The age profiles of first-time mothers are very similar for France and Norway, except for the very young ages. From amongst women born during the 1950s, three quarters had had children by the age of 29 and 90% had had at least one child before the age of 42. In England and Wales, women have children later. Three quarters had had children by the age of 32. Also, fewer women had children there: 84% compared to 90% in the two other countries. From one generation to another, the behaviour of French and Norwegian women has become more similar, differentiating them more clearly from English and Welsh women. Yet the differences remain. If the age at which well-qualified women have their first child is particularly similar in France and Norway, this is not the case for women with little education. The very high rate of very young first-time mothers in Norway makes the lesser qualified Norwegian women more similar to English and Welsh, rather than French, women.