France has been experiencing a decline in fertility rates, with Colomiers seeing one of the sharpest drops—31% since 2018. Historically, France stood out among European nations for its high birth rate, but it is now seeing a significant decline. Although its fertility rate remains above the European average, the number of births in 2024 was the lowest since 1919.
Colomiers, a modern and sprawling town in southwest France, lacks aesthetic appeal. Many young couples from nearby Toulouse moved there to start families due to its more affordable housing market. As a result, the town grew quickly, reaching a population of 40,000.
In response, President Emmanuel Macron proposed measures in early 2023 to encourage childbirth, including extended financial aid for parents caring for newborns for up to six months. However, with four different governments in the past year and delays in implementing these reforms, any impact on birth rates may take time to materialize.
At a midwife’s clinic in Colomiers, Laurence Loiseau weighs three-week-old Léonie, the second child of Caroline and Teddy Rivat. The couple is uncertain about having more children but already exceeds the average fertility rate in Occitanie, which stands at 1.53 compared to the national average of 1.62.
Loiseau, a midwife for 30 years, has observed a shift in attitudes. Many of her daughter’s 32-year-old friends have yet to start families, intending to do so later in life—potentially reducing their chances of conceiving. By age 40, having a second child often becomes challenging. She notes that larger families, with three or four children, are more common among economically disadvantaged or immigrant populations.
Raising children in France is costly. A decade ago, the government estimated the annual cost at around €6,800 (£5,700). With inflation, economists now place it closer to €9,000 per year.
Another midwife in Colomiers, Margaux Biscaye, frequently provides contraceptive advice to young women. She observes that many women aged 20 to 30 do not prioritize having children. Some explicitly choose not to, often citing concerns about the state of the world. Biscaye notes that while some may change their minds, others may not.
Paola Godard, a 27-year-old working in the music industry, is certain she will not have biological children, though she might consider adoption. While she is financially stable enough to raise a child, she is concerned about providing a secure future. She fears political instability, particularly the rise of far-right ideologies, and the long-term effects of climate change.
Occitanie has the second-fastest fertility decline in France, surpassed only by Corsica, where many young people leave for job opportunities on the mainland. According to Catherine Sourd from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), birth rates in Occitanie fell by 8.5% in 2023, compared to a national decline of 6.5%. The drop is even more pronounced among women aged 24 to 35, who are traditionally the most fertile.
Sourd explains that women today are delaying both marriage and childbirth compared to previous generations. Economic uncertainty is a major factor influencing their decisions. A similar trend was observed during the 2008 financial crisis, when fertility rates in France and Western Europe also saw a sharp decline.
In Colomiers, the number of primary school students has dropped by 10% over the past seven years. Xavier Vuiller, who works in educational management at Victor Hugo secondary school, anticipates that this decline will affect his school as well in the coming years. Vuiller and his Spanish wife, Noelia, chose to have only one child—12-year-old Paolo. He explains that Noelia prioritized her career, and they delayed having children, ultimately deciding to stop at one.
In the village of Gratens, south of Colomiers, sculptor Farid Achezegag and his partner Marion Savy, a teacher, live with their 10-year-old daughter Maelle and their large ginger cat. The couple deliberately chose to have only one child.
Marion, who grew up as an only child, found the experience fulfilling and wished to provide her daughter with quality time while maintaining her own personal life and career. She clarifies that her choice is not out of selfishness but rather a commitment to balancing motherhood and personal fulfillment.
Farid, whose parents were Algerian immigrants, grew up with three siblings but did not want a large family himself. He shares Marion’s perspective, believing that relationships within smaller families differ significantly from those in larger households.
