Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in France

France: Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private was 35.0% in 2026. ▼ Falling

Latest (2026)
35.0%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
15th
of 45 countries
All-time high
39.8%
in 1998
All-time low
35.0%
in 2026
Years of data
29
1998–2026

Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in France, 1998–2026

0102030401998201220261998: 39.8 Percentage1999: 39.4 Percentage2000: 39.3 Percentage2001: 39.3 Percentage2002: 39 Percentage2003: 38.2 Percentage2004: 38 Percentage2005: 38 Percentage2006: 37.9 Percentage2007: 37.6 Percentage2008: 37.3 Percentage2009: 37.1 Percentage2010: 37.2 Percentage2011: 37.2 Percentage2012: 36.8 Percentage2013: 37.1 Percentage2014: 37.3 Percentage2015: 37.5 Percentage2016: 37.8 Percentage2017: 37.8 Percentage2018: 37.9 Percentage2019: 38.1 Percentage2020: 38.7 Percentage2021: 37.1 Percentage2022: 36.7 Percentage2023: 36.2 Percentage2024: 36 Percentage2025: 35.2 Percentage2026: 35 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2026, persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in France stood at 35.0%. That is the lowest value across all 29 years on record.

The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in France peaked at 39.8% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 35.0%, in 2026.

France ranks 15th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.

Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in France, year by year

Annual values for Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households - quarterly data in France, 1998 to 2026.
Year Percentage Change
1998 39.8%
1999 39.4% -1.0%
2000 39.3% -0.3%
2001 39.3% +0.0%
2002 39.0% -0.8%
2003 38.2% -2.1%
2004 38.0% -0.5%
2005 38.0% +0.0%
2006 37.9% -0.3%
2007 37.6% -0.8%
2008 37.3% -0.8%
2009 37.1% -0.5%
2010 37.2% +0.3%
2011 37.2% +0.0%
2012 36.8% -1.1%
2013 37.1% +0.8%
2014 37.3% +0.5%
2015 37.5% +0.5%
2016 37.8% +0.8%
2017 37.8% +0.0%
2018 37.9% +0.3%
2019 38.1% +0.5%
2020 38.7% +1.6%
2021 37.1% -4.1%
2022 36.7% -1.1%
2023 36.2% -1.4%
2024 36.0% -0.6%
2025 35.2% -2.2%
2026 35.0% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 39.6% 39.4% 39.8% 2
2000s 38.2% 37.1% 39.3% 10
2010s 37.5% 36.8% 38.1% 10
2020s 36.4% 35.0% 38.7% 7

Countries ranked near France

  1. 13 Poland 35.4% compare
  2. 13 Poland 35.4% compare
  3. 16 Slovenia 34.8% compare
  4. 16 Slovenia 34.8% compare
  5. 18 Spain 34.6% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in France?
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in France was 35.0% in 2026, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 39.8% in 1998.
What is the lowest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 35.0% in 2026.
How does France rank for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private?
France ranks 15th out of 45 countries with data for 2026.
Is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this France data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in France. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-outside-the-labour-force-percent-of-total-population-in-private-households/france/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,257 data points, 1998–2026
Last refreshed