Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France
France: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 60.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
60.9%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
174th
of 196 countries
All-time high
75.4%
in 1962
All-time low
58.8%
in 2020
Years of data
50
1962–2025
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France, 1962–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
France recorded 60.9% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France peaked at 75.4% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 58.8%, in 2020.
That places France 174th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 75.4% | — |
| 1968 | 73.0% | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 69.4% | -4.9% |
| 1979 | 69.8% | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 69.7% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 69.1% | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 68.6% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 70.3% | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 69.3% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 69.0% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 68.7% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 67.9% | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 67.0% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 66.6% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 65.9% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 64.8% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 64.6% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 64.1% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 63.7% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 63.4% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 63.7% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 63.3% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 63.0% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 63.2% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 62.9% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 62.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 62.9% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 63.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 62.9% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 62.1% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 61.9% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 61.7% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 61.7% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 61.8% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 61.6% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 61.2% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 61.5% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 61.6% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 61.0% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 60.6% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 60.4% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 60.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 59.7% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 58.8% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 59.9% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 60.2% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 60.1% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 60.5% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 60.9% | +0.6% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 60.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 88% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- France's 60.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68.2%, 89% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 74.2% | 73.0% | 75.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 69.6% | 69.4% | 69.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 68.6% | 66.6% | 70.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 64.0% | 63.0% | 65.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.4% | 61.7% | 63.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.9% | 59.7% | 61.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.1% | 58.8% | 60.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 171 North Macedonia 61.3% compare
- 172 Marshall Islands 61.2% compare
- 173 British Virgin Islands 61.0% compare
- 175 Greece 60.5% compare
- 176 Belgium 60.4% compare
- 177 Curaçao 59.4% compare
More work & labour data for France
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3323 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 62,374 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 8,235 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 35,191 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,294 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 68,485 1000 No (2100)
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 60.9% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 75.4% in 1962.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.8% in 2020.
- How does France rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- France ranks 174th out of 196 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 up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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.