Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France

France: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 59.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
59.5%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
167th
of 187 countries
All-time high
65.6%
in 1990
All-time low
58.9%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France, 1990–2025

02040601990200720251990: 65.61991: 64.31992: 64.21993: 63.71994: 63.31995: 631996: 63.21997: 62.81998: 62.61999: 62.92000: 62.72001: 62.52002: 62.92003: 62.82004: 62.72005: 62.42006: 62.12007: 622008: 622009: 622010: 61.82011: 61.52012: 61.72013: 61.72014: 612015: 60.72016: 60.42017: 60.32018: 60.22019: 59.72020: 58.92021: 59.92022: 60.22023: 60.12024: 59.92025: 59.5

Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France is 59.5%, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France peaked at 65.6% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 58.9%, in 2020.

France ranks 167th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in France, 1990 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1990 65.6%
1991 64.3% -1.9%
1992 64.2% -0.2%
1993 63.7% -0.7%
1994 63.3% -0.7%
1995 63.0% -0.6%
1996 63.2% +0.4%
1997 62.8% -0.6%
1998 62.6% -0.3%
1999 62.9% +0.4%
2000 62.7% -0.3%
2001 62.5% -0.2%
2002 62.9% +0.6%
2003 62.8% -0.1%
2004 62.7% -0.2%
2005 62.4% -0.5%
2006 62.1% -0.4%
2007 62.0% -0.2%
2008 62.0% +0.0%
2009 62.0% +0.0%
2010 61.8% -0.3%
2011 61.5% -0.5%
2012 61.7% +0.3%
2013 61.7% -0.1%
2014 61.0% -1.2%
2015 60.7% -0.4%
2016 60.4% -0.5%
2017 60.3% -0.1%
2018 60.2% -0.2%
2019 59.7% -0.9%
2020 58.9% -1.3%
2021 59.9% +1.7%
2022 60.2% +0.5%
2023 60.1% -0.1%
2024 59.9% -0.4%
2025 59.5% -0.6%

France compared with similar countries

  • France's 59.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 68.8%, 87% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
  • France's 59.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.3%, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 63.6% 62.6% 65.6% 10
2000s 62.4% 62.0% 62.9% 10
2010s 60.9% 59.7% 61.8% 10
2020s 59.7% 58.9% 60.2% 6

Countries ranked near France

  1. 164 Gabon 60.1% compare
  2. 165 Bosnia and Herzegovina 60.0% compare
  3. 166 Greece 59.9% compare
  4. 168 Togo 59.0% compare
  5. 169 Tonga 59.0% compare
  6. 170 Belgium 59.0% compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More work & labour data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France?
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France was 59.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 65.6% in 1990.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 58.9% in 2020.
How does France rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
France ranks 167th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. 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 Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France. Statizoid, drawing on ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-15-modeled-ilo/france/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
235 places, 8,446 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.