Europe · Western Europe
France Demographics
France combines slow population growth, falling fertility, high life expectancy, positive net migration, and a rapidly ageing age structure.
Main sources used on this page: INSEE demographic report 2025, INSEE population estimates, INSEE population projections, World Bank WDI, Eurostat population structure indicators, and INSEE census age-sex tables.
Last updated: June 15, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated population | 69,081,996 | 2026 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Metropolitan France population | 66,792,845 | 2026 | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| Overseas departments population | 2,289,151 | 2026 | Derived from INSEE France and metropolitan estimates |
| Annual population growth | +0.25% | 2025 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Births | 645,000 | 2025 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Deaths | 651,000 | 2025 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Natural change | -6,000 | 2025 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Net migration | +176,000 | 2025 | INSEE temporary estimate |
| Total fertility rate | 1.56 children per woman | 2025 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth, men | 80.3 years | 2025 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth, women | 85.9 years | 2025 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Population aged 65 or over | 22% | 2026 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
| Urban population share | 82.04% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Median age | 42.5 years | 2024 | Eurostat demo_pjanind |
Table analysis
- The latest INSEE estimate places France at 69,081,996 inhabitants on 1 January 2026.
- Population growth in 2025 was positive at +0.25%, despite a negative natural change of -6,000.
- Net migration, estimated at +176,000, was the main positive balance shown in the 2025 demographic report.
- The fertility rate fell to 1.56 children per woman, below the broad replacement benchmark of 2.1.
Population Trend
Metropolitan France Population on 1 January
Selected official INSEE population estimates for Metropolitan France
Source: INSEE population series 000067670. Scope: Metropolitan France. This chart is separate from the headline France total, which includes overseas departments.
Trend analysis
- Metropolitan France rose from 53.7 million in 1980 to 66.8 million in 2026.
- The 2020 to 2026 segment shows continued growth, but the annual increase is modest compared with earlier decades.
- The chart uses one population definition only: INSEE population on 1 January for Metropolitan France.
Historical Population Table
| Year | Population | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 53,731,387 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 1990 | 56,577,000 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2000 | 58,858,198 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2010 | 62,765,235 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2020 | 65,269,154 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2021 | 65,505,213 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2022 | 65,846,255 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2023 | 66,165,815 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2024 | 66,379,851 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2025 | 66,578,547 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
| 2026 | 66,792,845 | Metropolitan France | INSEE population series 000067670 |
Table analysis
- The table intentionally uses the Metropolitan France series because it has a longer consistent official time span.
- Between 2000 and 2026, the metropolitan population increased by 7.9 million.
- Recent rows are provisional or revised where INSEE marks them as such.
Broad Age Structure
France Broad Age Bands
Population on 1 January 2026 by INSEE broad age bands
Source: INSEE population and population structure series. Scope: France including Mayotte since 2014.
| Age group | Population | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 15,527,529 | 22.48% | 2026 | INSEE population structure series |
| 20 to 59 | 33,868,940 | 49.03% | 2026 | INSEE population structure series |
| 60 and over | 19,685,527 | 28.50% | 2026 | INSEE population structure series |
Data analysis
- The 60 and over group accounts for about 28.5% of the 2026 population in this INSEE banding.
- The under-20 group and the 60-plus group are now close enough to show France’s shift toward older ages.
- This chart is not a population pyramid because it uses broad age groups, not detailed age-by-sex cohorts.
Broad Age-Sex Structure
This section uses the latest accessible INSEE census age-sex table for Metropolitan France. It is not a full population pyramid because detailed five-year age-by-sex groups are not used here.
Male and Female Population by Broad Age Group
Metropolitan France census distribution by age group and sex
Source: INSEE RP2022 main operation, Metropolitan France, geography as of 01/01/2025.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Sex ratio | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 19 | 7,874,002 | 7,497,402 | 15,371,404 | 51.23% | 48.77% | 105.0 males per 100 females | 2022 | INSEE RP2022 |
| 20 to 64 | 18,055,465 | 18,596,823 | 36,652,288 | 49.26% | 50.74% | 97.1 males per 100 females | 2022 | INSEE RP2022 |
| 65 and over | 5,977,614 | 7,844,949 | 13,822,563 | 43.24% | 56.76% | 76.2 males per 100 females | 2022 | INSEE RP2022 |
Age-sex analysis
- The 0 to 19 group is slightly male-heavy, with a sex ratio of 105.0 males per 100 females.
- The 20 to 64 group is close to balance, at 97.1 males per 100 females.
- The 65 and over group is female-heavy, with 7.84 million women and 5.98 million men.
- The older-age sex ratio is 76.2 males per 100 females, reflecting the sex balance in the source table, not a causal explanation.
- Scope differs from the headline population: this age-sex table covers Metropolitan France in RP2022.
Births, Deaths and Migration Balance
Natural Change and Net Migration
Two annual balances behind France’s recent population change
Source: INSEE demographic reports and INED summary. Net migration is a temporary estimate until later census-based revisions.
| Year | Births | Deaths | Natural change | Net migration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 661,000 | 646,000 | +17,000 | +152,000 | INSEE demographic release |
| 2025 | 645,000 | 651,000 | -6,000 | +176,000 | INSEE demographic report 2025 |
Data analysis
- In 2025, deaths exceeded births by 6,000, making natural change negative.
