Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in France
France: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 7.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in France, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
France recorded 7.5% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in France peaked at 12.6% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2022.
That places France 57th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.1% | — |
| 1992 | 10.2% | +11.7% |
| 1993 | 11.3% | +10.9% |
| 1994 | 12.6% | +11.2% |
| 1995 | 11.8% | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 12.4% | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 12.6% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 12.1% | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 12.0% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 10.2% | -14.7% |
| 2001 | 8.6% | -15.7% |
| 2002 | 8.7% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 8.9% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 8.8% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 8.0% | -9.3% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | -7.8% |
| 2009 | 9.1% | +23.5% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 9.8% | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 9.9% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 10.3% | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 10.4% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 9.4% | -6.4% |
| 2018 | 9.0% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 8.4% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 8.0% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 7.3% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 7.4% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 7.5% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.6% | 9.1% | 12.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.7% | 7.4% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 8.4% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.6% | 7.3% | 8.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More education data for France
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 43,533 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.14 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0602 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in France?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in France was 7.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 12.6% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2022.
- How does France rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- France ranks 57th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.