Birth Rate

The question of the declining birth rate is one of the greatest problems of modern France and is a matter of grave concern to politicians and public spirited men.

A recent proposal states that "children, after the first born, shall be given by the parents to bachelors who shall be called upon to provide for their wants, feed and clothe them, pay for their education and in a general way act as their fathers until they reach the age of 21."

A good deal of hope in official quarters is placed in immigration. With the present shortage of labor France is forced to employ a great many foreign workers, many of whom have applied for naturalization.

Statistics point to the fact that France has only 9% of the total population of the world powers. This includes Alsace and Lorraine.

In 1800 the average number of children to a family was 4.5; in 1900, 2.5; today it is only 1.7. The following approximate figures give a relative idea of France's grave population problem compared with other Continental countries:

Pop. per Population Area Sq. Mile

France 39 212 184.4

Belgium 7 11 670

Germany 60 250 318

Switzerland 4 15 243

Italy 36 110 326.5

Spain 20 194 106.6

Portugal 6 35 152.8

Population given in millions; areas given in thousands. All figures are approximate and taken from last census returns of the country concerned.