View source for Economy of France

{{Short description|None}}
{{About|the current economic situation of France|historical information|Economic history of France}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox economy
| country = France
| image = File:La Défense depuis l'Arc de Triomphe Janvier 2023.jpg
| image_size = 310px
| caption = [[La Défense]], the financial hub of France
| currency = [[Euro]] (EUR, €)
| year = Calendar year
| organs = [[European Union|EU]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]], [[G-20 major economies|G-20]], [[Group of Seven|G7]] and [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]]
| group = {{plainlist|
*[[Developed country|Advanced economy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/April/groups-and-aggregates |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2024 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=29 April 2024}}</ref>
*[[World Bank high-income economy|High-income economy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups |title=World Bank Country and Lending Groups |publisher=[[World Bank]] |website=datahelpdesk.worldbank.org |access-date=29 September 2019 |archive-date=28 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028223324/https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Welfare state]]<ref name="France_oecd"/><ref name="Kenworthy"/> }}
| population = 68,043,000 (February 2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/en/statistiques/serie/001641607?idbank=001641607|title=Titre &#124; Insee|website=www.insee.fr|access-date=9 January 2022|archive-date=8 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108091805/https://www.insee.fr/en/statistiques/serie/001641607?idbank=001641607|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gdp = {{plainlist|
*$3.130 trillion ([[GDP (nominal)|nominal]]; 2024)<ref name="IMFWEOFR">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/April/weo-report?c=132,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,GGXWDG,GGXWDG_NGDP,BCA,&sy=2021&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2024 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref>
*$3.988 trillion ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]; 2024)<ref name="IMFWEOFR"/>
}}
| gdp rank = {{plainlist|
*[[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|7th (nominal; 2024)]]
*[[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|10th (PPP; 2024)]]}}
| growth = {{plainlist|   
* 0.9%&nbsp;(2023) 
* 0.7%&nbsp;(2024)<ref name="IMFWEOFR"/>
}}
| per capita = {{plainlist|
*$47,359 (nominal; 2024)<ref name="IMFWEOFR"/>
*$60,339 (PPP; 2024)<ref name="IMFWEOFR"/>
}}
| per capita rank = {{plainlist|
*[[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|23rd (nominal; 2024)]]
*[[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|26th (PPP; 2024)]]}}
| cpi = {{increase}} 71 out of 100 points (2023)<ref name="ti_2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023 |date=30 January 2024 |title=Corruption Perceptions Index |website=[[Transparency International]] |access-date=15 July 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130062042/https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> ([[Corruption Perceptions Index#Ranking over Time|21st]])
| sectors = {{plainlist|
*[[Primary sector of the economy|agriculture]]: 1.7%
*[[Secondary sector of the economy|industry]]: 19.5%
*[[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]]: 78.8%
*(2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFFR">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/france/ |title=The World Factbook |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |website=CIA.gov |access-date=1 February 2021 |archive-date=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316080837/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/france/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| inflation = {{plainlist|
*5.7% (2023)
*2.4% (2024)
*1.8% (2025)<ref name="IMFWEOFR"/>}}
| poverty = {{plainlist|
*5.5% or 13.2% with DOM-TOM
*20.4% at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE, 2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tepsr_lm410/default/table?lang=en |title=People at risk of poverty or social exclusion |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat}}</ref>}}
| gini = 29.7 {{color|green|low}} (2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat}}</ref>
| hdi = {{plainlist|
*0.910 {{color|darkgreen|very high}} (2022)<ref name="frhdi">{{Cite web |date=13 March 2024 |title=Human Development Report 2023/2024 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2024 |access-date=28 April 2024 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |language=en}}</ref> ([[List of countries by Human Development Index|28th]])
*0.820 {{color|darkgreen|very high}}  [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted Human Development Index|IHDI]] (2022)[[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI| (28th)]]<ref name="frhdi"/>}}
| labor = {{plainlist|
*30,394,934 (2020, [[International Labour Organization|ILO]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN?locations=FR&most_recent_value_desc=true |title=Labor force, total – France |publisher=[[World Bank]] & [[International Labour Organization|ILO]] |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=28 September 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029000004/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN?locations=FR&most_recent_value_desc=true |url-status=live }}</ref>
*{{increasePositive}} 74.4% employment rate (2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Employment_-_annual_statistics |title=Employment rate by sex, age group 20-64 |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref>}}
| occupations = {{plainlist|
*[[Primary sector of the economy|agriculture]]: 2.8%
*[[Secondary sector of the economy|industry]]: 20%
*[[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]]: 77.2%
*(2016 est.)<ref name="CIAWFFR"/>}}
| average gross salary = [[List of European countries by average wage|€3,462 /monthly]] (2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/7dab7e4b-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/7dab7e4b-en | title=Home }}</ref>
| average net salary = [[List of European countries by average wage|€2,468 /monthly]] (2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/taxation/taxing-wages-2023_8c99fa4d-en#page172 | title=Taxing Wages 2023: Indexation of Labour Taxation and Benefits in OECD Countries &#124; READ online }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/8c99fa4d-en/1/3/1/6/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/8c99fa4d-en&_csp_=f4d3c57328afb7f1cbd530cb119213be&itemIGO=oecd&itemContentType=book | title=Home }}</ref>
| unemployment = {{plainlist|
*7.0% (Q2, 2023)<ref name="Euro area unemployment at 6.5%">{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/17075197/3-30062023-BP-EN.pdf|publisher=[[Eurostat]] |date=May 2023 |title=Euro area unemployment at 6.5 |access-date=July 3, 2023}}</ref>
*17.2% youth unemployment (15 to 24-year-olds, Q4 2021)<ref name="Euro area unemployment at 6.5%"/>}}
| industries = {{hlist| [[Machinery]]| [[chemicals]]| [[automobiles]]| [[metallurgy]]| aircraft| [[electronics]]| textiles| [[food processing]]| tourism }}
| edbr = {{steady}} [[Ease of doing business index#Ranking|32nd (very easy, 2020)]]<ref name="World Bank and International Financial Corporation">{{cite web |url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/france |title=Ease of Doing Business in France |publisher=Doingbusiness.org |access-date=21 November 2017 |archive-date=14 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014101551/http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/france |url-status=live }}</ref>
| exports = $746.9&nbsp;billion ([[List of countries by exports|5th]]; 2020 est.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/exports/country-comparison|title=Country Comparisons - Exports|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|website=CIA.gov|access-date=9 January 2022|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109131401/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/exports/country-comparison|url-status=live}}</ref>
| export-goods = machinery and equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
| export-partners = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|Germany}} 14.8%
*{{flag|Spain}} 7.7%
*{{flag|Italy}} 7.5%
*{{flag|United States}} 7.2%
*{{flag|Belgium}} 7%
*{{flag|United Kingdom}} 6.7%
*(2017)<ref name="CIAWFFR"/>}}
| imports = $803.6&nbsp;billion ([[List of countries by imports|4th]]; 2020 est.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/imports/country-comparison|title=Country Comparisons - Imports|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|website=CIA.gov|access-date=9 January 2022|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108225217/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/imports/country-comparison/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| import-goods = machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals
| import-partners = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|Germany}} 18.5%
*{{flag|Belgium}} 10.2%
*{{flag|Netherlands}} 8.3%
*{{flag|Italy}} 7.9%
*{{flag|Spain}} 7.1%
*{{flag|United Kingdom}} 5.3%
*{{flag|United States}} 5.2%
*{{flag|China}} 5.1%
*(2017)<ref name="CIAWFFR"/>}}
| current account = 10.604&nbsp;billion (2021)<ref name="IMFWEOFR"/>
| FDI = {{plainlist|
*$858.3&nbsp;billion (31 December 2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFFR"/>
*Abroad: $1.429 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFFR"/>}}
| gross external debt = $5.250&nbsp;trillion (31 March 2017)<ref>{{cite web|title=Banque de France|url=http://webstat.banque-france.fr/en/browseTable.do?node=5384921|access-date=9 July 2017|archive-date=17 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117104854/http://webstat.banque-france.fr/en/browseTable.do?node=5384921|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| debt = {{plainlist|