- Net migration was larger than the natural deficit, so total population still increased.
- The migration value is an estimate and may be revised when later census information is available.
Fertility Rate
France Fertility Compared With Replacement Level
Total fertility rate and a 2.1 births-per-woman benchmark
Source: INSEE demographic reports. The 2.1 benchmark is a broad replacement-level reference, not a country-specific threshold.
Trend analysis
- The fertility rate declined from about 2.01 in 2010 to 1.56 in 2025.
- The 2025 value is below the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
- The chart compares rates only; it does not explain individual fertility choices or policy outcomes.
Life Expectancy by Sex
Life Expectancy at Birth
Men and women, 2024 and 2025
Source: INSEE demographic report 2025 and INED summary.
Chart analysis
- Life expectancy rose by 0.1 year for both men and women between 2024 and 2025.
- The 2025 female-male gap is 5.6 years.
- The chart uses life expectancy at birth, not remaining life expectancy at older ages.
Urban Population
Urban Population Share
World Bank urban population estimate for France
Source: World Bank WDI, urban population share, 2024. Urban definitions can differ across countries.
Chart analysis
- The World Bank urban series places France at 82.04% urban in 2024.
- This is a settlement-definition indicator and should not be mixed with INSEE administrative urban units without a source note.
Population Projection
INSEE Projection Path to 2070
Central scenario values reported in the June 2026 projection release
Source: INSEE population projections for 2070, June 2026. Projection values are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed outcomes.
| Year | Projected population | Scenario | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 69,081,996 | Base population estimate | INSEE 2026 population estimate used as projection starting point |
| 2037 | 69.8 million | Central scenario | INSEE reports a slight increase until 2037 |
| 2070 | 65.9 million | Central scenario | INSEE reports 3.2 million fewer inhabitants than in 2026 |
| 2070 | 61 to 71 million | Low to high assumption range | INSEE range depends on fertility and net migration assumptions |
Projection analysis
- INSEE’s central scenario shows a near-term peak around 69.8 million in 2037.
- By 2070, the central scenario falls to 65.9 million.
- The 2070 uncertainty range is wide, from 61 million to 71 million.
- Projection values must stay separate from observed and estimated population counts.
Demographic Overview
France is still growing, but the 2025 increase came from migration rather than natural change.
The total fertility rate fell to 1.56 in 2025, well below the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
The 65-plus population is now close to the under-20 population share, showing a clear ageing profile.
The older population is female-heavy in the RP2022 Metropolitan France census table.
INSEE’s temporary net migration estimate for 2025 is +176,000, larger than the natural population deficit.
INSEE’s June 2026 central scenario peaks around 2037 and then declines by 2070.
Data Sources and Methodology
France demographic data can vary by source because national estimates, census tables, Eurostat indicators, World Bank modelled indicators and projections use different definitions and release schedules. Values are not backfilled where the current dataset does not provide them.
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| INSEE Demographic report 2025 | January 2026 | Headline population, annual growth, births, deaths, natural change, fertility, life expectancy, 65-plus share and net migration |
| INSEE population series 000067670 | Updated January 2026 | Metropolitan France population trend and historical population table |
| INSEE population and population structure series | Updated January 2026 | Broad age bands: under 20, 20 to 59, and 60 and over |
| INSEE RP2022 main census operation | 2022 census table, geography as of 01/01/2025 | Broad age-sex structure table for Metropolitan France |
| Eurostat demo_pjanind | 2024 population structure indicator | Median age value |
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 2024 | Urban population share |
| INSEE population projections for 2070 | June 2026 | Projection chart and projection table |
Method note
- The headline population covers France including overseas departments; the long historical chart uses Metropolitan France because that series has longer consistent coverage.
- Projection values are not observed counts and are presented in a separate section.
- Age-sex values use RP2022 and are not mixed into the 2026 headline population count.
- Rounded values are shown where the source publication reports rounded figures.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: France demographic figures can refer to France including overseas departments, Metropolitan France, census resident population, 1 January population estimates, World Bank modelled indicators or scenario-based projections. Net migration is temporarily estimated until later census revisions. Urban population depends on the World Bank urban definition. Fertility is measured as a period total fertility rate, not completed family size. The broad age-sex table is not a full population pyramid because it does not use five-year age-by-sex cohorts.
France Demographics FAQ
What is the population of France in 2026?
INSEE estimated France at 69,081,996 inhabitants on 1 January 2026, including overseas departments.
Did France’s population grow in 2025?
Yes. France grew by 0.25% in 2025, even though natural change was negative, because estimated net migration was positive.
What is France’s fertility rate?
INSEE reported a total fertility rate of 1.56 children per woman in 2025.
Is France’s population ageing?
Yes. INSEE reported that 22% of the population was aged 65 or over on 1 January 2026, close to the share aged under 20.
Why do some tables use Metropolitan France?
The longer INSEE historical series is available for Metropolitan France. The page labels that scope separately so it is not mixed with the headline France total.