France's birth rate matches high Irish levels

France is experiencing a minor baby boom for the second consecutive year, with 774 800 births recorded last year, the same number as in 2000, a new report from France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) has shown.

The birth rate in France has also increased—from 1.88 children per woman of childbearing age in year 2000 to 1.89 last year.

“ “Such a birth rate for two consecutive years has not been observed for 20 years,” wrote Lionel Doisneau, the author of the study, which was released last week in Paris (www.insee.fr).

“Such a birth rate for two consecutive years has not been observed for 20 years,” wrote Lionel Doisneau, the …