Average number of children in families in France in 2011, by family type
In 2011, the average number of children in French families was 1.9 children. This number was a little bit higher in blended families which accounted for 2.3 children on average. With a higher divorce rate and a decreasing birth rate, families in France are experiencing changes in recent years.
More and more blended families in France
The most common family type in France in 2015 was a couple with children. In 2016, France was still the country with the highest fertility rate in Europe. That year, France had a mean of over 1.92 children being born alive to a woman during her lifetime. French citizens have more children than their European neighbors which does not necessarily mean that France is not impacted by the decline of births. However, with the rising number of divorces in the country, more children are now living in a new type of family. Stepfamilies are becoming more common and in a survey from 2015, 55 percent of responding French declared that they were in favor of creating a stepparent status for stepfamilies.
The evolution of family structure
Family structure is evolving in France and in Europe. Getting married and then having children in that order are not the most common life path anymore. In 2018, there were more than 60 percent of children born out of wedlock in France. Also, the country saw an increasing number of single parent families. The democratization of parental leave, as well as LGBT parenting, are reshaping the structure and the views public opinion could have about what being a family is.
More and more blended families in France
The most common family type in France in 2015 was a couple with children. In 2016, France was still the country with the highest fertility rate in Europe. That year, France had a mean of over 1.92 children being born alive to a woman during her lifetime. French citizens have more children than their European neighbors which does not necessarily mean that France is not impacted by the decline of births. However, with the rising number of divorces in the country, more children are now living in a new type of family. Stepfamilies are becoming more common and in a survey from 2015, 55 percent of responding French declared that they were in favor of creating a stepparent status for stepfamilies.
The evolution of family structure
Family structure is evolving in France and in Europe. Getting married and then having children in that order are not the most common life path anymore. In 2018, there were more than 60 percent of children born out of wedlock in France. Also, the country saw an increasing number of single parent families. The democratization of parental leave, as well as LGBT parenting, are reshaping the structure and the views public opinion could have about what being a family is.
