“With an average 2.01 children born to every woman, France boasts the highest birthrate in the European Union after Ireland and, in recent years, has been producing babies at rates not seen in the country since the 1970s. The ratio is a source of national policy pride: While Europe’s overall population is projected to decline in the coming decades, France’s is expected to grow, providing a more stable group of working adults to help support both the young and old. “

Source: France struggles to fund baby boom – MarketWatch