Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in France

France: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 52.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
52.9%
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
22nd
of 43 countries
All-time high
90.7%
in 1999
All-time low
52.9%
in 2020
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in France, 1998–2020

0204060801001998200920201998: 90.2 Percentage1999: 90.7 Percentage2000: 89.7 Percentage2001: 83.5 Percentage2002: 83.3 Percentage2003: 60.2 Percentage2004: 61.4 Percentage2005: 60.2 Percentage2006: 56 Percentage2007: 56.6 Percentage2008: 56.8 Percentage2009: 60.9 Percentage2010: 60.2 Percentage2011: 58.2 Percentage2012: 57 Percentage2013: 60.9 Percentage2014: 60.2 Percentage2015: 59 Percentage2016: 58.2 Percentage2017: 58 Percentage2018: 57 Percentage2019: 55.4 Percentage2020: 52.9 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in France is 52.9%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 12.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in France peaked at 90.7% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 52.9%, in 2020.

That places France 22nd out of 43 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in France, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment in France, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 90.2%
1999 90.7% +0.6%
2000 89.7% -1.1%
2001 83.5% -6.9%
2002 83.3% -0.2%
2003 60.2% -27.7%
2004 61.4% +2.0%
2005 60.2% -2.0%
2006 56.0% -7.0%
2007 56.6% +1.1%
2008 56.8% +0.4%
2009 60.9% +7.2%
2010 60.2% -1.1%
2011 58.2% -3.3%
2012 57.0% -2.1%
2013 60.9% +6.8%
2014 60.2% -1.1%
2015 59.0% -2.0%
2016 58.2% -1.4%
2017 58.0% -0.3%
2018 57.0% -1.7%
2019 55.4% -2.8%
2020 52.9% -4.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 90.5% 90.2% 90.7% 2
2000s 66.9% 56.0% 89.7% 10
2010s 58.4% 55.4% 60.9% 10
2020s 52.9% 52.9% 52.9% 1

Countries ranked near France

  1. 19 Belgium 56.4% compare
  2. 20 Poland 55.2% compare
  3. 20 Poland 55.2% compare
  4. 23 North Macedonia 51.9% compare
  5. 24 Iceland 46.1% compare
  6. 25 Bulgaria 46.0% compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More work & labour data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in France?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in France was 52.9% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 90.7% in 1999.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 52.9% in 2020.
How does France rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
France ranks 22nd out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.1%. 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 Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in France. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment-2/france/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
43 places, 931 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed