2: fertility rate
ONE FIGURE, ONE FACT: 2.0
2.0 is the fertility rate in France, i.e. the number of children per woman.
It’s the highest rate since 1981 and has almost reached replacement level (2.07). Over 830,900 births were recorded in 2006, 2.9% higher than in 2005.
This very dynamic fertility rate, combined with longer life expectancy and migratory movements, is contributing to increasing the French population, estimated at 63.4 million on 1 January 2007.
France, with Ireland, now has one if the highest fertility rates in Europe, far ahead of the EU average (1.52 in 2005), which has itself risen (1.48 in 2000). It is far higher not only than those of other Mediterranean countries with a Catholic tradition, such as Italy and Spain, which don’t exceed 1.35, but also than those of East European countries (Greece, Slovakia, Czech Republic, etc.) which aren’t above 1.3. The United Kingdom is one of the EU countries with a fertility rate higher than 1.7.
French family policy also plays an essential role: family benefits start with the second child. Crèches are subsidized by the State and all French governments, regardless of their political hue, try to increase the number of places available. Taxation is family friendly; proportionally families pay less tax than the childless. On public transport, large families (more than 3 children) pay lower fares. Parental leave allows parents to reconcile family and working life; maternity leave, during which women remain on virtually full pay, lasts 20 weeks for the first child and can go above 40 for the third.
In France, employment and motherhood are perfectly compatible. According to the BBC, France has one of the highest proportions of working women in the European Union. "The Guardian" points out that career women are simply having their children later, between the ages of 30 and 40. Quoting researchers, "Le Monde" links this demographic dynamism to the attractive situation of France’s female population: 80% of those aged between 25 and 49 work outside the home.
Sources:
“Bilan démographique 2006 : un excédent naturel record”, INSEE Première n°1118, January 2007
http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/ipweb/ip1118/ip1118.html
“France, portrait social”, 2006 edition,
http://www.insee.fr/fr/ppp/publications/ficref_frame.asp?ref_id=FPORSOC06webco=FPORSOC06lien=1
“En France, on ne se marie plus mais on fait des enfants” [In France, we no longer get married, but we produce children], "Le Monde", Anne Chemin, Monday, 18 September 2006
“Why are the French women so fertile?”, "The Guardian", G2, 18.01.07,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,1992915,00.html
“France claims EU fertility crown”, BBC news,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6268251.stm
For more information:
www.insee.fr [information in both English and French]
last updated 18.01.2007