Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in France
France: Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction was 31.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
31.7%
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
8th
of 35 countries
All-time high
35.2%
in 2021
All-time low
12.5%
in 1985
Years of data
41
1983–2025
Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in France, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in France stood at 31.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in France peaked at 35.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.5%, in 1985.
That places France 8th out of 35 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in France, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 14.2% | — |
| 1984 | 15.5% | +9.2% |
| 1985 | 12.5% | -19.4% |
| 1986 | 13.7% | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 13.7% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 15.8% | +15.3% |
| 1989 | 19.7% | +24.7% |
| 1992 | 20.0% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 14.8% | -26.0% |
| 1994 | 14.2% | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 16.7% | +17.6% |
| 1996 | 19.0% | +13.8% |
| 1997 | 20.1% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 28.2% | +40.3% |
| 1999 | 19.6% | -30.5% |
| 2000 | 18.5% | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 17.4% | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 21.1% | +21.3% |
| 2003 | 18.9% | -10.4% |
| 2004 | 23.1% | +22.2% |
| 2005 | 25.3% | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 21.9% | -13.4% |
| 2007 | 23.4% | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 24.3% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 20.8% | -14.4% |
| 2010 | 26.7% | +28.4% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 29.6% | +12.5% |
| 2013 | 29.3% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 32.1% | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 24.9% | -22.4% |
| 2016 | 26.4% | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 26.2% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 29.7% | +13.4% |
| 2019 | 27.1% | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 31.6% | +16.6% |
| 2021 | 35.2% | +11.4% |
| 2022 | 30.3% | -13.9% |
| 2023 | 29.9% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 30.5% | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 31.7% | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.0% | 12.5% | 19.7% | 7 |
| 1990s | 19.1% | 14.2% | 28.2% | 8 |
| 2000s | 21.5% | 17.4% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.8% | 24.9% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.5% | 29.9% | 35.2% | 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 unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in France?
- Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in France was 31.7% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 35.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5% in 1985.
- How does France rank for unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction?
- France ranks 8th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.3%. 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 Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction registration/benefits. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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