This amounts to a decline of births in 1890, as against 1801, of 114 to every 10,000 inhabitants. It is imaginable that such figures cause serious headaches to the French statesmen and politicians. But France does not stand alone in this. For a long time Germany has been presenting a similar phenomenon. In Germany, to every 10,000 population there were births in the years: 1869 406 1876 403 1880 390 1883 358 1887 369.4 1890 357.6 Accordingly, Germany too reveals, in the space of only 21 years, a decline of 49 births to every 10,000 inhabitants. Similarly with the other States of Europe. To every 10,000 population there were live births: From From States. 1865-1867. 1886-1888. Decrease. Increase. Ireland 262 231 31 .. Scotland 353 313 40 .. England and Wales 353 314 39 .. Holland 388 344 44 .. Belgium 320 293 27 .. Switzerland 320 278 42 .. Austria 374 380 .. 6 Hungary 399 445 .. 46 Italy 378 371 7 .. Sweden 320 297 23 .. Norway 344 308 36 .. The decline in births is, accordingly, pretty general, only that, of all European States, it is strongest in France. Between 1886 and 1888, France had, to every 1,000 inhabitants, an average of 23.9 births, England 32.9, Prussia 41.27, and Russia 48.8.