Self-employed persons by occupation in France
France: Self-employed persons by occupation was 3,865 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3,865
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
5th
of 47 countries
All-time high
3,865
in 2025
All-time low
2,292
in 2002
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in France, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
France recorded 3,865 for self-employed persons by occupation in 2025. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 31.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation in France peaked at 3,865 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,292, in 2002.
France ranks 5th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 2,712 | — |
| 1984 | 2,757 | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 2,668 | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 2,703 | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 2,684 | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 2,735 | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 2,691 | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 2,796 | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 2,765 | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 2,741 | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 2,561 | -6.6% |
| 1994 | 2,541 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 2,534 | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 2,489 | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 2,454 | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 2,423 | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 2,395 | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 2,338 | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 2,310 | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 2,292 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 2,518 | +9.8% |
| 2004 | 2,419 | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 2,470 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 2,616 | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 2,627 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 2,564 | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 2,641 | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 2,801 | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 2,849 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 2,818 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 2,781 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 2,933 | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 2,931 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 3,006 | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 3,002 | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 3,053 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 3,182 | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 3,251 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 3,379 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 3,595 | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 3,582 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 3,753 | +4.8% |
| 2025 | 3,865 | +3.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 3,865 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95, 9.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- France's 3,865 is above the median for high income countries, which is 478.5, 8.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,707 | 2,668 | 2,757 | 7 |
| 1990s | 2,570 | 2,395 | 2,796 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,479 | 2,292 | 2,641 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,936 | 2,781 | 3,182 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,571 | 3,251 | 3,865 | 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 self-employed persons by occupation in France?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in France was 3,865 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 3,865 in 2025.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,292 in 2002.
- How does France rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- France ranks 5th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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