Labor force participation rate in France
France: Labor force participation rate was 55.35 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
55.35
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
137th
of 186 countries
All-time high
56.31
in 2009
All-time low
54.27
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in France, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in France is 55.35, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in France peaked at 56.31 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 54.27, in 2020.
France ranks 137th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 55.6 | — |
| 1991 | 55.02 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 55.16 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 55.19 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 55.07 | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 55.05 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 55.35 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 54.96 | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 55.04 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 55.35 | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 55.3 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 55.12 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 55.4 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 55.99 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 55.85 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 55.99 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 55.92 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 56.06 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 56.13 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 56.31 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 56.22 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 56.02 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 56.23 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 56.27 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 55.76 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 55.62 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 55.4 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 55.26 | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 55.3 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 54.94 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 54.27 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 55.55 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 55.84 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 55.94 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 55.66 | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 55.35 | -0.6% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 55.35 is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.28, 89% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- France's 55.35 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.23, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.18 | 54.96 | 55.6 | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.81 | 55.12 | 56.31 | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.7 | 54.94 | 56.27 | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.43 | 54.27 | 55.94 | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
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 in France?
- Labor force participation rate in France was 55.35 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 56.31 in 2009.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.27 in 2020.
- How does France rank for labor force participation rate?
- France ranks 137th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).