France currently has nearly 37,000 people who are 100 years old or older, known as centenarians. This number has grown almost threefold since the early 2000s, when there were about 8,000. The increase is largely due to a generational effect: people born in the early 20th century have a much higher chance of living to 100 than those born in the mid-19th century. Over the decades, the number of centenarians has risen dramatically, from just over 1,000 in 1970 to more than 31,000 on January 1, 2024, and nearly 37,000 today. This growth has been especially rapid in the last 20 years, tripling the number of centenarians since the 2000s. About 86% of France’s centenarians are women, a trend that is expected to continue even as demographic patterns change. Roughly half of these individuals live at home, while the other half reside in specialized care facilities. An interesting statistical observation is that more people who have followed higher education are becoming centenarians, suggesting that life choices and experiences may play a role in longevity, not just health factors. While medical advances and better nutrition are often cited as contributors to longer life, they only partially explain the rapid rise in centenarians. The most significant increase occurred over a relatively short period, pointing to deeper social changes. Major transformations, such as improved access to clean drinking water, reduced infant mortality, and better working conditions, have contributed to the increased life expectancy of those born in the early 20th century. If current trends continue, France could have between 160,000 and 360,000 centenarians by 2070. Even so, they would still make up only 0.24% of the population in 2070, compared to 0.05% today. The proportion of men among centenarians is expected to rise from 15% today to about 30% by 2070, narrowing the historical gender gap at such an advanced age. The number of people aged 80 or older is projected to increase from 4.3 million today to nearly 9 million in 2070. France entered a phase of natural deficit in 2025, where the number of deaths has exceeded the number of births on the territory. These figures highlight the aging population and the potential transformation of French society as a result of increased longevity.