https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The populations of certain countries in Europe are expected to grow by 2100, but there will be a big drop on average across Europe, new predictions reveal. So which countries will see a population growth? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260425/revealed-the-countries-in-europe-that-will-buck-the-trend-and-grow-in-population Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:32:03 +0200 revealed-the-countries-in-europe-that-will-buck-the-trend-and-grow-in-population The number of people acquiring the citizenship of a European country has increased massively compared to a decade ago. Experts say that the trend has accelerated in recent years due various factors. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260403/why-more-and-more-people-are-acquiring-citizenship-in-european-countries Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:09:12 +0200 why-more-and-more-people-are-acquiring-citizenship-in-european-countries In 2025, people born outside the European Union made up about 10 percent of the EU’s 450 million population. But which countries have the largest share of foreign-born residents? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260324/which-countries-in-europe-have-the-biggest-share-of-foreign-residents Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:20:44 +0100 which-countries-in-europe-have-the-biggest-share-of-foreign-residents The population of the European Union has grown by over a million in the last year thanks to immigration. Here's a breakdown of how the population has grown or shrunk in different European countries. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250727/in-numbers-how-the-populations-of-european-countries-have-changed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 13:36:44 +0200 in-numbers-how-the-populations-of-european-countries-have-changed Europe's population is getting older and its set to shrink in many countries. One of the keys to sustaining societies and economies will be the integration of immigrants into the workforce, the author of a new study tells Claudia Delpero. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250427/integrate-immigrants-how-europe-can-deal-with-its-population-challenge Sun, 27 Apr 2025 15:48:54 +0200 integrate-immigrants-how-europe-can-deal-with-its-population-challenge EU countries granted citizenship to more than a million residents in 12 months, so which countries are naturalising the most foreigners? https://www.thelocal.fr/20250308/which-countries-in-europe-grant-more-citizenships Sat, 08 Mar 2025 15:42:25 +0100 which-countries-in-europe-grant-more-citizenships The number of babies born in the EU was down 5.4 percent to 3.67 million in 2023, the largest drop in decades, official data showed Friday, underscoring the bloc's demographic issues. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250308/eu-sees-record-drop-in-births-data-shows Sat, 08 Mar 2025 10:36:35 +0100 eu-sees-record-drop-in-births-data-shows With many countries in Europe imposing new or tougher language requirements for residency or citizenship, experts say it's no surprise given the rise of nationalist parties and the importance of language to national identity. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250306/social-glue-why-its-no-surprise-european-states-are-toughening-language-requirements Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:47:31 +0100 social-glue-why-its-no-surprise-european-states-are-toughening-language-requirements The number of people in France living beyond 110 years is growing fast, the national demographic studies institute has revealed, with women dominating the supercentenarian contest. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240424/france-records-growing-number-of-supercentenarians Wed, 24 Apr 2024 17:15:53 +0200 france-records-growing-number-of-supercentenarians A poll released this week by IPSOS has revealed what the French would most like to do to improve themselves in 2024. https://www.thelocal.fr/20231230/what-are-the-most-popular-new-years-resolutions-in-france Sat, 30 Dec 2023 11:39:56 +0100 what-are-the-most-popular-new-years-resolutions-in-france New figures show that less than 726,000 babies were born in France last year - the lowest number since 1946 - and the country's ageing population is just one of many potential reasons why. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230928/why-is-frances-birthrate-at-its-lowest-since-the-end-of-ww2 Thu, 28 Sep 2023 17:38:14 +0200 why-is-frances-birthrate-at-its-lowest-since-the-end-of-ww2 France frequently ranks among the top countries to visit, but when it comes to settling in it often suffers in comparison to other countries. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230712/how-hard-is-it-to-settle-in-france Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:04:09 +0200 how-hard-is-it-to-settle-in-france Many Non-EU nationals, including Britons since Brexit, need to make sure they don't go over the 90-day rule in the EU/Schengen area. But how many people are turned away at European borders because they overstayed? https://www.thelocal.fr/20230521/how-many-travellers-are-turned-away-at-european-borders-because-of-90-day-limit Sun, 21 May 2023 14:19:07 +0200 how-many-travellers-are-turned-away-at-european-borders-because-of-90-day-limit A recent study commissioned by the Association of Rural Mayors of France found that life expectancy can differ by up to 1.4 years between those living in rural and urban areas. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230425/study-finds-gap-in-life-expectancy-between-urban-and-rural-france Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:33:26 +0200 study-finds-gap-in-life-expectancy-between-urban-and-rural-france The population of Europe has been steadily increasing in recent years but it is soon set to peak and then go into decline. We explain why and also the countries in Europe where you are most likely to live to a hundred years old. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230416/why-is-the-population-of-europe-set-to-shrink Sun, 16 Apr 2023 15:53:29 +0200 why-is-the-population-of-europe-set-to-shrink The French have hung onto their reputation for a certain gloom, with the latest world happiness ranking showing France lagging behind most of Europe, as well as the UK, US, Canada and Australia. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230320/french-among-least-happy-in-europe-and-unhappier-than-last-year Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:23:02 +0100 french-among-least-happy-in-europe-and-unhappier-than-last-year The populations of countries across Europe are changing, with some increasing whilst others are falling. Populations are also ageing meaning the EU is having to react to changing demographics. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220726/how-europes-population-is-changing-and-what-the-eu-is-doing-about-it Tue, 26 Jul 2022 17:29:56 +0200 how-europes-population-is-changing-and-what-the-eu-is-doing-about-it Whether it's anti-vaccine sentiment or support for the far-right, French polls frequently throw up some surprising results - but how seriously should we take what the French tell pollsters? https://www.thelocal.fr/20211026/analysis-how-reliable-are-french-opinion-polls Tue, 26 Oct 2021 19:07:48 +0200 analysis-how-reliable-are-french-opinion-polls Rising sea levels and coastal erosion have encroached upon a fifth of France's coastline. A new map reveals the coastal areas which have already begun to disappear. https://www.thelocal.fr/20211026/map-where-in-france-is-most-at-risk-from-erosion-and-rising-sea-levels Tue, 26 Oct 2021 14:10:17 +0200 map-where-in-france-is-most-at-risk-from-erosion-and-rising-sea-levels It's not until 2022 but the French election campaign appears to be in full swing already with immigration emerging as a key issue. We asked the experts to take a look at some of the most common stereotypes around immigration. https://www.thelocal.fr/20211015/asylum-seekers-to-crime-busting-french-immigration-myths Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:35:14 +0200 asylum-seekers-to-crime-busting-french-immigration-myths