The French government has unveiled plans to encourage young adults, particularly those under the age of 30, to start families earlier as the country grapples with a worsening fertility decline.
Health authorities say the initiative is aimed at reducing future regret linked to delayed childbearing, noting that many people later experience fertility challenges and wish they had acted sooner. The campaign forms part of a broader 16-point strategy to reverse France’s falling birth rate, a trend mirrored across much of Western Europe, including the United Kingdom.
France’s fertility rate currently stands at 1.56 children per woman, well below the replacement level of 2.1 required to sustain population growth. Officials warn that the continued decline poses long-term risks to the country’s pension system, healthcare funding, and overall economic stability as the population ages and the workforce shrinks.
Under the new policy, the government plans to provide what it describes as “targeted, balanced and scientifically sound” information to young people on fertility, sexual health, and contraception. The Health Ministry emphasised that fertility should be viewed as a shared responsibility between men and women.
As part of the initiative, France will expand the number of egg-freezing centres from 40 to 70, reinforcing its ambition to become a leader in fertility research and treatment. The country already offers free egg-freezing services to individuals aged 29 to 37—a benefit that can cost up to £5,000 per cycle in the UK.
However, the policy has drawn criticism from some experts and advocacy groups, who argue that encouraging earlier childbirth alone will not address the root causes of declining fertility. They point to broader challenges such as housing affordability, childcare availability, maternity care, and financial insecurity.
Demographers note that concerns intensified after France recorded more deaths than births last year for the first time, a milestone that heightened public and political anxiety. The government has also acknowledged that France’s maternal and infant mortality rates lag behind those of neighbouring countries and says a comprehensive review of perinatal care is currently underway.