How many over-18s are there in France in 2024 compared to 1974?
Fifty years ago, in 1974, the age at which a person attained their legal majority in France was lowered from 21 to 18. This changed the lives of millions of young people; for instance, they could now get married at 18 without parental consent. The reform of half a century ago is an opportunity to take a look at changes in the age distribution of the French population over that time.
First, the population as a whole has aged considerably. A single figure—median age in France—clearly illustrates this development. In 1974, the median age was 31 (half the population was under that age, the other half, over), whereas in 2024 it stands at 41.6—a ten-year leap.
So what proportion of the French population were minors in 1974? Before the reform, minors accounted for 34% of the population; after it, the figure fell to 29.2%. And in 2024, only 20.9% of the French population is under 18. In other words, the proportion of people of voting age has risen considerably.
But what about the French electorate? It has aged, like the population as a whole. In 1974, a quarter of people of voting age (25.8%) were over 60; in 2024, over more than a third are (35.1%).
Source :
Online: June 2024