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Fertility & birth rates in France and Italy

Updated on by Georank team

France has an annual birth rate of 9.9 births per 1,000 people, compared to 6.4 for Italy. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.66 in France and 1.2 in Italy — 27.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 41.8% in France and by 50% in Italy — in 1960, it was 2.85 and 2.4, respectively.

  • France is ranked 148/196 by birth rate compared to 190/196 for Italy.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 29.1 years in France, compared to 31.8 years in Italy.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.9 in France — it's 32.3 in Italy.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.51 in France vs 2.85 in Italy.
  • In France, 21% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 19.6% in Italy.

Fertility rate in France vs Italy by year

France
Italy
1x
Year Fertility rate
France Italy
2023 1.66 1.2
2022 1.79 1.24
2021 1.84 1.25
2020 1.83 1.24
2019 1.86 1.27
2018 1.87 1.31
2017 1.89 1.34
2016 1.92 1.36
2015 1.96 1.36
2014 2 1.38
2013 1.99 1.39
2012 2.01 1.42
2011 2.01 1.42
2010 2.03 1.44
2009 2 1.44
2008 2.01 1.44
2007 1.98 1.39
2006 2 1.37
2005 1.94 1.33
2004 1.92 1.34
2003 1.89 1.29
2002 1.88 1.27
2001 1.9 1.25
2000 1.89 1.26
1999 1.81 1.23
1998 1.78 1.22
1997 1.77 1.22
1996 1.75 1.2
1995 1.74 1.19
1994 1.73 1.21
1993 1.73 1.25
1992 1.74 1.3
1991 1.75 1.3
1990 1.77 1.33
1989 1.79 1.33
1988 1.81 1.36
1987 1.83 1.33
1986 1.85 1.35
1985 1.86 1.42
1984 1.86 1.46
1983 1.86 1.51
1982 1.86 1.56
1981 1.85 1.58
1980 1.85 1.64
1979 1.87 1.73
1978 1.89 1.84
1977 1.94 1.93
1976 2.01 2.04
1975 2.09 2.17
1974 2.18 2.28
1973 2.28 2.3
1972 2.38 2.35
1971 2.47 2.4
1970 2.55 2.38
1969 2.62 2.47
1968 2.69 2.46
1967 2.75 2.5
1966 2.8 2.58
1965 2.84 2.6
1964 2.87 2.66
1963 2.89 2.51
1962 2.89 2.46
1961 2.87 2.44
1960 2.85 2.4

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/france/italy | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in France was 1.66 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.2 in Italy in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

France
Italy
1x
Year Natural population change
France Italy
2023 47,860 -283,125
2022 54,547 -318,674
2021 74,627 -301,579
2020 67,602 -338,801
2019 141,503 -215,025
2018 147,749 -192,475
2017 160,604 -192,007
2016 193,500 -138,265
2015 206,300 -162,620
2014 265,248 -96,513
2013 244,192 -90,468
2012 256,065 -78,248
2011 280,966 -48,021
2010 286,116 -23,928
2009 278,238 -17,866
2008 283,250 -11,842
2007 288,076 -5,876
2006 305,387 0
2005 271,677 -17,450
2004 282,185 11,566
2003 230,325 -40,179
2002 253,430 -22,836
2001 263,867 -11,396
2000 268,042 -17,082
1999 229,907 -22,766
1998 222,705 -39,835
1997 215,885 -22,756
1996 221,092 -22,744
1995 220,303 -34,107
1994 201,704 -17,053
1993 224,592 0
1992 229,502 22,718
1991 234,216 11,352
1990 238,870 22,688
1989 243,361 28,336
1988 247,672 33,977
1987 251,971 16,980
1986 250,606 11,319
1985 249,328 28,297
1984 248,086 50,919
1983 235,655 33,939
1982 234,389 79,161
1981 222,414 73,452
1980 210,042 84,650
1979 208,923 129,531
1978 213,462 168,465
1977 217,946 190,248
1976 227,776 228,445
1975 248,413 271,660
1974 268,733 336,176
1973 282,979 328,508
1972 296,589 364,355
1971 309,747 383,922
1970 322,444 376,753
1969 329,831 390,827
1968 337,346 399,268
1967 339,843 439,074
1966 352,181 488,427
1965 354,132 474,222
1964 360,631 527,089
1963 361,694 440,767
1962 358,082 427,387
1961 354,504 459,880
1960 346,115 426,697

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/france/italy | CC BY

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0.07% in France and -0.48% in Italy.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.2% in France and -0.38% in Italy.

