Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in France and Germany

Updated on by Georank team

France has an annual birth rate of 9.9 births per 1,000 people, compared to 8.3 for Germany. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.66 in France and 1.39 in Germany — 16.3% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -41.8% in France and by -41.4% in Germany — in 1960, it was 2.85 and 2.37, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • France is ranked 148/196 by birth rate compared to 172/196 for Germany.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 29.1 years in France, compared to 29.8 years in Germany.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.8 in France — it's 31.6 in Germany.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.51 in France vs 5.47 in Germany.
  • In France, 21% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 19.7% in Germany.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0.07% in France and -0.4% in Germany.

Birth rate data compared

France Germany
Fertility rate 1.66 1.39
Birth rate 9.9 8.3
Birth rate rank 148/196 172/196
Age at first childbirth 29.1 years 29.8 years
Average age at childbearing 31.8 years 31.6 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 3.14 5.05
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 58.3 52.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 17.2 15.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21% 19.7%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 72.7% 80.2%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 98.2% 96.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.007% 0.004%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.27% 0.23%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.34% 0.31%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 0.43% 0.37%
Population change due to births and deaths +47,802 -335,608
Natural population change rank 97/196 193/196
Natural population change rate +0.07% -0.4%
Population growth +0.34% -0.47%
Population growth rank 147/197 184/197
Life expectancy 83.6 years 81.7 years

Fertility rate in France vs Germany chart

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in France was 1.66 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.39 in Germany in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check France vs Germany population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

France
Factual

UN forecast
Germany
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
France Germany
1960 2.85 2.37
1961 2.87 2.45
1962 2.89 2.44
1963 2.89 2.51
1964 2.87 2.54
1965 2.84 2.5
1966 2.8 2.53
1967 2.75 2.48
1968 2.69 2.38
1969 2.62 2.21
1970 2.55 2.03
1971 2.47 1.92
1972 2.38 1.71
1973 2.28 1.54
1974 2.18 1.51
1975 2.09 1.45
1976 2.01 1.45
1977 1.94 1.4
1978 1.89 1.38
1979 1.87 1.38
1980 1.85 1.44
1981 1.85 1.43
1982 1.86 1.41
1983 1.86 1.33
1984 1.86 1.29
1985 1.86 1.37
1986 1.85 1.43
1987 1.83 1.43
1988 1.81 1.46
1989 1.79 1.42
1990 1.77 1.45
1991 1.75 1.33
1992 1.74 1.29
1993 1.73 1.28
1994 1.73 1.24
1995 1.74 1.25
1996 1.75 1.3
1997 1.77 1.35
1998 1.78 1.36
1999 1.81 1.36
2000 1.89 1.38
2001 1.9 1.35
2002 1.88 1.34
2003 1.89 1.34
2004 1.92 1.36
2005 1.94 1.34
2006 2 1.33
2007 1.98 1.37
2008 2.01 1.38
2009 2 1.36
2010 2.03 1.39
2011 2.01 1.39
2012 2.01 1.41
2013 1.99 1.42
2014 2 1.47
2015 1.96 1.5
2016 1.92 1.6
2017 1.89 1.57
2018 1.87 1.57
2019 1.86 1.54
2020 1.83 1.53
2021 1.84 1.58
2022 1.79 1.46
2023 1.66 1.39
2024 1.66 1.4
2025 1.66 1.4
2026 1.66 1.41
2027 1.66 1.41
2028 1.66 1.42
2029 1.66 1.42
2030 1.66 1.42
2031 1.66 1.43
2032 1.66 1.43
2033 1.66 1.44
2034 1.66 1.44
2035 1.66 1.44
2036 1.66 1.45
2037 1.67 1.45
2038 1.66 1.45
2039 1.66 1.46
2040 1.66 1.46
2041 1.67 1.46
2042 1.67 1.47
2043 1.67 1.47
2044 1.67 1.47
2045 1.67 1.47
2046 1.67 1.48
2047 1.67 1.48
2048 1.67 1.48
2049 1.67 1.48
2050 1.67 1.48

