Share of workers in informal employment in France
France: Share of workers in informal employment was 3.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in France, 2007–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of workers in informal employment in France stood at 3.1%. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is down 6.0% on the previous year and down 50.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in France peaked at 8.0% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2024.
France ranks 61st of 82 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Share of workers in informal employment in France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 8.0% | — |
| 2008 | 7.4% | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | -14.1% |
| 2010 | 6.6% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 6.4% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 6.2% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 6.9% | +11.1% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | -8.0% |
| 2018 | 5.6% | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | -30.1% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | -9.7% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | -6.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 3.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%, 1.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- France's 3.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.8%, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.2% | 6.3% | 8.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 5.6% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 5 |
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 share of workers in informal employment in France?
- Share of workers in informal employment in France was 3.1% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2024.
- How does France rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- France ranks 61st out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.