France reports more deaths than births for first time since 1945, triggering EU demographic crisis

France experienced more deaths than births in 2025 for the first time since the end of World War II, according to France 24's reporting on the demographic shift. President Emmanuel Macron responded by calling for "demographic rearmament" to address the trend. The phenomenon reflects a broader European crisis: older populations are living longer while younger people have fewer children, threatening the sustainability of pension systems and labor forces across the EU. France's milestone signals an accelerating challenge that demographers warn could reshape Europe's economic and social landscape within the next decade.