In France, an analysis of asthma mortality trends between 1970 and 1990 showed an increase through the mid-1980s, followed by a decline. Among women, however, age-standardized death rates in the late 1980s remained higher than those observed at the beginning of the study period. A specific analysis of the 5–34 age group revealed an increase in age-standardized death rates between 1970 and 1990. The purpose of this article is to describe, particularly among children and young adults, the subsequent trend in asthma mortality in France up to the year 1999. (R.A.)