Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in France
France: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 7.7 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in France, 1995–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in France is 7.7, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in France peaked at 12.57 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 7.3, in 2022.
That places France 22nd out of 78 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 11.83 | — |
| 1996 | 12.37 | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 12.57 | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 12.07 | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 11.98 | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 10.22 | -14.7% |
| 2001 | 8.61 | -15.7% |
| 2002 | 8.7 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 8.31 | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 8.91 | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 8.88 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 8.83 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 8.01 | -9.3% |
| 2008 | 7.39 | -7.8% |
| 2009 | 9.12 | +23.5% |
| 2010 | 9.28 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 9.23 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 9.84 | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 9.91 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 10.27 | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 10.35 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 10.06 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 9.41 | -6.4% |
| 2018 | 9.02 | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 8.41 | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 8.01 | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 7.87 | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 7.3 | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 7.33 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 7.44 | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 7.7 | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.16 | 11.83 | 12.57 | 5 |
| 2000s | 8.7 | 7.39 | 10.22 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.58 | 8.41 | 10.35 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.61 | 7.3 | 8.01 | 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 rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in France?
- Unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in France was 7.7 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 12.57 in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3 in 2022.
- How does France rank for unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- France ranks 22nd out of 78 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.