Source: France 24 [French state media]
“France recorded more deaths than births in 2025 for the first time since the end of World War II, a development that erodes its long-held demographic advantage over other European Union nations, official figures showed on Tuesday. The national statistics institute INSEE reported 651,000 deaths last year and 645,000 births, which have collapsed in number since the global COVID pandemic. France has traditionally had stronger demographics than most of Europe, but an aging population and falling birthrates show it is not immune to the demographic crunch straining public finances across the continent.” (01/13/26)