Children 0-14 years as share of population

France
Factual

UN forecast
Germany
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
France Germany
1960 26.5% 21.3%
1961 26.5% 21.7%
1962 26.2% 22%
1963 26% 22.3%
1964 25.8% 22.6%
1965 25.6% 22.8%
1966 25.4% 23%
1967 25.3% 23.1%
1968 25.1% 23.3%
1969 25% 23.3%
1970 24.8% 23.2%
1971 24.7% 23%
1972 24.6% 22.8%
1973 24.4% 22.4%
1974 24.2% 22%
1975 23.9% 21.5%
1976 23.6% 20.9%
1977 23.3% 20.3%
1978 23% 19.7%
1979 22.7% 19.1%
1980 22.4% 18.5%
1981 22.1% 17.9%
1982 21.9% 17.4%
1983 21.7% 16.9%
1984 21.5% 16.4%
1985 21.3% 16%
1986 21% 15.8%
1987 20.7% 15.6%
1988 20.5% 15.7%
1989 20.3% 15.9%
1990 20.1% 16.1%
1991 20.1% 16.3%
1992 20% 16.3%
1993 19.9% 16.3%
1994 19.7% 16.3%
1995 19.5% 16.3%
1996 19.3% 16.2%
1997 19.1% 16.1%
1998 19% 15.9%
1999 19% 15.8%
2000 18.9% 15.7%
2001 18.9% 15.5%
2002 18.8% 15.3%
2003 18.7% 15%
2004 18.6% 14.8%
2005 18.5% 14.5%
2006 18.5% 14.2%
2007 18.4% 14%
2008 18.5% 13.8%
2009 18.5% 13.8%
2010 18.5% 13.7%
2011 18.5% 13.6%
2012 18.5% 13.4%
2013 18.4% 13.2%
2014 18.3% 13.2%
2015 18.2% 13.2%
2016 18.1% 13.3%
2017 17.9% 13.5%
2018 17.8% 13.6%
2019 17.6% 13.7%
2020 17.4% 13.8%
2021 17.2% 13.9%
2022 17% 13.9%
2023 16.8% 13.9%
2024 16.5% 13.9%
2025 16.2% 13.9%
2026 16% 13.9%
2027 15.7% 13.8%
2028 15.5% 13.8%
2029 15.3% 13.7%
2030 15.1% 13.6%
2031 15% 13.5%
2032 14.8% 13.4%
2033 14.8% 13.2%
2034 14.7% 13.1%
2035 14.7% 12.9%
2036 14.7% 12.8%
2037 14.7% 12.7%
2038 14.7% 12.6%
2039 14.8% 12.6%
2040 14.9% 12.6%
2041 15% 12.5%
2042 15.1% 12.5%
2043 15.2% 12.6%
2044 15.3% 12.6%
2045 15.4% 12.7%
2046 15.5% 12.7%
2047 15.5% 12.8%
2048 15.5% 12.9%
2049 15.6% 13%
2050 15.6% 13.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16.5% of the population in France and 13.9% in Germany in 2024, compared to 20.1% and 16.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of France and Germany compared.

Natural population change in France vs Germany by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +0.2% in France and -0.25% in Germany. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

France
Germany

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
France Germany
1960 346,115 385,919
1961 354,504 462,279
1962 358,082 436,752
1963 361,694 455,757
1964 360,631 482,038
1965 354,132 410,204
1966 352,181 405,982
1967 339,843 353,977
1968 337,346 239,612
1969 329,831 155,820
1970 322,444 70,352
1971 309,747 46,988
1972 296,589 -62,950
1973 282,979 -149,980
1974 268,733 -150,038
1975 248,413 -212,418
1976 227,776 -164,508
1977 217,946 -125,055
1978 213,462 -140,566
1979 208,923 -125,002
1980 210,042 -86,117
1981 222,414 -94,090
1982 234,389 -78,333
1983 235,655 -109,380
1984 248,086 -109,002
1985 249,328 -116,527
1986 250,606 -77,721
1987 251,971 -31,136
1988 247,672 -7,815
1989 243,361 -23,625
1990 238,870 -15,887
1991 234,216 -80,014
1992 229,502 -80,625
1993 224,592 -105,503
1994 201,704 -114,013
1995 220,303 -114,349
1996 221,092 -90,107
1997 215,885 -49,221
1998 222,705 -65,637
1999 229,907 -73,890
2000 268,042 -73,990
2001 263,867 -98,820
2002 253,430 -123,733
2003 230,325 -140,309
2004 282,185 -107,271
2005 271,677 -148,445
2006 305,387 -148,278
2007 288,076 -148,080
2008 283,250 -164,220
2009 278,238 -188,375
2010 286,116 -179,909
2011 280,966 -184,632
2012 256,065 -193,022
2013 244,192 -209,679
2014 265,248 -153,866
2015 206,300 -187,879
2016 193,500 -123,523
2017 160,604 -148,783
2018 147,749 -165,812
2019 141,503 -157,877
2020 67,602 -216,218
2021 74,627 -224,629
2022 54,452 -326,812
2023 47,802 -335,608

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: France vs Germany

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 7 deaths per 100,000 live births in France, compared to 4 deaths in Germany.