*112.6% of GDP (2021)<ref name="IMFWEOFR"/>
*€2.813&nbsp;trillion (2021)<ref name="IMFWEOFR"/>}}
| revenue = 52.5% of GDP (2021)<ref name="InseeDashboard"/>
| expenses = 59% of GDP (2021)<ref name="InseeDashboard"/>
| balance = {{plainlist|
*€163.3&nbsp;billion deficit (2021)<ref name="InseeDashboard">{{cite web |title=French Economy Dashboard - Public Finance |url=https://www.insee.fr/en/outil-interactif/5543645/tableau/10_ECC/15_FIN |website=Insee |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref>
*−6.5% of GDP (2021)<ref name="InseeDashboard"/>}}
| credit = {{plainlist|
*[[Standard & Poor's]]:<ref name="s&p-srl">{{cite web|url = https://www.globalcreditportal.com/ratingsdirect/renderArticle.do?articleId=1780963&SctArtId=412609&from=CM&nsl_code=LIME&sourceObjectId=9936460&sourceRevId=1&fee_ind=N&exp_date=20270106-21:38:13|title = Sovereign Ratings List|publisher = Standard & Poor's|date = 6 January 2017|access-date = 6 June 2015|archive-date = 31 July 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170731071506/https://www.globalcreditportal.com/ratingsdirect/renderArticle.do?articleId=1780963&SctArtId=412609&from=CM&nsl_code=LIME&sourceObjectId=9936460&sourceRevId=1&fee_ind=N&exp_date=20270106-21:38:13|url-status = live}} Note: this source is continually updated.</ref> 
{{hlist|AA |Outlook: Stable}}
*[[Moody's]]:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-downgrades-Frances-government-bond-ratings-to-Aa2-from-Aa1--PR_334715|title=Moody's downgrades France's government bond ratings to Aa2 from Aa1; outlook changed to stable from negative|date=1 September 2015|website=Moody's Investors Service|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921153646/https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-downgrades-Frances-government-bond-ratings-to-Aa2-from-Aa1--PR_334715|archive-date=21 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{hlist|Aa2 |Outlook: Stable}}
*[[Fitch Group|Fitch]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/frances-credit-downgraded-to-aa-at-fitch-ratings-2014-12-12 |title=France's credit downgraded to AA at Fitch Ratings – MarketWatch |access-date=12 December 2014 |archive-date=13 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213025007/http://www.marketwatch.com/story/frances-credit-downgraded-to-aa-at-fitch-ratings-2014-12-12 |url-status=live }}</ref> 
{{hlist|AA |Outlook: Stable}}
*Scope:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scoperatings.com/ratings-and-research/rating/EN/177885 |title=Scope downgrades France’s long-term ratings to AA- and revises the Outlooks to Stable |access-date=20 October 2024 }}</ref> 
{{hlist|AA- |Outlook: Stable}}
}}
| aid = {{plainlist|
*€14.4 billion from [[Regional policy of the European Union|European Structural and Investment Funds]] (2007–2013)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/country2009/fr_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225203037/https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/country2009/fr_en.pdf |archive-date=25 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*€26.73 billion from [[Regional policy of the European Union|European Structural and Investment Funds]] (2014–2020)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/policy/what/investment-policy/esif-country-factsheet/esi_funds_country_factsheet_fr_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420135423/http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/policy/what/investment-policy/esif-country-factsheet/esi_funds_country_factsheet_fr_en.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| reserves = 209&nbsp;billion euro (February 2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Les réserves nettes de change |url=https://www.tresor.economie.gouv.fr/Articles/2021/01/15/les-reserves-nettes-de-change |website=Direction générale du Trésor |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref>
}}
The economy of [[France]]<!-- DO NOT BOLD, see [[WP:SBE]] for further guidance --> is a [[Developed country|highly developed]] [[social market economy]] with notable [[State-owned enterprise|state participation]] in strategic sectors.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Prasad |first1=Monica |author-link=Monica Prasad |date=2006 |title=The Politics of Free Markets: The Rise of Neoliberal Economic Policies in Britain, France, Germany, and the United States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7OzkOJURFJIC&q=France+is+a+market+economy |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |page=328 |isbn=9780226679020 |access-date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114115709/https://books.google.com/books?id=7OzkOJURFJIC&q=France+is+a+market+economy |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the world's [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|seventh-largest]] economy by nominal GDP and the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|ninth-largest]] economy by [[Purchasing Power Parity|PPP]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October|title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2022|date=October 2022|website=IMF.org|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]|access-date=October 11, 2022|archive-date=24 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024195215/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/|url-status=live}}</ref> constituting around 4% of [[world GDP]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/economy/global-economy-watch/projections.html|website=PWC|title=Global Economy Watch - Projections > Real GDP / Inflation > Share of 2016 world GDP|access-date=23 June 2017|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019092523/http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/economy/global-economy-watch/projections.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to a volatile currency [[exchange rate]], France's GDP as measured in dollars fluctuates sharply, being smaller in 2024 than in 2008. France has a diversified economy,<ref>[https://www.eulerhermes.com/en_global/economic-research/country-reports/France.html Country profile: France] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001071241/https://www.eulerhermes.com/en_global/economic-research/country-reports/France.html |date=1 October 2020 }}, [[Euler Hermes]]</ref> that is dominated by the [[service sector]] (which in 2017 represented 78.8% of its GDP), whilst the [[industrial sector]] accounted for 19.5% of its GDP and the [[primary sector]] accounted for the remaining 1.7%.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/france/ Country profil: France] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316080837/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/france/ |date=16 March 2022 }}, [[CIA World factbook]]</ref> In 2020, France was the largest [[Foreign Direct Investment]] recipient in Europe,<ref name="FDI"/> and Europe's second largest spender in [[research and development]].<ref>[http://uis.unesco.org/apps/visualisations/research-and-development-spending/ How does your country invest in R&D ?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123180417/http://uis.unesco.org/apps/visualisations/research-and-development-spending/ |date=23 January 2019 }}, [[UNESCO Institute for Statistics]] (retrieved on 27 September 2020)</ref> It was ranked among the 10 most [[Innovation|innovative]] countries in the world by the 2020 [[Bloomberg Innovation Index]],<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-10-most-innovative-countries-bloomberg-says-2020-1?IR=T These are the world's most innovative countries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924103951/https://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-10-most-innovative-countries-bloomberg-says-2020-1?IR=T |date=24 September 2021 }}, [[Business Insider]]</ref> as well as the 15th most competitive nation globally according to the 2019 [[Global Competitiveness Report#2019 rankings|Global Competitiveness Report]] (up 2 notches compared to 2018).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2019.pdf|title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2019|access-date=17 September 2020|archive-date=9 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009004538/http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2019.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> It was [[#External trade|the fifth-largest trading nation in the world]] (and second in Europe after Germany). [[Tourism in France|France is also the most visited destination in the world]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/tourism/tourism-business-portal/documents/business/internationalisation/france_country_report.pdf|title=Tourism industry sub-sectors: COUNTRY REPORT – FRANCE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217192231/http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/tourism/tourism-business-portal/documents/business/internationalisation/france_country_report.pdf|archive-date=17 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/unwto_highlights14_en_hr_0.pdf|title=UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2014 Edition|year=2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217141742/http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/unwto_highlights14_en_hr_0.pdf|archive-date=17 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as the [[European Union]]'s leading agricultural power.<ref>[https://import-export.societegenerale.fr/en/country/france/market-sectors France: the market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219011017/https://import-export.societegenerale.fr/en/country/france/market-sectors |date=19 February 2021 }}, [[Société Générale]] (latest Update: September 2020)</ref>

