1914-2014: A century of change in the French population pyramid

Author: Gilles Pison

A population pyramid and its changes over time provide a visual account of a country’s history. The French population pyramid has changed continuously since the outbreak of the First World War. Here, we will stop the clock every 20 years, and focus on the situation in 1914, 1934, 1954, 1974, 1994 and 2014.

On 1 January 1914, the population pyramid of France had a regular bell shape. It was then dented by military losses and a shortfall of births during the First World War. Today, the French population pyramid is returning to a more regular shape, and the century-long scars of WWI have practically disappeared.

Released on 12/03/2014