Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in France
France: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 7.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
7.6%
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
69th
of 181 countries
All-time high
14.5%
in 1996
All-time low
4.5%
in 1973
Years of data
55
1971–2025
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in France, 1971–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
France recorded 7.6% for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and down 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in France peaked at 14.5% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 1973.
That places France 69th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.5% | — |
| 1972 | 4.6% | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 4.5% | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 4.8% | +5.7% |
| 1975 | 6.1% | +27.1% |
| 1976 | 6.8% | +12.1% |
| 1977 | 7.5% | +9.4% |
| 1978 | 7.5% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 9.0% | +19.1% |
| 1980 | 9.9% | +10.5% |
| 1981 | 11.1% | +11.8% |
| 1982 | 11.6% | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 10.5% | -10.0% |
| 1984 | 12.1% | +15.6% |
| 1985 | 12.6% | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 12.3% | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 13.5% | +9.8% |
| 1988 | 12.8% | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 12.6% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 12.2% | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 11.6% | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 12.8% | +10.4% |
| 1993 | 13.4% | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 14.5% | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 14.1% | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 14.5% | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 14.4% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 14.1% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 13.9% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 12.2% | -12.3% |
| 2001 | 10.5% | -13.8% |
| 2002 | 9.8% | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 9.1% | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 9.9% | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 9.8% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 9.7% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 8.6% | -11.2% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | +18.3% |
| 2010 | 9.6% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 9.7% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 9.8% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 10.0% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 9.9% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 9.9% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 9.4% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 9.1% | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 8.4% | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 8.0% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 7.8% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 7.1% | -8.2% |
| 2023 | 7.2% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 7.3% | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 7.6% | +4.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 7.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.5%, 1.4× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- France's 7.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.0%, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.1% | 4.5% | 9.0% | 9 |
| 1980s | 11.9% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.5% | 11.6% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.7% | 7.9% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 8.4% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.5% | 7.1% | 8.0% | 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 unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in France?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in France was 7.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 14.5% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 1973.
- How does France rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- France ranks 69th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.