The number of births is constantly decreasing in France, in spite of the fact that the number of marriages is increasing. This is true not only of France, but of the majority of civilized countries. This fact points to a development produced by our social conditions that should make the ruling classes think. In 1881, 937,057 children were born in France; in 1906, 806,847, and in 1907, only 773,969. In 1907, 163,088 fewer children were born than in 1881. It is a noteworthy fact that the number of illegitimate births did not decrease. There were 70,079 of these in 1881; during the period from 1881 to 1890 they attained their highest figure, 75,754, and in 1906 there still were 70,866. The decline of the birthrate then was confined entirely to the legitimate births. During the entire century a decline of the birthrate was noticeable. The following table shows the number of births for every thousand inhabitants of France during more than a century: 1801–1810 332 1811–1820 316 1821–1830 308 1831–1840 290 1841–1850 273 1851–1860 262 1861–1870 261 1881–1890 239 1891–1900 221 1905 206 1906 206 1907 197 This represents a decline of 135 births for every thousand inhabitants from 1801 to 1907. It is natural that this symptom is a cause of much concern to French statesmen and economists. But the problem is not confined to France. Since a long time the same phenomenon may be observed in Germany, especially in Saxony, where the decline of the birthrate has been even more rapid. In Germany there were the following number of births for every thousand inhabitants: 1875 423 1880 391 1885 385 1890 370 1895 373 1900 368 1905 340 1906 341 1907 332 The majority of the other European countries present a similar condition, as the following table shows: For every 1,000 inhabitants. ---------------------------------------- 1871 1881 1891 1901 to 1880 to 1890 to 1900 to 1905 1907 England & Wales 35.4 32.5 29.9 28.1 26.3 Scotland 34.9 32.3 30.2 28.9 27. Ireland 26.5 23.4 23. 23.2 23.2 Sweden 30.5 29.1 27.2 26.1 25.5 Italy 36.9 37.8 34.9 32.6 31.5 Austria 39. 37.9 37.1 35.8 35. Hungary 44.3 44.0 40.6 37.2 36. Belgium 32.3 30.2 39. 27.7 25.7 Switzerland 30.8 28.1 28.1 28.1 26.8 Netherlands 36.2 34.2 32.5 31.5 30.