Demographics of France

The demography of France is controlled by the Institut national d'études démographiques (INED) and the Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE). As of January 1, 2021, 65,250,000 people lived in metropolitan France, while 2,785,000 lived in Overseas France, for a total of 68,035,000 inhabitants in the French Republic.

In March 2017, the population of France officially reached the 67 million mark. It had reached 66,000,000 at the beginning of 2014. Between the years 2010-17, the population of France grew from 64,613,000 to 66,991,000 (or about 2.4 million people in a span of 7 years), which makes France one of the fastest growing countries in Europe. The population of France grows by 1,000,000 people every three years, representing an average annual increase of 340,000 people, or 0.6%.

Historically, France was the most populous country in Europe. During the Middle Ages, more than a quarter of the total population of Europe was French; in the 17th century, this that figure had dropped slightly to a fifth. By the early 20th century, other European countries, such as Germany and Russia, had caught up with and outnumbered France. population. However, the country's population increased considerably with the baby boom that followed World War II. According to INSEE, since 2004, 200,000 immigrants have entered the country every year. One in two was born in Europe and one in three in Africa. Between 2009 and 2012, the number of Europeans entering France increased considerably (more than 12% per year on average).

The national birth rate, after declining for a time, began to rebound in the 1990s, and today the country's fertility rate is approaching replacement level. According to a 2006 INSEE study, "the natural increase is close to 300,000 people, a level that has not been reached for more than thirty years." However, with a total fertility rate of 1.83 in 2020, France remains the most fertile country in the European Union.

Among the 802,000 babies born in metropolitan France in 2010, 80.1% had two French parents, 13.3% had one French father, and 6.6% had two non-French parents.

Between 2006 and 2008, about 22% of newborns in France had at least one grandparent born abroad (9% born in another European country, 8% born in the Maghreb and 2% born in another region of the world). Censuses on race and ethnic origin were banned by the French government in 1978.

History

The French population explosion ended while it began in other European countries, around the middle of the 18th century. After World War II, the birth rates of the other European states began to decline. In France this trend did not change until the 1960s, but only briefly (it became known as the baby-boom). Then, for the rest of the XX century, in France and the other industrialized countries, the trend continued downward, offset by only partially because of immigration. (See: Afro-European).

In recent years, France is the only large state (in terms of population) in the European Union that has managed to maintain a birth rate similar to that of the United States. To this base the French situation adds a high immigration rate and a low emigration rate.

Among the immigrants that we can highlight, most of them come from the Near East and North Africa, as well as from some countries in South Africa that were French colonies and from Asia, mainly from the Far East, from regions that they were also French possessions. There are also immigrants from Latin America, although from their former colonies: the majority come from Haiti and Canada, mainly from the province of Quebec, both contingents in search of better jobs (especially by Haitians), student exchanges and as well as also because of the existing trade between these countries and France.

Evolution of the population

In Gaul there would be between 3 and 6 million inhabitants in the time of Vercingetorix (the most bullish figures speak of 15 million). The conquest of the Gauls would have killed a million of them and another million would have been sold, leaving only 1 to 4 million inhabitants; mainly women, elderly and children. During Roman rule the population grew to 8 million in the I century and to 12 million in the V. It fell due to the German invasions, which gave their contribution: 500,000 francs and 80,000 Burgundians.

In 758 A.D. C., Pepin the Short (creator of the Papal States and the first guarantor of it) surveyed the lands belonging to the Church.

In 762, Charlemagne also surveyed the lands belonging to the Church. But the population of his empire (including northern Italy and Germany) is estimated at 15 million.

In the IX century in France some partial censuses of serfs were carried out. It is estimated that in 800 AD. C. had 8.8 million inhabitants and by the year 900 this had dropped to 5 million, as a result of numerous invasions and feudal wars.

The Norman Frank William the Conqueror, French-speaking and vassal of the King of France, made it possible for the population to be censused in 1086 (in England) thanks to the great cadastre book that he carried out in his fiefdom. Around 1200 it had 12 million inhabitants as a result of the new political unification. In 1328 it is estimated at 13 to 16 million but it fell with the Black Death. Two years later it was from 12 to 20 million.

