The latest early childcare figures from France's national early childhood observatory, the Observatoire national de la petite enfance (Onape), show 1,306,600 childcare places in 2023. That works out at 60.9 places per 100 children under 3, a rate up 1.4 points in a year. Behind this average, the number of childminders is falling while micro-nurseries are growing.
The figures come from the report “L'accueil des jeunes enfants – Édition 2025”, presented by the Cnaf (Caisse nationale des allocations familiales, France's national family allowance fund) on 10 December 2025. Here's what to take from it if you're looking for childcare.
What is the Onape and what does its report measure?
The Onape is run by the Cnaf. At the end of each year, it publishes a summary of the benchmark figures on childcare for children under 3: available places, types of childcare, public spending and demographic context. The 2025 edition contains fifteen thematic fact sheets.
Its key indicator is theoretical childcare capacity. It adds up the places offered by the various formal types of childcare and compares them with the number of children under 3. It measures supply. It doesn't tell you how many families actually find a solution close to home, or at what cost.
Early childcare in France: the key figures from the 2025 edition
- 1,306,600 childcare places in 2023, down 0.6% on 2022.
- 60.9 places per 100 children under 3 in 2023, 1.4 points more than in 2022.
- 218,000 childminders were looking after at least one child under 3 in 2024.
- Almost 9.9% more micro-nurseries in 2024, for those funded through the Paje (France's benefit for families with young children).
- 9.2% of 2-year-olds were in school at the start of the 2024 school year.
- €17.5 billion of public spending on early childcare in 2024, up 4.8%.
Why the rate is rising while places are falling
The total number of places is dipping slightly, yet the coverage rate is going up. The explanation lies in the number of children. The report points out that 661,000 babies were born in 2024, 2.8% fewer than in 2023. The total fertility rate fell to 1.62 children per woman in 2024, compared with 1.92 in 2016. With fewer children, an almost stable supply covers a larger share of the population.
This fall in births is continuing. Our article on births in France in 2026 presents the latest data from Insee, the French national statistics office, and our piece on the birth rate in France looks back at the demographic review.
Childminder numbers keep falling
Childminders (assistantes maternelles) remain one of the mainstays of care for under-3s. In 2024, 218,000 of them were looking after at least one child of that age. But the Cnaf's press release states that the number of places they offer keeps shrinking, down 4.1% on 2023.
For families, this often means waiting lists and longer searches, especially in areas where this type of childcare dominates. It also makes choosing the right contract all the more important. Our guide to the childminder contract sets out the clauses to check.
On the funding side, the childcare allowance known as the complément de libre choix du mode de garde (CMG) was reformed in September 2025, which the report also mentions. The new calculation is explained in our article on the 2026 CMG for childminders.
Nurseries and micro-nurseries: a growing supply
According to the Cnaf, the number of nursery places is rising. The trend is driven in particular by micro-nurseries funded through the Paje, whose number grew by almost 9.9% in 2024. These small settings look after a dozen children at most and often set their own fees, partly offset by the CMG.
The 2025 report adds a new fact sheet on the running costs of nurseries funded through the prestation de service unique (the operating grant paid by the family allowance funds). The press release doesn't give these amounts, so we don't quote them here.
When your child joins a group setting for the first time, the first few weeks matter a lot. Our article on settling in at nursery describes how this period usually goes.
Fewer 2-year-olds at école maternelle
Schooling from the age of 2 at école maternelle (French nursery school) continues to decline. At the start of the 2024 school year, it fell by 4.2% compared with 2023. The school enrolment rate for 2-year-olds stands at 9.2%. For this age group, école maternelle therefore remains a marginal option, alongside the other types of childcare.
Regional inequalities are narrowing
Between 2022 and 2023, the coverage rate rose in the least well-served areas, narrowing the gaps between regions. The press release doesn't give the differences by département. According to the Cnaf, this detailed data is due to be made available on its open data portal.
A national average of 60.9 places per 100 children therefore hides very different situations. For a family, the useful information is local: the relais petite enfance (local early childhood information service), the town hall, the website of the Caf (your local family allowance office) and the département's directory of childminders.
How much does early childcare cost the public purse?
In 2024, public spending on childcare for children under 3 reached €17.5 billion. That's an increase of 4.8% in a year. According to the Cnaf, two thirds of this sum is funded by the Caf network.
What do these figures mean for parents?
Three practical lessons stand out from the report.
- Start your search early: with fewer childminders, it's best to start the process during pregnancy, especially if you're going back to work when your baby is 3 months old.
- Compare the options: council-run nursery, micro-nursery, childminder and nanny share differ in both cost and hours. Our guide to choosing childcare compares them point by point.
- Check the financial help: the amount of the CMG and what you pay yourself depend on your income and the type of childcare you choose.
Some parents also choose to cut back on work in the first few months. PreParE 2026, the prestation partagée d'éducation de l'enfant (France's parental leave benefit), supports this choice.
Key takeaways
- 1,306,600 childcare places in 2023, or 60.9 places per 100 children under 3.
- The rate is rising mainly because births are falling.
- Childminder numbers are falling, micro-nurseries are growing.
- Schooling at age 2 continues to decline, to 9.2%.
- Regional inequalities are narrowing, but supply still varies widely depending on where you live.
Sources
- Cnaf, press release “Rapport de l'Onape : les derniers travaux et chiffres de référence sur l'accueil des jeunes enfants”, 10 December 2025.
- Observatoire national de la petite enfance, “L'accueil des jeunes enfants – Édition 2025”.
- Caf.fr, “Accueil du jeune enfant : le rapport annuel 2025 de l'Onape est publié”, 16 December 2025.
