Yasmina Kattou 7:33 p.m., September 29, 2022

Surprise at the publication of the latest INSEE figures on demography: birth figures are on the rise for the first time in six years.

A phenomenon that followed the last confinement in the spring of 2021, with an increase in the numbers among women over 40.

Good news for France.

For the first time in six years, the birth figures are on the rise.

A phenomenon that occurred after the spring 2021 confinement, due to the Covid-19 pandemic - the latest to date.

How to explain this new trend?

"There were uncertainties during the first confinement, on the evolution of people's resources, the transmission of the virus between mother and child", explains Isabelle Robert-Bobée, head of the surveys and demographic studies division of the Insee.

"And also, certain populations who used medically assisted procreation centers, the fact that these centers were closed during the first confinement", she adds to the microphone of Europe 1.

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On the other hand, the number of births fell by 8% among women under 25 and by a quarter among those under 20.

In total, more than 742,000 babies were born in 2021.

Among mothers under 30, declining figures

It is the oldest women who have driven the birth rate upwards, especially those over 40 years old.

Births increased by 3.5% for women aged 30 to 34, 4.8% for those aged 35 to 39 and 5.3% for those aged 40 or over.

On the other hand, the number of births for mothers under 30 is down.

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Finally, it is "difficult at this stage to know" whether a sharp rise in births will occur this year in the fall, like last year, comments INSEE.