According to the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF), in 2023, France was the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|world's 23rd country by GDP per capita]] with $44,408 per inhabitant. In 2021, France was listed on the United Nations's [[Human Development Index]] with a value of 0.903 (indicating very high human development) and 22nd on the [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] in 2021.<ref name="HDIFR">{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/2018-update |title=Human Development Index 2018 Statistical Update |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |website=hdr.undp.org |access-date=10 October 2022 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118122652/http://hdr.undp.org/en/2018-update |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transparency.org/files/content/pages/CPI_2018_Executive_Summary_EN.pdf |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2018 Executive summary p. 2 |publisher=[[Transparency International]] |website=transparency.org |access-date=10 October 2022 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202071311/https://www.transparency.org/files/content/pages/CPI_2018_Executive_Summary_EN.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Among [[OECD]] members, France has a highly efficient and strong [[Social security in France|social security system]], which comprises [[Welfare state#Effects|roughly 31.7% of GDP]].<ref name="Kenworthy">{{Cite journal |jstor = 3005973|title = Do Social-Welfare Policies Reduce Poverty? A Cross-National Assessment|journal = Social Forces|volume = 77|issue = 3|pages = 1119–1139|last1 = Kenworthy|first1 = Lane|year = 1999|doi = 10.2307/3005973|url = http://www.lisdatacenter.org/wps/liswps/188.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130810134045/http://www.lisdatacenter.org/wps/liswps/188.pdf|archive-date = 10 August 2013|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="Bradley et al.">{{Cite journal |jstor = 3088901|title = Determinants of Relative Poverty in Advanced Capitalist Democracies|journal = American Sociological Review|volume = 68|issue = 1|pages = 22–51|last1 = Moller|first1 = Stephanie|last2 = Huber|first2 = Evelyne|last3 = Stephens|first3 = John D.|last4 = Bradley|first4 = David|last5 = Nielsen|first5 = François|year = 2003|doi = 10.2307/3088901}}</ref><ref name="France_oecd">{{Cite web | url=http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SOCX_AGG | title=Social Expenditure – Aggregated data|work=[[OECD]]}}</ref>    

