In 2023, France saw a historically low number of births, with 677,800 newborns, marking a 6.6% decrease from the previous year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (Insee). This decline, attributed to rising life expectancy, economic concerns, and environmental fears, reflects a long-term trend, totaling a 19.8% drop since 2010, with the average fertility rate falling to 1.68 children per woman. The decrease is most pronounced in rural areas and is mirrored across Europe, where the EU reported a 5.5% drop in births last year.