Michel Rocard was born August 23, 1930 in Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine), the son of Professor Yves Rocard.
 
He was educated at Lycee Louis-Le-Grand and Faculty of Letter, Paris, France. He qualified for his Licence in Letters, graduating from the Paris Institut d'Etudes Politiques and the Centre d'Etudes des Programmes Economiques.