[[Paris]] is a leading [[global city]], and has one of the largest city GDP in the world.<ref>[https://www.iied.org/global-geography-world-cities The global geography of world cities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914131043/https://www.iied.org/global-geography-world-cities |date=14 September 2020 }}, iied, 9 July 2020</ref> It ranks as the first city in Europe (and 3rd worldwide) by the number of companies classified in ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'''s [[Fortune Global 500]].<ref>[https://parisladefense.com/en/choisir-paris-la-defense 10 reasons to move to Paris La Défense] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104144655/https://parisladefense.com/en/choisir-paris-la-defense |date=4 November 2020 }}, Official website of [[Paris La Défense]]</ref> [[Paris region|Paris]] produced US$738 billion (or US$882 billion at [[Gross domestic product#Cross-border comparison and purchasing power parity|market exchange rates]]) or around 1/3 of the French economy in 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/regions/data/database|title=Database - Regions - Eurostat|access-date=25 February 2022|archive-date=22 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131047/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/regions/data/database|url-status=live}}</ref> while the economy of the [[Paris metropolitan area]]—the largest in Europe with London—generates around 1/3 of France's GDP or around $1.0 trillion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Wealth PPP Distribution: Who Are The Leaders Of The Global Economy? - Full Size|url=https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Global-Wealth-PPP-Distribution.html|access-date=2021-10-21|website=www.visualcapitalist.com|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020135357/https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Global-Wealth-PPP-Distribution.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Paris has been ranked as the 2nd most attractive global city in the world in 2019 by [[KPMG]].<ref>[https://gp-investment-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GlobalCitiesInvestmentMonitor2019web-compressed.pdf Global Cities Investment Monitor 2019] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520084454/https://gp-investment-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GlobalCitiesInvestmentMonitor2019web-compressed.pdf |date=20 May 2021 }}, ''[[KPMG]]'', 2019</ref> [[La Défense]], Paris's Central Business District, was ranked by [[Ernst & Young]] in 2017 as the leading business district in [[continental Europe]], and fourth in the world.<ref>[https://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-the-attractiveness-of-world-class-business-districts/$FILE/ey-the-attractiveness-of-world-class-business-districts.pdf The attractiveness of world-class business districts: Paris La Défense vs. its global competitors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718045821/https://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-the-attractiveness-of-world-class-business-districts/$FILE/ey-the-attractiveness-of-world-class-business-districts.pdf |date=18 July 2020 }}, [[Ernst & Young|EY]], November 2017</ref> The [[OECD]] is headquartered in Paris, the nation's financial capital. The other major economic centres of the country include [[Lyon]], [[Toulouse]] (centre of the European aerospace industry), [[Marseille]] and [[Lille]].

France's economy entered the [[Late-2000s recession|recession of the late 2000s]] later and appeared to leave it earlier than most affected economies, only enduring four-quarters of contraction.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2009/08/13/news/international/europe_economy.reut/index.htm|agency=CNN|title=Germany, France pull out of recession|date=13 August 2009|access-date=3 August 2020|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811142734/https://money.cnn.com/2009/08/13/news/international/europe_economy.reut/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> However, France experienced stagnant growth between 2012 and 2014, with the economy expanding by 0% in 2012, 0.8% in 2013 and 0.2% in 2014. Growth picked up in 2015 with a growth of 0.8%. This was followed by a growth of 1.1% for 2016, a growth of 2.2% for 2017, and a growth of 2.1% for 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2015/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=84&pr.y=2&sy=2010&ey=2020&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=132&s=NGDP_RPCH&grp=0&a=|title=5. Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|publisher=International Monetary Fund|access-date=12 February 2016|archive-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011005735/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2015/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=84&pr.y=2&sy=2010&ey=2020&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=132&s=NGDP_RPCH&grp=0&a=|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to INSEE (2021), non-financial and non-agricultural medium-sized firms employed 3 million full-time equivalent employees (24.3% of the workforce), accounted for 27% of investment, 30% of turnover, and 26% of value added, despite accounting for only 1.6% of total firms in France.<ref name=":188">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230277-hidden-champions-missed-opportunities-mid-caps-crucial-role-in-europe-s-economic-transition |title=Hidden champions, missed opportunities: Mid-caps' crucial role in Europe's economic transition |date=2024-01-10 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5731-8 |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gross value added, compensation of employees and domestic employment by industry in 2021 − The national accounts in 2021 {{!}} Insee |url=https://www.insee.fr/en/statistiques/6439409?sommaire=6439453 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=www.insee.fr}}</ref>

== Corporations ==
{{Further|List of companies of France}}
{{See also|List of largest French companies}}
With 31 companies that are part of the [[Fortune Global 500#Breakdown by country|world's biggest 500 companies]], France was in 2020 the most represented European country in the 2020 [[Fortune Global 500]], ahead of Germany (27 companies) and the UK (22).<ref name="forbes">{{Cite web|title=Global 500|url=https://fortune.com/global500/2020/|access-date=10 August 2020|website=Fortune|language=en|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214224415/https://fortune.com/global500/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of August 2020, France was also the country that weighed the most on the Eurozone's [[EURO STOXX 50]] (representing 36.4% of all total assets), ahead of Germany (35.2%).<ref>[https://www.stoxx.com/document/Bookmarks/CurrentFactsheets/SX5GT.pdf EURO STOXX 50] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001073813/https://www.stoxx.com/document/Bookmarks/CurrentFactsheets/SX5GT.pdf |date=1 October 2020 }}, 31 August 2020</ref>

Several French corporations rank amongst the largest in their industries such as [[AXA]] in insurance and [[Air France-KLM|Air France]] in air transportation.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Global 2000 Leading Companies |magazine= [[Forbes]]|url= https://www.forbes.com/global2000/list/#header:revenue_sortreverse:true_industry:Airline |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110423003358/http://www.forbes.com/global2000/list#header:revenue_sortreverse:true_industry:Airline |url-status= dead |archive-date= 23 April 2011 |date= May 2015 }}</ref> Luxury and consumer goods are particularly relevant, with [[L'Oreal]] being the world's largest cosmetic company while [[LVMH]] and [[PPR (company)|Kering]] are the world's two largest luxury product companies. In energy and utilities, [[Engie|GDF-Suez]] and [[Électricité de France|EDF]] are amongst the largest energy companies in the world, and [[Areva]] is a large nuclear-energy company; [[Veolia Environnement]] is the world's largest environmental services and water management company; [[Vinci SA]], [[Bouygues]] and [[Eiffage]] are large construction companies; [[Michelin]] ranks in the top 3 tire manufacturers; [[JCDecaux]] is the world's largest outdoor advertising corporation; [[BNP Paribas]], [[Credit Agricole]] and [[Société Générale]] rank amongst the largest banks in the world by assets. [[Capgemini]] and [[Atos]] are among the largest technology consulting companies.

