in France, births are on the rise again in 2021 after a decline over several years

Still under the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 was not necessarily the year to bet on for an increase in births. And yet, they have indeed increased in France, after six years of decline, can we read on the INSEE website. The institute National Statistics published its detailed figures on the subject this Thursday, September 29.

In 2021, 742,100 babies were born in France, 0.9% more than the previous year. “This rise puts an end to the six years of decline in the number of births observed between 2015 and 2020”, specifies the national institute of statistics. The year 2021 had however also started with a very marked decline in births until mid-February. Data that corresponds to designs launched during the first containment, in the spring of 2020. The “context of health crisis [liée au Covid] and strong economic uncertainties” were then able to encourage couples to “postpone their parenting plans”, explains INSEE.

In fact, the acceleration in the number of conceptions took place just after the two periods of confinement, notes the institute. Result: the number of births rebounded in March and April 2021. Similarly, from August 2021 until the end of the year, the number of births was every month “very superior” to that of the same months of 2020. It was the oldest women who drove the birth rate up last year, further details INSEE. Births increased by 3.5% for women aged 30 to 34, by 4.8% for those aged 35 to 39 and by 5.3% for those aged 40 or over. On the other hand, the number of births to mothers under 30 is down.