as underfunded, unfair, and ineffective in addressing the birth rate crisis.
The Academy of Medicine believes that a demographic revival is possible. The generation born between 2000 and 2012, which saw a slight increase in birth rates, could lead to a more significant number of people of childbearing age by 2030-2040. However, this revival will require addressing many underlying issues rather than just offering temporary incentives.
To improve the situation, the Academy suggests seven recommendations:
1. Reform family policies to make support more universal.
2. Develop effective childcare rights.
3. Overhaul parental leave policies to encourage shared parenting.
4. Prioritize the fight against infertility as a public health issue.
5. Reduce neonatal mortality and strengthen neonatal care.
6. Better incorporate social and environmental considerations into family policy.
7. Rethink goals and measurement tools related to family support.
However, the question remains: will these changes be enough? Today, couples often form relationships at around 24 years old, without immediate plans to have children. Many enjoy having a sex life without the worry of unplanned pregnancies due to access to contraception and abortion.
The United Nations Population Fund recently highlighted that the fertility crisis is closely linked to political environments and choices that don’t align with individual desires. They advocate for reproductive autonomy, pointing out that economic insecurity and pessimism about the future can prevent both unwanted pregnancies and the desire to start families.
There are ongoing debates about the connections between abortion access and declining birth rates, and the idea of “voluntary infertility” when children are not desired yet. The challenges surrounding family planning and the decision to have children are complex and require serious consideration.
This article has been translated and simplified by artificial intelligence from a French article “La natalité : un enjeu de société face à une société de l’individu”
It may therefore contain errors. The French version is the reference version..