Striking how few people left France for the New World in the 19th century, compared to all other European countries.
France transitioned to a lower fertility rate much earlier than any other country, so the "surplus labour" susceptible to leave was small. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was actually a big immigration country while most other European nations were emigration countries.
One popular explanation for the lower fertility rates was a change in inheritance law after the revolution: estates had to be divided equally among children rather than transmitted to the oldest son, thereby giving incentives to have fewer children.
Populations of France, Germany and the UK in the 19th century (from Maddison database)
Foreign nationals in France, 1850-1936, by nationality.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.