Share of births that are twins in France
France: Share of births that are twins was 1.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
1.6%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
8th
of 23 countries
All-time high
1.7%
in 2015
All-time low
0.9%
in 1972
Years of data
153
1858–2021
Share of births that are twins in France, 1858–2021
Source: Human Multiple Births Database (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
France recorded 1.6% for share of births that are twins in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births that are twins in France peaked at 1.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1972.
That places France 8th out of 23 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 153 years of available data.
Share of births that are twins in France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1858 | 1.0% | — |
| 1859 | 1.0% | +7.1% |
| 1860 | 1.0% | -4.0% |
| 1861 | 1.0% | +3.5% |
| 1862 | 1.0% | -4.4% |
| 1863 | 1.0% | +2.4% |
| 1864 | 1.0% | +1.3% |
| 1865 | 1.0% | -0.8% |
| 1866 | 1.0% | -4.0% |
| 1867 | 1.0% | -2.1% |
| 1868 | 1.0% | +1.5% |
| 1869 | 1.0% | -2.2% |
| 1871 | 0.9% | -4.1% |
| 1872 | 1.0% | +8.2% |
| 1873 | 1.0% | -2.4% |
| 1874 | 1.0% | +2.5% |
| 1875 | 1.0% | -0.9% |
| 1876 | 1.0% | +2.3% |
| 1877 | 1.0% | -4.1% |
| 1878 | 1.0% | +2.2% |
| 1879 | 1.0% | -0.5% |
| 1880 | 1.0% | +1.4% |
| 1881 | 1.0% | -3.1% |
| 1882 | 1.0% | +4.3% |
| 1883 | 1.0% | +0.9% |
| 1884 | 1.0% | -1.0% |
| 1885 | 1.0% | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 1.0% | -3.0% |
| 1887 | 1.0% | +0.5% |
| 1888 | 1.0% | -0.8% |
| 1889 | 0.9% | -2.6% |
| 1890 | 1.0% | +3.4% |
| 1891 | 1.0% | +0.8% |
| 1892 | 1.0% | +4.0% |
| 1893 | 1.0% | +0.1% |
| 1894 | 1.0% | -1.2% |
| 1898 | 1.1% | +7.9% |
| 1899 | 1.1% | -1.2% |
| 1900 | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| 1901 | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| 1902 | 1.1% | +0.6% |
| 1903 | 1.1% | -2.0% |
| 1904 | 1.1% | +4.0% |
| 1905 | 1.1% | -2.7% |
| 1906 | 1.0% | -2.7% |
| 1907 | 1.1% | +8.1% |
| 1908 | 1.1% | +0.7% |
| 1909 | 1.2% | +2.0% |
| 1910 | 1.2% | -0.2% |
| 1911 | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| 1912 | 1.1% | -0.8% |
| 1913 | 1.1% | +0.4% |
| 1914 | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| 1915 | 1.1% | -1.3% |
| 1916 | 1.2% | +9.9% |
| 1917 | 1.2% | -2.1% |
| 1918 | 1.2% | +2.7% |
| 1919 | 1.3% | +7.9% |
| 1920 | 1.1% | -16.0% |
| 1921 | 1.1% | -1.3% |
| 1922 | 1.1% | -3.9% |
| 1923 | 1.1% | +0.8% |
| 1924 | 1.1% | +0.9% |
| 1925 | 1.1% | -2.3% |
| 1926 | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| 1927 | 1.1% | +2.6% |
| 1928 | 1.1% | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 1.1% | -2.8% |
| 1930 | 1.1% | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 1.0% | -3.8% |
| 1932 | 1.1% | +5.3% |
| 1933 | 1.1% | +0.7% |
| 1934 | 1.1% | -2.3% |
| 1935 | 1.1% | +0.4% |
| 1936 | 1.1% | -0.1% |
| 1937 | 1.1% | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 1.0% | -4.5% |
| 1946 | 1.1% | +4.5% |
| 1947 | 1.1% | -1.3% |
| 1948 | 1.1% | -0.5% |
| 1949 | 1.1% | +3.1% |
| 1950 | 1.1% | -2.6% |
| 1951 | 1.1% | +0.3% |
| 1952 | 1.1% | -2.0% |
| 1953 | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| 1954 | 1.1% | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 1.1% | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 1.1% | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| 1958 | 1.1% | +3.0% |
| 1959 | 1.1% | -2.0% |
| 1960 | 1.1% | -2.2% |
| 1961 | 1.1% | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 1.0% | -6.2% |
| 1963 | 1.1% | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 1.0% | -1.4% |
| 1965 | 1.0% | -5.4% |
| 1966 | 1.0% | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 1.0% | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 1.0% | -3.0% |
| 1970 | 0.9% | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 0.9% | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 0.9% | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 0.9% | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 1.0% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 1.0% | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 1.0% | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 1.0% | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 1.1% | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 1.2% | +6.9% |
| 1991 | 1.3% | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 1.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 1.5% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 1.5% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 1.6% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | -0.4% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 1.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.4%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- France's 1.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.4%, 1.1× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2 |
| 1860s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 9 |
| 1880s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 7 |
| 1900s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 9 |
| 1940s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 4 |
| 1950s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near France
- 5 Spain 1.6% compare
- 6 United States 1.6% compare
- 7 Switzerland 1.6% compare
- 9 Canada 1.6% compare
- 10 Netherlands 1.5% compare
- 11 Austria 1.4% compare
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births that are twins in France?
- Share of births that are twins in France was 1.6% in 2021, according to Human Multiple Births Database (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births that are twins recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 1.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of births that are twins recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1972.
- How does France rank for share of births that are twins?
- France ranks 8th out of 23 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of births that are twins rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Human Multiple Births Database (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of births that are twins. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 153 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of twin deliveries per 100 deliveries.