POPULATION ET SOCIETES

France (Paris) 86

NOVEMBER 1994 - NUMBER 295

96.86.1 - French - Michel Louis LEVY, INED, 27 rue du Commandeur, 75675 Paris Cedex 14 (France) Statistical anthropology (Anthropologie statistique)

To move from "macro-demography" towards "micro-demography" requires the use of a computerized simulation of family biographies. The seminars which was organised by AIDELF (International Association of French-speaking Demographers) in Aranjuez, near Madrid, from 27th to 30th September, 1994, on the subject of "households, families, extended families and solidarity networks in Mediterranean populations", attracted papers which could be said to emanate from the field of "statistical anthropology". Comparisons are given over time on the co-existence of generations before, during and after the demographic transition. Comparisons in space are made between Muslim populations from several countries in the Southern Mediterranean region where marriage between cousins is very frequent, which is contrary to the traditions of exogamy at the foundation of Europe, the main destination of immigration for these populations. (MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES, MICRO-DEMOGRAPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY, DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION, GENERATIONS, ENDOGAMY)

DECEMBER 1994 - NUMBER 296

96.86.2 - French - Michel Louis LEVY, INED, 27 rue du Commandeur 75675 Paris Cedex 14 (France) A note on Europe (L'Europe, aide-mémoire)

The demographic chronicle, dedicated by the review Population to "The Population Situation in Europe and in the Developed Countries Abroad", covers 52 countries in 1994. Europe, as it is taken here, covers 37 countries (not including Russia) with a surface area of 5,888,000 km² and representing 580 million inhabitants. The most heavily populated country is Germany. The average density reaches almost 100 inhabitants per km² (world-wide, this figure is 40). The average birth rate is low - 12 per 1,000; the mortality rate is often to be found between 9 and 13 per 1,000. The average increase in population numbers was almost 3.2% in ten years (world population - 16%); but Bulgaria, Hungary and Portugal have undergone population declines. It is confirmed that population growth has more to do with prosperity than with the density reached. (EUROPE, DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, POPULATION SITUATION, POPULATION GROWTH)

JANUARY 1995 - NUMBER 297

96.86.3 - French - Michel BOZON and Catherine VILLENEUVE-GOKALP, INED 27 rue du Commandeur, 75675 Paris Cedex 14 (France) Ways and means of leaving one's parents (L'art et la manière de quitter ses parents)

In late 1993, early 1994, INED carried out a retrospective demographic survey entitled "Reaching Adulthood" which covered 3,000 young adults aged from 25 to 34 years old. For both sexes, the reasons given for leaving their parents were similar: to live in a couple; to study; to work; then came their desire for freedom or disagreement with their parents. Females tend to leave their parents at a younger age (72% have already left home by the age of 21) and this is more often to live as a couple; young males tend to wait, for that, to be settled in their chosen profession. Leaving their parents does not mean breaking off all contact with them. Frequently, young people - and, in particular, students - are helped by their parents after leaving home. Their departure is often progressive: once their studies are over, or if they are unsuccessful from a "conjugal" or "social' (unemployment, precarious situation) point of view, they come back home to their parents for stays which can vary in length before moving out again. (FRANCE, FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS, FAMILY NUCLEUS, ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS, PARENTS)

FEBRUARY 1995 - NUMBER 298

96.86.4 - French - Philippe COLLOMB, CICRED, 66 bis, avenue Jean Moulin, 75014 Paris (France)

Man and water (L'homme et l'eau)

Drinking water, which is essential to living organisms, represents 2.5% of the total mass of water available on earth. The current average capacities in renewable sources of water are equal to 2,500m3 per inhabitant per year. But availability varies significantly depending on the climate, population density and level of development. Consumption (domestic, agricultural or industrial) is even more irregular: it goes from 17m3 per inhabitant per year in the Congo in 1992, to 1,868m3 in the United States to 779m3 in France. World consumption has trebled between 1950 and 1990 and can only increase with concurrent increasing population and development. Water, a resource which is already a source of conflict for reasons of geography and political frontiers, requires strategies for the future: efficient management of rainwater, a strict economy, including one for non-renewable fossilised water, recycling of waste water and less pollution. (WORLD, WATER RESOURCES, POPULATION GROWTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)

MARCH 1995 - NUMBER 299

96.86.5 - French - Michel Louis LEVY, INED, 27 rue du Commandeur, 75675 Paris Cedex 14 (France) The population of France in 1994 (La population de la France en 1994)

As of January 1st, 1995, the population of metropolitan France can be estimated at 58,027,000 inhabitants. In 1994, the total growth rate was slightly greater than 0.4%. There have been a few less births (708,000), but there has been no change in period fertility (1.65 children per woman). If this fertility continues, the absolute number of births will decline in the future - for the less plentiful generations born from 1974 onwards will be arriving at reproductive ages. There were less marriages and less deaths in 1994; infant mortality again declined while life expectancy is continuing to increase and ageing is getting worse (15% of the population is now aged 65 years or older). In the overall population increase (250,000), the share of the migratory balance (60,000) is one-third lower than it was in 1993. (FRANCE, POPULATION SITUATION)

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