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France is 'baby champion' of Europe

The French population has hit 65 million for the first time, according to Insee, with women having over 800,000 babies in 2010, boosting the country’s fertility rate. France's statistics agency says the increase is due to a rise in the fertility rate in France rather than to immigration.

French women have on average 2.01 babies in their lifetime
French women have on average 2.01 babies in their lifetime felipepuntocl
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On average, women have 2.01 children, the highest fertility rate since the end of the baby-boom. French women are having their children later than ever, with women giving birth at the age of thirty-years-old on average. These women are responsible for the increased fertility rate.

The French had a lot of babies in 2010, despite the financial crisis which could have discouraged parents-to-be from having children.  France has one of the hightest fertility rates in Europe, outperforming all European states except Ireland, where women have on average 2.07 children in their lifetime.

Much like Ireland, France’s fertility rate has almost reached the threshold at which the population has just enough babies to replace itself.

France growth rate is “lively and more regular than other European countries,” said Pascale Breuil, head of Insee’s demographic study department, during a press conference.

Life expectancy in France has also increased with women living to over 84-years-old and men to over 78-years-old.

Despite the increase in the fertility rate, France’s population continues to age with over-65s accounting for 16.8 per cent of the population.
 

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