[[Carrefour]] is the world's second-largest retail group in terms of revenue; [[Total SE|Total]] is the world's fourth-largest private oil company; [[Lactalis]] is the world's largest dairy products group; [[Sanofi]] is the world's fifth-largest pharmaceutical company; [[Publicis]] is the world's third-largest advertising company; [[Groupe PSA]] is the world's 6th and Europe's 2nd largest automaker; [[Accor]] is the leading European hotel group; [[Alstom]] is one of the world's leading conglomerates in rail transport.

In 2022, the sector with the highest number of companies registered in France is Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate with 2,656,178 companies followed by Services and Retail Trade with 2,090,320 and 549,395 companies respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hithorizons.com/eu/analyses/country-statistics/france | title=Industry Breakdown of Companies in France | website=HitHorizons}}</ref>

== Rise and decline of dirigisme ==
France embarked on an ambitious and very successful programme of modernisation under state coordination. This programme of ''[[dirigisme]]'', mostly implemented by governments between 1944 and 1983, involved the state control of certain industries such as transportation, energy and telecommunications as well as various incentives for private corporations to merge or engage in certain projects.

The 1981 election of president [[François Mitterrand]] saw a short-lived increase in governmental control of the economy, nationalizing many industries and private banks. This form of increased ''dirigisme'', was criticised as early as 1982. By 1983, the government decided to renounce ''dirigisme'' and start an era of [[austerity|rigueur]] ("rigor") or corporation. As a result, the government largely retreated from economic intervention; ''dirigisme'' has now essentially receded, though some of its traits remain. The French economy grew and changed under government direction and planning much more than in other European countries.

Despite being a widely liberalised economy, the government continues to play a significant role in the economy: government spending, at 56% of GDP in 2014, is the second-highest in the European Union. Labor conditions and wages are highly regulated. The government continues to own shares in corporations in several sectors, including energy production and distribution, automobiles, aerospace industry, shipbuilding, the [[arms industry]], electronics industry, machine industry, metallurgy, fuels, chemical industry, transportation, and telecommunications.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.economie.gouv.fr/agence-participations-etat | title=L'Agence des participations de l'État | access-date=20 April 2022 | archive-date=19 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419114640/https://www.economie.gouv.fr/agence-participations-etat | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.caissedesdepots.fr/en | title=Groupe Caisse des Dépôts &#124; Ensemble, faisons grandir la France | access-date=20 April 2022 | archive-date=23 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423193342/https://www.caissedesdepots.fr/en | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Government finance ==
{{See also|Budget of France|Taxation in France}}

[[File:Public Deficit of France.png|thumb|250px|left|French Government borrowing ([[budget deficits]]) as a percentage of GNP, 1960–2009]]
[[File:French bonds.webp|thumb|250px|left|French bonds
{{legend-line|#002654 solid 3px|50 year}}
{{legend-line|#ED2939 solid 3px|20 year}}
{{legend-line|#929292 solid 3px|10 year}}
{{legend-line|#F8BA00 solid 3px|2 year}}
{{legend-line|#FF95CA solid 3px|1 year}}
{{legend-line|#D41876 solid 3px|3 month}}
]]
[[File:Dette publique france percent du PIB.png|thumb|250px|France's public debt from 1978 to 2009]]
[[File:French economy 2016 - expenditures.png|thumb|250px|Composition of the French economy (GDP) in 2016 by expenditure type]]
In April and May 2012, France held a [[2012 French presidential election|presidential election]] in which the winner [[François Hollande]] had opposed austerity measures, promising to eliminate France's budget deficit by 2017. The new government stated that it aimed to cancel recently enacted tax cuts and exemptions for the wealthy, raising the top tax bracket rate to 75% on incomes over a million euros, restoring the retirement age to 60 with a full pension for those who have worked 42 years, restoring 60,000 jobs recently cut from public education, regulating rent increases; and building additional public housing for the poor.

In June 2012, Hollande's [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] won an overall majority in the [[2012 French legislative election|legislative elections]], giving it the capability to amend the [[Constitution of France|French Constitution]] and allowing immediate enactment of the promised reforms. French government bond interest rates fell 30% to record lows,<ref>Bloomberg (2012) [https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GFRN10:IND French government bond interest rates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507014652/https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GFRN10:IND |date=7 May 2021 }} (graph)</ref> less than 50 [[basis point]]s above German government bond rates.<ref>Bloomberg (2012) [https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GDBR10:IND German government bond interest rates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206044959/https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GDBR10:IND |date=6 February 2020 }} (graph)</ref>

Hollande's successor as President of France, [[Emmanuel Macron]], a centrist politician, took office in May 2017. His aim was to revive the euro zone’s second-largest economy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Measuring France under Macron |url=http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/rngs/FRANCE-ECONOMY-MACRON/010062QR4K5/index.html |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Reuters}}</ref>

In July 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the French government issued 10-years bonds which had negative interest rates, for the first time in its history (which means that investors buying French bonds will pay, rather than receive, interest for owning French sovereign debt).<ref>[https://www.france24.com/en/20190704-france-issues-first-10-year-bond-negative-interest-rate France issues first 10-year bond at negative interest rate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019121838/https://www.france24.com/en/20190704-france-issues-first-10-year-bond-negative-interest-rate |date=19 October 2021 }}, [[France 24]], 4 July 2020</ref>

France possesses in 2020 the [[Gold reserve#Officially reported holdings|fourth-largest gold reserves]] in the world.<ref>[http://www.usfunds.com/investor-library/frank-talk/top-10-countries-with-largest-gold-reserves/#.X3EDMWgzY2w Top 10 Countries with Largest Gold Reserves] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208004830/https://usfunds.com/investor-library/frank-talk/top-10-countries-with-largest-gold-reserves/#.X3EDMWgzY2w |date=8 February 2021 }}, US Global Investors, September 2020</ref>

