PARIS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- France's population is projected to peak at 69.8 million in 2037 before gradually declining to 65.9 million by 2070 if current demographic trends continue, the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) said on Monday.
According to INSEE's latest population projections through 2070, population growth until 2037 would be driven entirely by net migration, as the natural balance between births and deaths is expected to turn negative from 2025 onward.
After 2037, net migration would no longer fully offset the natural decrease in population, leading to a gradual decline in the country's total population, INSEE said.
France's population is also expected to age significantly over the coming decades. By 2070, the number of people under the age of 45 is projected to decrease by 8.9 million, while the population aged 45 to 64 would remain broadly stable. In contrast, the number of people aged 65 and over would increase by 5.8 million.
The growth in the elderly population would be driven largely by those aged 80 and above, whose numbers are projected to rise by 4.6 million. The number of centenarians could quadruple by 2070, according to INSEE.
Population aging is expected to continue in the coming decades. By 2040, there would be 49 people aged 65 or older for every 100 people aged 20 to 64, compared with 40 in 2026. Although the demographic dependency ratio beyond 2040 remains subject to greater uncertainty, it is projected to rise further to 62 per 100 by 2070 under INSEE's central scenario. ■