SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in France
France: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 10.82 in 2025. ▲ Rising
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in France, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
France recorded 10.82 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in France peaked at 12.58 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.12, in 2008.
That places France 7th out of 57 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 11.38 | — |
| 2005 | 10.76 | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 10.19 | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 9.31 | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 9.12 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 10.63 | +16.6% |
| 2010 | 11.14 | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 10.08 | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 10.53 | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 11.53 | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 11.18 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 11.82 | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 11.19 | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 11.33 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 10.18 | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 10.31 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 11.54 | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 12.58 | +9.0% |
| 2022 | 11.29 | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 10.98 | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 10.46 | -4.7% |
| 2025 | 10.82 | +3.4% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 10.82 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 1.7× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- France's 10.82 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.65, 1.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.23 | 9.12 | 11.38 | 6 |
| 2010s | 10.93 | 10.08 | 11.82 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.28 | 10.46 | 12.58 | 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in France?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in France was 10.82 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 12.58 in 2021.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.12 in 2008.
- How does France rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- France ranks 7th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.