Macron vowed in May 2023 to build factories, boost job creations and make [[France]] more independent, shaked by [[2023 French pension reform strikes|pension protests]].<ref>{{cite web |date=15 May 2023|title=Macron vows to build back factories, boost France's economy shaken by pension protests|website=[[Associated Press News]] |url=https://apnews.com/505393a2371e6bfd4714ddbbbed25ff1}}</ref>

=== National debt ===

The Government of France has run a [[budget deficit]] each year since the early 1970s. As of 2021, French government debt reached an equivalent of 118.6% of French GDP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/GGXWDG_NGDP@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD/FJI/COL/FRA|title=World Economic Outlook – General government gross debt|website=imf.org|access-date=1 February 2021|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521023916/https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/GGXWDG_NGDP@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD/FJI/COL/FRA|url-status=live}}</ref>

Under European Union rules, member states are supposed to limit their debt to 60% of output or be reducing the ratio structurally towards this ceiling, and run public deficits of no more than 3.0% of GDP.<ref name="france1">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20120928-french-debt-jumps-minister-promises-meet-deficit-target|title=French debt jumps, minister promises to meet deficit target|date=28 September 2012|publisher=FRANCE 24|access-date=27 November 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In late 2012, [[Credit rating agency|credit-rating agencies]] warned that growing French government debt levels risked [[List of countries by credit rating|France's AAA credit rating]], raising the possibility of a future credit downgrade and subsequent higher borrowing costs for the French government.<ref>{{cite news |last=John |first=Mark |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-debt-idUSBRE89P0SO20121026 |title=Analysis: Low French borrowing costs risk negative reappraisal |work=Reuters |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=27 November 2012 |archive-date=2 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502014859/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/us-france-debt-idUSBRE89P0SO20121026 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012 France was downgraded by ratings agencies [[Moody's Investors Service|Moody's]], [[Standard & Poor]]'s (S&P), and [[Fitch Ratings|Fitch]] to an AA+ credit rating.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16552623 | work=BBC News | title=France loses AAA rating as euro governments downgraded | date=13 January 2012 | access-date=21 June 2018 | archive-date=22 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922233003/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16552623 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-12/france-loses-top-credit-rating-as-fitch-cites-lack-of-growth.html | work=Bloomberg | first=Mark | last=Deen | title=France Loses Top Credit Rating as Fitch Cites Lack of Growth | date=12 July 2013 | access-date=6 March 2017 | archive-date=22 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222154216/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-12/france-loses-top-credit-rating-as-fitch-cites-lack-of-growth.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2014 France's credit rating was further downgraded by Fitch and S&P to AA.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Deenpattern dots|first1=Mark|title=France's Credit Rating Cut by Fitch to 'AA'; Outlook Stable|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-12/france-s-credit-rating-cut-by-fitch-to-aa-outlook-stable|website=Bloomberg.com|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=12 March 2015|date=12 December 2014|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521023919/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-12/france-s-credit-rating-cut-by-fitch-to-aa-outlook-stable|url-status=live}}</ref>

Macron, shaken by pension protests, vowed in May 2023 to build factories, boost job creations and make France more independent.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 May 2023|title=Macron vows to build back factories, boost France's economy shaken by pension protests|website=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/505393a2371e6bfd4714ddbbbed25ff1}}</ref>

The Government of France experienced a significant shift in its [[bond market]] position on September 26, 2024, when its bond yield surpassed that of [[Spain]] for the first time since 2007.<ref name="bloomberg"/> The yield on 10-year French bonds reached 2.97%, slightly exceeding the yield on Spanish bonds of similar maturity, despite France's typically higher [[credit rating]].
This development raised concerns among investors about France's ability to manage its [[public finances]] effectively. France's bond yields were reported to be higher than those of [[Portugal]] and approaching levels seen in [[Italy]] and [[Greece]], countries traditionally viewed as having higher economic risks in the [[Eurozone]].<ref name="bloomberg">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-26/france-s-bond-yield-surpasses-spain-s-for-first-time-since-2007|title=France's Bond Yield Surpasses Spain's for First Time Since 2007|website=Bloomberg News|date=September 26, 2024|access-date=September 26, 2024}}</ref>

Furthermore, France faces a [[budget crisis]] in 2024, with the deficit at risk of exceeding 6% of GDP, significantly higher than the previous government's estimate of 5.1%. Newly appointed Finance Minister [[Antoine Armand]] and Budget Minister [[Laurent Saint-Martin]] pledged to focus on [[government spending|spending cuts]] before considering [[tax]] increases to address the fiscal shortfall. Prime Minister [[Michel Barnier]] was tasked with finalizing the 2025 budget within days, amidst pressure to present realistic plans for deficit reduction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stepping into budget crisis, French ministers pledge spending cuts |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/france-could-get-deficit-eu-limit-five-years-says-bank-france-head-2024-09-25/ |website=Reuters |date=26 September 2024 |access-date=27 September 2024}}</ref>