Birth rate in France vs Italy by year

France
Italy

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
France Italy
2023 9.9 6.4
2022 10.7 6.7
2021 10.9 6.8
2020 10.9 6.8
2019 11.2 7
2018 11.3 7.3
2017 11.5 7.6
2016 11.8 7.9
2015 12 8.1
2014 12.4 8.3
2013 12.4 8.5
2012 12.6 8.9
2011 12.7 9.1
2010 12.9 9.4
2009 12.8 9.6
2008 12.9 9.7
2007 12.8 9.6
2006 13.1 9.6
2005 12.8 9.5
2004 12.8 9.7
2003 12.8 9.5
2002 12.9 9.4
2001 13.1 9.4
2000 13.3 9.5
1999 12.9 9.4
1998 12.8 9.3
1997 12.7 9.4
1996 12.8 9.3
1995 12.8 9.2
1994 12.5 9.4
1993 13 9.7
1992 13.1 10
1991 13.2 9.9
1990 13.4 10
1989 13.6 9.9
1988 13.8 10.1
1987 14 9.7
1986 14.1 9.8
1985 14.2 10.2
1984 14.3 10.4
1983 14.2 10.6
1982 14.2 10.9
1981 14.1 11
1980 14 11.3
1979 14 11.9
1978 14.1 12.6
1977 14.3 13.2
1976 14.6 14
1975 15 14.9
1974 15.5 15.8
1973 15.9 16
1972 16.3 16.3
1971 16.7 16.8
1970 17 16.7
1969 17.3 17.4
1968 17.5 17.5
1967 17.7 17.9
1966 18 18.7
1965 18.2 19
1964 18.4 19.7
1963 18.5 18.7
1962 18.6 18.4
1961 18.7 18.4
1960 18.7 18.1

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/france/italy | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.9 in France and 6.4 in Italy, compared with 18.7 and 18.1, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

France Italy
Fertility rate 1.66 1.2
Fertility rate rank 122/196 182/196
Birth rate 9.9 6.4
Birth rate rank 148/196 190/196
Population change due to births and deaths +47,860 -283,125
Natural population change rank 97/196 191/196
Natural population change rate +0.07% -0.48%
Population growth +0.26% -0.05%
Population growth rank 152/197 170/197
Age at first childbirth 29.1 years 31.8 years
Average age at childbearing 31.9 years 32.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 3.01 2.92
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 57.9 38.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 17.2 11.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21% 19.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 72.7% 51.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 98.2% 99.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.007% 0.006%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.27% 0.16%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.34% 0.23%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.43% 0.28%
Life expectancy 83.7 years 84.2 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

France
Factual

UN forecast
Italy
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
France Italy
2100 14% 11.1%
2099 14% 11.1%
2098 14% 11.1%
2097 14.1% 11.1%
2096 14.1% 11.1%
2095 14.1% 11.1%
2094 14.2% 11.1%
2093 14.3% 11.2%
2092 14.3% 11.2%
2091 14.4% 11.2%
2090 14.4% 11.2%
2089 14.5% 11.3%
2088 14.6% 11.3%
2087 14.6% 11.3%
2086 14.7% 11.3%
2085 14.7% 11.3%
2084 14.7% 11.3%
2083 14.8% 11.3%
2082 14.8% 11.3%
2081 14.8% 11.2%
2080 14.8% 11.2%
2079 14.8% 11.2%
2078 14.8% 11.1%
2077 14.7% 11.1%
2076 14.7% 11%
2075 14.7% 10.9%
2074 14.6% 10.9%
2073 14.6% 10.8%
2072 14.6% 10.8%
2071 14.5% 10.7%
2070 14.5% 10.7%
2069 14.5% 10.6%
2068 14.5% 10.6%
2067 14.5% 10.6%
2066 14.5% 10.5%
2065 14.6% 10.5%
2064 14.6% 10.5%
2063 14.7% 10.6%
2062 14.7% 10.6%
2061 14.8% 10.6%
2060 14.9% 10.6%
2059 15% 10.7%
2058 15.1% 10.7%
2057 15.2% 10.8%
2056 15.3% 10.8%
2055 15.4% 10.8%
2054 15.4% 10.9%
2053 15.5% 10.9%
2052 15.5% 10.9%
2051 15.6% 10.9%
2050 15.6% 10.9%
2049 15.6% 10.9%
2048 15.5% 10.8%
2047 15.5% 10.8%
2046 15.4% 10.7%
2045 15.3% 10.7%
2044 15.3% 10.6%
2043 15.2% 10.6%
2042 15.1% 10.5%
2041 15% 10.5%
2040 14.9% 10.4%
2039 14.8% 10.4%
2038 14.7% 10.3%
2037 14.7% 10.3%
2036 14.7% 10.3%
2035 14.7% 10.3%
2034 14.7% 10.4%
2033 14.8% 10.4%
2032 14.8% 10.5%
2031 15.1% 10.7%
2030 15.2% 10.8%
2029 15.4% 11%
2028 15.6% 11.1%
2027 15.8% 11.3%
2026 16.1% 11.5%
2025 16.4% 11.8%
2024 16.5% 11.9%
2023 16.8% 12.1%
2022 17% 12.4%
2021 17.2% 12.6%
2020 17.4% 12.8%
2019 17.6% 13%
2018 17.8% 13.2%
2017 17.9% 13.4%
2016 18.1% 13.6%
2015 18.2% 13.7%
2014 18.3% 13.8%
2013 18.4% 13.9%
2012 18.5% 14%
2011 18.5% 14%
2010 18.5% 14%
2009 18.5% 14%
2008 18.5% 14%
2007 18.4% 14%
2006 18.5% 14.1%
2005 18.5% 14.1%
2004 18.6% 14.2%
2003 18.7% 14.2%
2002 18.8% 14.2%
2001 18.9% 14.2%
2000 18.9% 14.3%
1999 19% 14.3%
1998 19% 14.3%
1997 19.1% 14.4%
1996 19.3% 14.5%
1995 19.5% 14.6%
1994 19.7% 14.8%
1993 19.9% 15%
1992 20% 15.2%
1991 20.1% 15.8%
1990 20.1% 16.5%
1989 20.3% 17%
1988 20.5% 17.5%
1987 20.7% 18.1%
1986 21% 18.7%
1985 21.3% 19.3%
1984 21.5% 19.9%
1983 21.7% 20.5%
1982 21.9% 21.1%
1981 22.1% 21.6%
1980 22.4% 22.3%
1979 22.7% 22.8%
1978 23% 23.4%
1977 23.3% 23.7%
1976 23.6% 24.1%
1975 23.9% 24.3%
1974 24.2% 24.5%
1973 24.4% 24.6%
1972 24.6% 24.6%
1971 24.7% 24.6%
1970 24.8% 24.7%
1969 25% 24.7%
1968 25.1% 24.6%
1967 25.3% 24.6%
1966 25.4% 24.5%
1965 25.6% 24.5%
1964 25.8% 24.5%
1963 26% 24.5%
1962 26.2% 24.7%
1961 26.5% 25%
1960 26.5% 25%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/france/italy | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 16.5% of the population in France and 11.9% in Italy in 2024, compared to 20.1% and 16.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of France and Italy compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/france/italy | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: France vs Italy

