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France Faces Demographic Crisis: Deaths Surpass Births in 2025

1/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

In 2025, France recorded 651,000 deaths, surpassing 645,000 births for the first time since World War II.
The fertility rate fell to 1.56 children per woman, influenced by a culture promoting abortion and euthanasia under President Emmanuel Macron.
Deaths rose partly due to a severe winter flu epidemic.
Immigration pushed the population to 69.1 million, but experts say migration cannot solve the demographic crisis.

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Story summary

In 2025, France recorded 651,000 deaths, surpassing 645,000 births for the first time since World War II.
The fertility rate fell to 1.56 children per woman, influenced by a culture promoting abortion and euthanasia under President Emmanuel Macron.
Deaths rose partly due to a severe winter flu epidemic.
Immigration pushed the population to 69.1 million, but experts say migration cannot solve the demographic crisis.