== Data ==
[[File:Economic growth of France.jpg|thumb|Change in per capita GDP of France, 1820–2018. Figures are inflation-adjusted to 2011 International dollars.]]
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2021 (with IMF staff estimates in 2022–2027). Inflation below 5% is in green.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=132,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,LUR,GGXWDG_NGDP,&sy=1980&ey=2027&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 | title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects | access-date=21 October 2022 | archive-date=21 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002202/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=132,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,LUR,GGXWDG_NGDP,&sy=1980&ey=2027&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 | url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Year
!GDP
(in Bil. US$PPP
!'''GDP per capita'''
<small>(in US$PPP)</small>
!'''GDP'''
'''(in Bil. US$nominal)'''
!'''GDP per capita'''
<small>(in US$ nominal)</small>
!GDP growth<br>(real)
!Inflation rate<br>(% per annum)
!Unemployment<br>rate
!Government<br>debt<br>(% of GDP)
|-
|1980
|578.2
|10,761.0
|702.2
|13,069.5
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}13.1%
|6.3%
|20.8%
|-
|1981
|{{Increase}}639.7
|{{Increase}}11,839.6
|{{Decrease}}619.0
|{{Decrease}}11,456.0
|{{Increase}}1.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}13.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}22.0%
|-
|1982
|{{Increase}}695.9
|{{Increase}}12,806.8
|{{Decrease}}588.0
|{{Decrease}}10,822.0
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}12.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}25.4%
|-
|1983
|{{Increase}}732.2
|{{Increase}}13,397.2
|{{Decrease}}562.5
|{{Decrease}}10,292.8
|{{Increase}}1.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}9.5%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}26.7%
|-
|1984
|{{Increase}}770.6
|{{Increase}}14,037.1
|{{Decrease}}532.3
|{{Decrease}}9,697.4
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}29.1%
|-
|1985
|{{Increase}}808.6
|{{Increase}}14,660.1
|{{Increase}}557.6
|{{Increase}}10,108.6
|{{Increase}}1.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}30.7%
|-
|1986
|{{Increase}}843.7
|{{Increase}}15,225.8
|{{Increase}}772.8
|{{Increase}}13,947.3
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}31.3%
|-
|1987
|{{Increase}}886.8
|{{Increase}}15,926.7
|{{Increase}}935.1
|{{Increase}}16,794.0
|{{Increase}}2.6%
|{{Increase}}3.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}9.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}33.7%
|-
|1988
|{{Increase}}960.2
|{{Increase}}17,157.3
|{{Increase}}1,020.9
|{{Increase}}18,241.0
|{{Increase}}4.6%
|{{Increase}}2.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}33.6%
|-
|1989
|{{Increase}}1,043.1
|{{Increase}}18,536.6
|{{Increase}}1,026.2
|{{Decrease}}18,236.8
|{{Increase}}4.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.6%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}34.4%
|-
|1990
|{{Increase}}1,113.4
|{{Increase}}19,680.1
|{{Increase}}1,272.4
|{{Increase}}22,490.3
|{{Increase}}2.9%
|{{Increase}}0.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}35.6%
|-
|1991
|{{Increase}}1,163.6
|{{Increase}}20,471.7
|{{Increase}}1,273.6
|{{Decrease}}22,406.4
|{{Increase}}1.1%
|{{Increase}}3.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}36.5%
|-
|1992
|{{Increase}}1,207.9
|{{Increase}}21,150.8
|{{Increase}}1,404.4
|{{Increase}}24,590.7
|{{Increase}}1.5%
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}9.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}40.2%
|-
|1993
|{{Increase}}1,228.1
|{{Increase}}21,407.8
|{{Decrease}}1,324.2
|{{Decrease}}23,082.7
|{{Decrease}}-0.7%
|{{Increase}}2.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}46.6%
|-
|1994
|{{Increase}}1,284.0
|{{Increase}}22,305.4
|{{Increase}}1,396.7
|{{Increase}}24,262.2
|{{Increase}}2.4%
|{{Increase}}1.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}49.9%
|-
|1995
|{{Increase}}1,340.6
|{{Increase}}23,212.9
|{{Increase}}1,602.1
|{{Increase}}27,741.3
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}10.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}56.1%
|-
|1996
|{{Increase}}1,383.6
|{{Increase}}23,882.3
|{{Increase}}1,606.0
|{{Decrease}}27,720.9
|{{Increase}}1.4%
|{{Increase}}2.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}60.0%
|-
|1997
|{{Increase}}1,440.4
|{{Increase}}24,784.8
|{{Decrease}}1,454.6
|{{Decrease}}25,028.5
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{Increase}}1.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}61.4%
|-
|1998
|{{Increase}}1,509.1
|{{Increase}}25,884.7
|{{Increase}}1,505.2
|{{Increase}}25,818.4
|{{Increase}}3.6%
|{{Increase}}0.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}10.7%
|{{Steady}}61.4%
|-
|1999
|{{Increase}}1,580.7
|{{Increase}}27,021.4
|{{Decrease}}1,494.6
|{{Decrease}}25,550.8
|{{Increase}}3.3%
|{{Increase}}0.6%
|{{DecreasePositive}}10.4%
|{{DecreasePositive}}60.5%
|-
|2000
|{{Increase}}1,683.0
|{{Increase}}28,594.2
|{{Decrease}}1,366.2
|{{Decrease}}23,212.5
|{{Increase}}4.1%
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}9.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}58.9%
|-
|2001
|{{Increase}}1,754.2
|{{Increase}}29,598.8
|{{Increase}}1,377.7
|{{Increase}}23,245.3
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.5%
|{{DecreasePositive}}58.3%
|-
|2002
|{{Increase}}1,802.5
|{{Increase}}30,199.5
|{{Increase}}1,500.3
|{{Increase}}25,137.4
|{{Increase}}1.2%
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}60.3%
|-
|2003
|{{Increase}}1,853.5
|{{Increase}}30,840.1
|{{Increase}}1,844.1
|{{Increase}}30,682.6
|{{Increase}}0.8%
|{{Increase}}2.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}64.4%
|-
|2004
|{{Increase}}1,951.9
|{{Increase}}32,260.2
|{{Increase}}2,118.7
|{{Increase}}35,016.2
|{{Increase}}2.6%
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}65.9%
|-
|2005
|{{Increase}}2,048.0
|{{Increase}}33,594.5
|{{Increase}}2,198.2
|{{Increase}}36,057.1
|{{Increase}}1.7%
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{Steady}}8.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}67.4%
|-
|2006
|{{Increase}}2,167.0
|{{Increase}}35,292.8
|{{Increase}}2,320.7
|{{Increase}}37,795.9
|{{Increase}}2.6%
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{Steady}}8.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}64.6%
|-
|2007
|{{Increase}}2,278.5
|{{Increase}}36,871.8
|{{Increase}}2,660.9
|{{Increase}}43,060.0
|{{Increase}}2.4%
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}64.5%
|-
|2008
|{{Increase}}2,325.8
|{{Increase}}37,432.1
|{{Increase}}2,930.0
|{{Increase}}47,155.2
|{{Increase}}0.2%
|{{Increase}}3.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}68.8%
|-
|2009
|{{Decrease}}2,275.5
|{{Decrease}}36,428.3
|{{Decrease}}2,698.0
|{{Decrease}}43,191.0
|{{Decrease}}-2.8%
|{{Increase}}0.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}9.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}83.0%
|-
|2010
|{{Increase}}2,344.8
|{{Increase}}37,358.4
|{{Decrease}}2,647.3
|{{Decrease}}42,178.6
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{Increase}}1.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}9.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}85.3%
|-
|2011
|{{Increase}}2,446.5
|{{Increase}}38,789.6
|{{Increase}}2,864.7
|{{Increase}}45,420.0
|{{Increase}}2.2%
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}9.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}87.8%
|-
|2012
|{{Increase}}2,474.0
|{{Increase}}39,037.0
|{{Decrease}}2,685.4
|{{Decrease}}42,372.1
|{{Increase}}0.4%
|{{Increase}}2.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}9.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}90.6%
|-
|2013
|{{Increase}}2,608.5
|{{Increase}}40,951.5
|{{Increase}}2,811.9
|{{Increase}}44,144.6
|{{Increase}}0.7%
|{{Increase}}1.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}93.4%
|-
|2014
|{{Increase}}2,662.0
|{{Increase}}41,576.1
|{{Increase}}2,856.7
|{{Increase}}44,616.5
|{{Increase}}1.0%
|{{Increase}}0.6%
|{{Steady}}10.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}94.9%
|-
|2015
|{{Increase}}2,719.2
|{{Increase}}42,289.1
|{{Decrease}}2,439.4
|{{Decrease}}37,937.9
|{{Increase}}1.1%
|{{Increase}}0.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}95.6%
|-
|2016
|{{Increase}}2,863.8
|{{Increase}}44,421.7
|{{Increase}}2,472.3
|{{Increase}}38,348.5
|{{Increase}}1.0%
|{{Increase}}0.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}10.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}98.0%
|-
|2017
|{{Increase}}2,997.3
|{{Increase}}46,369.7
|{{Increase}}2,594.2
|{{Increase}}40,134.1
|{{Increase}}2.4%
|{{Increase}}1.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}9.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}98.1%
|-
|2018
|{{Increase}}3,124.8
|{{Increase}}48,190.0
|{{Increase}}2,792.2
|{{Increase}}43,060.6
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{Increase}}2.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}9.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}97.8%
|-
|2019
|{{Increase}}3,240.6
|{{Increase}}49,782.0
|{{Decrease}}2,729.2
|{{Decrease}}41,924.8
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{Increase}}1.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.4%
|{{DecreasePositive}}97.4%
|-
|2020
|{{Decrease}}3,020.5
|{{Decrease}}46,267.4
|{{Decrease}}2,636.0
|{{Decrease}}40,377.5
|{{Decrease}}-7.9%
|{{Increase}}0.5%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}114.7%
|-
|2021
|{{Increase}}3,358.9
|{{Increase}}51,322.3
|{{Increase}}2,957.4
|{{Increase}}45,187.8
|{{Increase}}6.8%
|{{Increase}}2.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}112.6%
|-
|2022
|{{Increase}}3,688.3
|{{Increase}}56,199.9
|{{Decrease}}2,778.1
|{{Decrease}}42,330.5
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.5%
|{{DecreasePositive}}111.8%
|-
|2023
|{{Increase}}3,844.9
|{{Increase}}58,420.6
|{{Increase}}2,806.7
|{{Increase}}42,646.0
|{{Increase}}0.7%
|{{Increase}}4.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}112.5%
|-
|2024
|{{Increase}}3,986.7
|{{Increase}}60,406.6
|{{Increase}}2,932.4
|{{Increase}}44,431.0
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{Increase}}2.4%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}113.5%
|-
|2025
|{{Increase}}4,134.5
|{{Increase}}62,469.8
|{{Increase}}3,057.2
|{{Increase}}46,193.3
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{Steady}}7.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}114.9%
|-
|2026
|{{Increase}}4,282.9
|{{Increase}}64,531.7
|{{Increase}}3,179.5
|{{Increase}}47,906.1
|{{Increase}}1.7%
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}116.5%
|-
|2027
|{{Increase}}4,428.6
|{{Increase}}66,540.8
|{{Increase}}3,299.7
|{{Increase}}49,579.1
|{{Increase}}1.4%
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{Steady}}7.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}118.5%
|}

