Official figures show that in 2025, France recorded 651,000 deaths compared to 645,000 births, marking the first time since the end of World War II that deaths exceeded births. This development undermines the demographic advantage France has historically held over other European Union countries.

The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies noted that birth rates have declined sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, exacerbating the gap between deaths and births. Experts warn that this trend could have significant implications for future policies on labor, healthcare, and immigration.