France
Germany
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
France Germany
1985 20 14
1986 20 14
1987 19 13
1988 19 13
1989 19 12
1990 18 12
1991 18 11
1992 17 10
1993 16 9
1994 15 9
1995 15 8
1996 13 8
1997 11 8
1998 10 7
1999 10 7
2000 9 7
2001 9 6
2002 9 6
2003 9 6
2004 9 6
2005 9 6
2006 9 6
2007 9 5
2008 10 6
2009 10 6
2010 9 5
2011 9 5
2012 9 5
2013 9 5
2014 9 5
2015 9 5
2016 9 4
2017 8 4
2018 9 4
2019 8 4
2020 9 4
2021 9 4
2022 9 4
2023 7 4

Under-five mortality rates

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.43% in France and 0.37% in Germany. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.

France
Germany

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

Year Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births
France Germany
1960 2.85% -
1961 2.7% -
1962 2.57% -
1963 2.45% -
1964 2.34% -
1965 2.24% -
1966 2.14% -
1967 2.06% -
1968 1.99% 2.71%
1969 1.91% 2.64%
1970 1.82% 2.57%
1971 1.74% 2.49%
1972 1.66% 2.4%
1973 1.6% 2.31%
1974 1.54% 2.2%
1975 1.49% 2.08%
1976 1.44% 1.95%
1977 1.39% 1.83%
1978 1.34% 1.71%
1979 1.28% 1.6%
1980 1.24% 1.5%
1981 1.19% 1.41%
1982 1.15% 1.32%
1983 1.11% 1.25%
1984 1.07% 1.18%
1985 1.04% 1.11%
1986 1.01% 1.06%
1987 0.98% 1.01%
1988 0.96% 0.95%
1989 0.93% 0.9%
1990 0.9% 0.85%
1991 0.86% 0.8%
1992 0.81% 0.76%
1993 0.75% 0.72%
1994 0.7% 0.68%
1995 0.65% 0.65%
1996 0.61% 0.62%
1997 0.58% 0.59%
1998 0.57% 0.57%
1999 0.55% 0.55%
2000 0.54% 0.54%
2001 0.52% 0.52%
2002 0.51% 0.51%
2003 0.49% 0.5%
2004 0.48% 0.48%
2005 0.46% 0.47%
2006 0.45% 0.46%
2007 0.44% 0.45%
2008 0.44% 0.44%
2009 0.43% 0.43%
2010 0.42% 0.42%
2011 0.42% 0.41%
2012 0.41% 0.4%
2013 0.41% 0.4%
2014 0.41% 0.4%
2015 0.42% 0.39%
2016 0.42% 0.39%
2017 0.42% 0.38%
2018 0.42% 0.38%
2019 0.42% 0.37%
2020 0.42% 0.37%
2021 0.43% 0.37%
2022 0.43% 0.37%
2023 0.43% 0.37%

