The latest official data is clear: the infant mortality rate has gone from 3.5 deaths per 1,000 children born living in 2011 to 4.1 per thousand in 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE).
Or one in 250 children who continues to die before his first birthday, a tendency to reverse those observed in most other European countries like Sweden or Italy who have seen their infant mortality rate in recent years.
“”The trend is alarming“, Consives the deputy Paul-André Colombani in his bill to fight against infant mortality which will be examined Thursday in the National Assembly within the framework of the” parliamentary niche “of his group Liot.
“”While it is back in most European countries“, Infant mortality”progresses regularly since 2020“In France without anyone”coherent and structured responsehe “is brought, adds the elected official, who urges the executive to set up a national birth register without delay.
Formulated for a long time by various actors, this request has ended up receiving a favorable response in early April from the Minister of Health Catherine Vautrin. His entourage has since mentioned an implementation in early 2026 “.
For its promoters, this register would make it possible to bring together statistical and epidemiologists which currently are scattered, depriving researchers with a solid and usable database.
This would be a “considerable advance in understanding infant mortality“, AFP with AFP Delphine Mitanchez, president of the French Society of Perinatal Medicine.”Before you can fight effectively, you have to know the factors that are originally“.
“”Today, we have no certainty, result: everyone goes from their hypothesis, more or less eccentric, and we do not advance“, She adds.
“”It is a phenomenon that is still very mysterious“, Acquires Magali Barbieri, research director at the National Institute of Demographic Studies (INED).” Currently, we do not know why France is distinguished from other countries “.
“Mystery”
In recent years, several risk factors have been highlighted by specialists to try to explain the tumble of France which is now classified in 23rd in the 27 EU states.
The different studies evoke pell-mell The rise in mothers age at the time of childbirth, the increase in multiple pregnancies, great prematurity, precarious situations or even a degradation of the care circuit. The weakness of prevention and support before and after childbirth is also highlighted.
Added to this is the progress of medicine. “”By allowing children who were formerly stillborn and therefore not counted in living births, to survive for a few hours or days after birth“, this progress”have been able to have a slight impact on the increase in infant mortality since 2011“, noted INSEE in his latest study.
While waiting to unravel the mystery, solutions can already be set up to reverse the trend. In a report published in 2024, the Court of Auditors recommended in particular to strengthen the support for returning home and to concentrate efforts on perinatal prevention.
“”Focus prevention on the fight against obesity or overweight or smoking during pregnancy could undoubtedly make it possible to improve the infant mortality rate“, Records Jennifer Zeitlin, epidemiologist at Inserm.
“”In the same way, studies show a higher mortality rate in the most disadvantaged women, because they know less the system or have more difficulty accessing it, therefore attacking this problematic“Could undoubtedly have a positive impact,” she believes.