France
Italy
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
France Italy
2023 7 6
2022 9 10
2021 9 7
2020 9 8
2019 8 7
2018 9 7
2017 8 8
2016 9 8
2015 9 8
2014 9 8
2013 9 8
2012 9 8
2011 9 8
2010 9 8
2009 10 8
2008 10 7
2007 9 7
2006 9 7
2005 9 8
2004 9 8
2003 9 8
2002 9 10
2001 9 10
2000 9 11
1999 10 11
1998 10 12
1997 11 13
1996 13 14
1995 15 15
1994 15 15
1993 16 16
1992 17 17
1991 18 18
1990 18 18
1989 19 19
1988 19 20
1987 19 21
1986 20 22
1985 20 22

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/france/italy | CC BY

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 6 deaths in Italy.

Under-five mortality rates

France
Italy

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
France Italy
2023 0.43% 0.28%
2022 0.43% 0.28%
2021 0.43% 0.29%
2020 0.42% 0.3%
2019 0.42% 0.31%
2018 0.42% 0.32%
2017 0.42% 0.33%
2016 0.42% 0.34%
2015 0.42% 0.35%
2014 0.41% 0.36%
2013 0.41% 0.37%
2012 0.41% 0.38%
2011 0.42% 0.39%
2010 0.42% 0.4%
2009 0.43% 0.41%
2008 0.44% 0.41%
2007 0.44% 0.42%
2006 0.45% 0.43%
2005 0.46% 0.45%
2004 0.48% 0.46%
2003 0.49% 0.48%
2002 0.51% 0.51%
2001 0.52% 0.53%
2000 0.54% 0.56%
1999 0.55% 0.59%
1998 0.57% 0.62%
1997 0.58% 0.66%
1996 0.61% 0.7%
1995 0.65% 0.75%
1994 0.7% 0.8%
1993 0.75% 0.85%
1992 0.81% 0.89%
1991 0.86% 0.93%
1990 0.9% 0.97%
1989 0.93% 1%
1988 0.96% 1.04%
1987 0.98% 1.08%
1986 1.01% 1.14%
1985 1.04% 1.2%
1984 1.07% 1.27%
1983 1.11% 1.35%
1982 1.15% 1.43%
1981 1.19% 1.52%
1980 1.24% 1.61%
1979 1.28% 1.7%
1978 1.34% 1.82%
1977 1.39% 1.95%
1976 1.44% 2.11%
1975 1.49% 2.31%
1974 1.54% 2.53%
1973 1.6% 2.76%
1972 1.66% 2.98%
1971 1.74% 3.18%
1970 1.82% 3.36%
1969 1.91% 3.51%
1968 1.99% 3.64%
1967 2.06% 3.78%
1966 2.14% 3.93%
1965 2.24% 4.11%
1964 2.34% 4.31%
1963 2.45% 4.53%
1962 2.57% 4.76%
1961 2.7% 4.98%
1960 2.85% 5.19%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/france/italy | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.43% in France and 0.28% in Italy. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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