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs France vs Germany
Afghanistan Compare Compare
Albania Compare Compare
Algeria Compare Compare
Andorra Compare Compare
Angola Compare Compare
Antigua Compare Compare
Argentina Compare Compare
Armenia Compare Compare
Australia Compare Compare
Austria Compare Compare
Azerbaijan Compare Compare
Bahamas Compare Compare
Bahrain Compare Compare
Bangladesh Compare Compare
Barbados Compare Compare
Belarus Compare Compare
Belgium Compare Compare
Belize Compare Compare
Benin Compare Compare
Bhutan Compare Compare
Bolivia Compare Compare
Bosnia Compare Compare
Botswana Compare Compare
Brazil Compare Compare
Brunei Compare Compare
Bulgaria Compare Compare
Burkina Faso Compare Compare
Burundi Compare Compare
Cambodia Compare Compare
Cameroon Compare Compare
Canada Compare Compare
Cape Verde Compare Compare
Cayman Islands Compare Compare
CAR Compare Compare
Chad Compare Compare
Chile Compare Compare
China Compare Compare
Colombia Compare Compare
Comoros Compare Compare
Congo Compare Compare
Costa Rica Compare Compare
Croatia Compare Compare
Cuba Compare Compare
Curacao Compare Compare
Cyprus Compare Compare
Czech Republic Compare Compare
DR Congo Compare Compare
Denmark Compare Compare
Djibouti Compare Compare
Dominica Compare Compare
Dominican Republic Compare Compare
East Timor Compare Compare
Ecuador Compare Compare
Egypt Compare Compare
El Salvador Compare Compare
Equatorial Guinea Compare Compare
Eritrea Compare Compare
Estonia Compare Compare
Eswatini Compare Compare
Ethiopia Compare Compare
Fiji Compare Compare
Finland Compare Compare
Gabon Compare Compare
Gambia Compare Compare
Georgia Compare Compare
Ghana Compare Compare
Greece Compare Compare
Grenada Compare Compare
Guatemala Compare Compare
Guinea Compare Compare
Guinea-Bissau Compare Compare
Guyana Compare Compare
Haiti Compare Compare
Honduras Compare Compare
Hungary Compare Compare
Iceland Compare Compare
India Compare Compare
Indonesia Compare Compare
Iran Compare Compare
Iraq Compare Compare
Ireland Compare Compare
Israel Compare Compare
Italy Compare Compare
Ivory Coast Compare Compare
Jamaica Compare Compare
Japan Compare Compare
Jordan Compare Compare
Kazakhstan Compare Compare
Kenya Compare Compare
Kiribati Compare Compare
Kuwait Compare Compare
Kyrgyzstan Compare Compare
Laos Compare Compare
Latvia Compare Compare
Lebanon Compare Compare
Lesotho Compare Compare
Liberia Compare Compare
Libya Compare Compare
Liechtenstein Compare Compare
Lithuania Compare Compare
Luxembourg Compare Compare
Madagascar Compare Compare
Malawi Compare Compare
Malaysia Compare Compare
Maldives Compare Compare
Mali Compare Compare
Malta Compare Compare
Marshall Islands Compare Compare
Mauritania Compare Compare
Mauritius Compare Compare
Mexico Compare Compare
Moldova Compare Compare
Monaco Compare Compare
Mongolia Compare Compare
Montenegro Compare Compare
Morocco Compare Compare
Mozambique Compare Compare
Myanmar Compare Compare
Namibia Compare Compare
Nauru Compare Compare
Nepal Compare Compare
Netherlands Compare Compare
New Zealand Compare Compare
Nicaragua Compare Compare
Niger Compare Compare
Nigeria Compare Compare
North Korea Compare Compare
North Macedonia Compare Compare
Norway Compare Compare
Oman Compare Compare
Pakistan Compare Compare
Palau Compare Compare
Palestine Compare Compare
Panama Compare Compare
Papua New Guinea Compare Compare
Paraguay Compare Compare
Peru Compare Compare
Philippines Compare Compare
Poland Compare Compare
Portugal Compare Compare
Qatar Compare Compare
Romania Compare Compare
Russia Compare Compare
Rwanda Compare Compare
Saint Kitts Compare Compare
Saint Lucia Compare Compare
Saint Vincent Compare Compare
Samoa Compare Compare
San Marino Compare Compare
Sao Tome Compare Compare
Saudi Arabia Compare Compare
Senegal Compare Compare
Serbia Compare Compare
Seychelles Compare Compare
Sierra Leone Compare Compare
Singapore Compare Compare
Slovakia Compare Compare
Slovenia Compare Compare
Solomon Islands Compare Compare
Somalia Compare Compare
South Africa Compare Compare
South Korea Compare Compare
South Sudan Compare Compare
Spain Compare Compare
Sri Lanka Compare Compare
Sudan Compare Compare
Suriname Compare Compare
Sweden Compare Compare
Switzerland Compare Compare
Syria Compare Compare
Taiwan Compare Compare
Tajikistan Compare Compare
Tanzania Compare Compare
Thailand Compare Compare
Togo Compare Compare
Tonga Compare Compare
Trinidad Compare Compare
Tunisia Compare Compare
Turkey Compare Compare
Turkmenistan Compare Compare
Tuvalu Compare Compare
Uganda Compare Compare
Ukraine Compare Compare
UAE Compare Compare
United Kingdom Compare Compare
United States Compare Compare
Uruguay Compare Compare
Uzbekistan Compare Compare
Vanuatu Compare Compare
Venezuela Compare Compare
Vietnam Compare Compare
Yemen Compare Compare
Zambia Compare Compare
Zimbabwe Compare Compare