In 1801 the population of France was estimated to be just under 20 million people, the number of women was 14 million, whereas the number of men was 13.3 million. The gap then widens in 1821 to 0.9 million, which is most likely a result of the Napoleonic Wars, and it then narrows during the rest of the century, shrinking to just 0.04 million in 1866.
Throughout the time shown in the graph the numbers of men and women seem to follow similar trends, however the period between 1911 and 1946 shows how drastically the numbers of men were affected by both World Wars. Between 1911 and 1921 the number of men dropped by 0.8 million, whereas the number of women grew by 0.4 million. The male population does grow again during the interwar years, however both populations drop between 1931 and 1946 due to the Second World War, with the number of males decreasing by just under one million and the number of females by 0.4 million. This graph does not show how many died in France during the wars, as the numbers would also be influenced by the birth and natural death rate, but it does give an insight into the long term affects it had on the population.
From 1946 onwards the population of France does grow steadily, and at a much faster rate than it did in the 19th century. The population grows from just under 40 million in 1946, to 65.7 million in 2020, with 31.2 and 33.2 million men and women respectively. This increase in growth comes as a result of an increased fertility rate as well as an increased rate of migration into the country. While the difference in the number of men and women did decrease after the war, reaching its lowest point of 1.1 million in 1975, the gap has widened again to over two million in 2020.
Population of France from 1801 to 2020, by gender
(in millions)
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UN DESA, & Google books. (June 17, 2019). Population of France from 1801 to 2020, by gender (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 03, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009665/male-female-population-france-1801-2020/
UN DESA, und Google books. "Population of France from 1801 to 2020, by gender (in millions)." Chart. June 17, 2019. Statista. Accessed December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009665/male-female-population-france-1801-2020/
UN DESA, Google books. (2019). Population of France from 1801 to 2020, by gender (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009665/male-female-population-france-1801-2020/
UN DESA, and Google books. "Population of France from 1801 to 2020, by Gender (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Jun 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009665/male-female-population-france-1801-2020/
UN DESA & Google books, Population of France from 1801 to 2020, by gender (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009665/male-female-population-france-1801-2020/ (last visited December 03, 2024)
Population of France from 1801 to 2020, by gender (in millions) [Graph], UN DESA, & Google books, June 17, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009665/male-female-population-france-1801-2020/