Annual number of births in France, 1910-1925, showing the sharp decline during World War I and partial recovery in the 1920s. Data from Vandenbroucke (2012), based on historical vital statistics.
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division via MPRA
World War I (1914-1918) massively affected the number of babies born in Europe. Millions of men died during the war, leaving fewer men to start families. This meant that many couples could not have children during or right after the war. In countries like France, the number of births dropped sharply, reflecting both the lives lost and the disruption to daily life.
The war also delayed marriages. Many men were away fighting for years, so women had to wait to start families. Following the war, couples faced economic hardships that made raising children more difficultSoldiers who returned often had injuries or trauma, which could affect their ability or desire to have children. These factors combined to create a period called a “baby bust,” when fewer babies were born than usual.
Birth rates did recover somewhat in the 1920s, but the lost births could never be fully made up. The war left a lasting gap in the population, which affected families, communities, and the overall growth of the country. Research shows that the decline in birth rates after World War I was not just about deaths on the battlefield but also about the social and economic challenges the war created (Vandenbroucke, 2012).
Reference:
Vandenbroucke, G. (2012). Fertility and Wars: The Case of World War I in France. MPRA Paper No. 46022. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/46022/