In 1338 France had between 12 and 16 million inhabitants (according to current estimates by historian Georges Duby). English historians put it at 21 million in 1340; at 20.2 million in 1345; at 18 million in 1350 and 16.6 million in 1400 this is due to the Hundred Years War. After the end of the war the population recovered reaching 19.7 million in 1457.

In the 16th century, clergy in France were required by law to make baptisms, marriages, and deaths registered. In 1539 the civil registry was instituted, in which the name and surname must appear. It is estimated that at that time it had between 15 and 18 million inhabitants. Fifty years later they are estimated at 16 million French, in 1580 there were 20 million, by 1594 it fell to 18.5 million due to the religious wars.

In 1600 there were 20 million, by 1670 they reached 18 million.

The first reliable demographic estimates were made by Vauban (1700), counting 21 million.

With 27 million inhabitants, the kingdom of Louis XIV was the fourth most populous country in the world. By some estimates, Louis XIV's bad harvests and wars produced a drop to 19.2 million by 1715; just 25 years later there were 24.6 million. In 1775 there were 25 million Frenchmen and in 1789, at the time of the Revolution, there were 27.6 million.

Population by sex

In 2005, in France there were about 31,385,000 women and 29,659,000 men; women make up 51.4% and men 48.6%. In other words, women are in the majority and outnumber men, although men under 65 years of age are the majority and are clearly growing^{[citation required]}.

Statistics

Evolution of the French population between 1960 and 2010 (data de la DAES, 2012). Population in millions

Distribution by sex and age in 2020

Men: 32.672.575

Women: 34,279,424

0-14 years: 18.4 % (12.319.168)

15-64 years: 64.8 % (43,384,896)

65 years ahead: 16.8% (11,247,936) (2020 estimate)

Middle Ages

Men: 37.5 years

Women: 40.4 years (2020 estimate)

Total: 39 years

Population growth rate

0.50% (2020 estimate)

Birth Rate

11,31 births/1,000 inhabitants (estimated 2020)

Death rate

8.55 dead/1,000 inhabitants (estimated 2020)

Immigration fee

1.52 immigrants/1,000 inhabitants (2007 estimate)

At present, the entry of Spanish, Portuguese and Italian immigrants to France doubled between 2009 and 2012 as an effect of the crisis, and this has helped to increase the weight of the Europeans, which accounted for 46 % of the total of those who settled in the country in that last year.

According to a study by the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE) released today, in the case of Spanish immigrants the figures went from 5,300 in 2009 to 11,000 in 2012, which shows an increase of 107%.

In 2012, Spaniards represented close to 5% of the 229,000 foreigners who settled in France, up from 201,460 in 2004.

The European countries of origin with destination to France in the last year with available data were Portugal (8%) and United Kingdom (5%), Spain (5%), Italy (4%), Germany (4%), Romania (3%) and Belgium (3%).

Between 2009 and 2012, arrivals of Europeans in France grew at a rate of 12% per year, while those of Africans did so at 1% and accounted for 30% of the total.

Comparison between the sexes

At birth: 1.05 man(s)/women

Under 15: 1.05 men(s)/women

15-64 years: 1,002 men/women

65 years and more: 0,708 men(s)/women

Total population: 0.956 men(s)/women (2007 estimate)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 3,41 deaths/1,000

Male: 3,76 deaths 10,000

Female: 3,04 live deaths (2007 estimate)

Life expectancy

General: 82.6 years

Male: 80.6 years (estimated 2015)

Female: 84.6 years (2015 estimate)

Fertility rate

2,04 children born/woman (estimated 2015)

Languages

French (official) 100%. There is a rapid decrease in regional dialects and languages (provenzal, Breton, Alsaciano, Corso, Catalan, Basque, Flemish).

Religion

• Christianity (Catholic 52 %, evangelical 10 %)
• Islam: 5%
• Jews: 0.5 %
• Buddhists: 0.5 %
• Other: 1 %
• Atheists, agnostic, secular and non-religious: 30%

Percentage of inhabitants with HIV/AIDS

0.444 % (estimated 2003)

People affected by HIV/AIDS

120.000 (estimated 2003)

Deaths from HIV/AIDS

Less than 1000 (estimated 2003)