Labor force with basic education in France

France: Labor force with basic education was 28.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
28.8%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
110th
of 125 countries
All-time high
39.9%
in 1993
All-time low
27.6%
in 2020
Years of data
32
1993–2024

Labor force with basic education in France, 1993–2024

0102030401993200820241993: 39.9 % of total working-age population with basic education1994: 39.6 % of total working-age population with basic education1995: 39 % of total working-age population with basic education1996: 39.6 % of total working-age population with basic education1997: 38.6 % of total working-age population with basic education1998: 38.3 % of total working-age population with basic education1999: 38.3 % of total working-age population with basic education2000: 37.7 % of total working-age population with basic education2001: 36.9 % of total working-age population with basic education2002: 36.7 % of total working-age population with basic education2003: 37.5 % of total working-age population with basic education2004: 37.3 % of total working-age population with basic education2005: 36.2 % of total working-age population with basic education2006: 36.1 % of total working-age population with basic education2007: 35.6 % of total working-age population with basic education2008: 34.8 % of total working-age population with basic education2009: 34.9 % of total working-age population with basic education2010: 34.9 % of total working-age population with basic education2011: 34.7 % of total working-age population with basic education2012: 34.4 % of total working-age population with basic education2013: 33.3 % of total working-age population with basic education2014: 31.8 % of total working-age population with basic education2015: 30.8 % of total working-age population with basic education2016: 30.2 % of total working-age population with basic education2017: 30.1 % of total working-age population with basic education2018: 29.4 % of total working-age population with basic education2019: 28.5 % of total working-age population with basic education2020: 27.6 % of total working-age population with basic education2021: 28.3 % of total working-age population with basic education2022: 28.5 % of total working-age population with basic education2023: 28.7 % of total working-age population with basic education2024: 28.8 % of total working-age population with basic education

Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.

Analysis

France recorded 28.8% for labor force with basic education in 2024.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in France peaked at 39.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 27.6%, in 2020.

France ranks 110th of 125 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.

Labor force with basic education in France, year by year

Annual values for Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education) in France, 1993 to 2024.
Year % of total working-age population with basic education Change
1993 39.9%
1994 39.6% -0.7%
1995 39.0% -1.7%
1996 39.6% +1.5%
1997 38.6% -2.4%
1998 38.3% -0.8%
1999 38.3% -0.2%
2000 37.7% -1.5%
2001 36.9% -2.0%
2002 36.7% -0.6%
2003 37.5% +2.2%
2004 37.3% -0.6%
2005 36.2% -2.9%
2006 36.1% -0.4%
2007 35.6% -1.2%
2008 34.8% -2.3%
2009 34.9% +0.3%
2010 34.9% +0.1%
2011 34.7% -0.7%
2012 34.4% -0.7%
2013 33.3% -3.3%
2014 31.8% -4.6%
2015 30.8% -3.0%
2016 30.2% -1.9%
2017 30.1% -0.3%
2018 29.4% -2.5%
2019 28.5% -3.2%
2020 27.6% -3.0%
2021 28.3% +2.5%
2022 28.5% +0.6%
2023 28.7% +0.8%
2024 28.8% +0.3%

France compared with similar countries

  • France's 28.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 41.5%, 69% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
  • France's 28.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 33.5%, 86% of the median. (44 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 39.0% 38.3% 39.9% 7
2000s 36.4% 34.8% 37.7% 10
2010s 31.8% 28.5% 34.9% 10
2020s 28.4% 27.6% 28.8% 5

Countries ranked near France

  1. 107 Ireland 29.6% compare
  2. 108 Belgium 28.9% compare
  3. 109 Israel 28.8% compare
  4. 111 Romania 27.9% compare
  5. 112 North Macedonia 27.9% compare
  6. 113 Greece 27.5% compare

See the full ranking of 144 places →

More work & labour data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force with basic education in France?
Labor force with basic education in France was 28.8% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force with basic education recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 39.9% in 1993.
What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 27.6% in 2020.
How does France rank for labor force with basic education?
France ranks 110th out of 125 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this France data come from?
The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force with basic education in France. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-with-basic-education-percent-of-total-working-age-population-with-basic/france/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education)
Unit
% of total working-age population with basic education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
144 places, 2,683 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).