== Economic sectors ==

=== Industry ===
[[File:Peugeot 508 SW Peugeot Sport Engineered Cropped.jpg|thumb|A [[Peugeot 508|Peugeot 508 SW]]]]
In 2019, France was the world's 8th largest manufacturer in terms of [[value added]], according to the [[World Bank]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.IND.MANF.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true|title=Manufacturing, value added (current US$) {{!}} Data|website=data.worldbank.org|language=en-us|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-date=7 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107135049/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.IND.MANF.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true|url-status=live}}</ref>

The leading industrial sectors in France are telecommunications (including communication satellites), aerospace and defence, ship building, pharmaceuticals, construction and civil engineering, chemicals, textiles, and automobile production. The [[chemical industry]] is a key sector for France, helping to develop other manufacturing activities and contributing to economic growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.invest-in-france.org/Medias/Publications/227/Chemical%20Industry.pdf|title=Chemical industry|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820153526/http://www.invest-in-france.org/Medias/Publications/227/Chemical%20Industry.pdf|archive-date=20 August 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Research and development]] spending is also high in France at 2.26% of GDP, the fourth-highest in the OECD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article511|title=France in the United States: Economy|publisher=[[French Embassy, Washington, D.C.|Embassy of France in Washington]]|access-date=23 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009235442/http://ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article511|archive-date=9 October 2011}}</ref>

Industry contributes to French exports: as of 2018, the [[Observatory of Economic Complexity]] estimates that France's largest exports "are led by planes, helicopters, and spacecraft ($43.8 billion), cars ($26 billion), packaged medicaments ($25.7 billion), vehicle parts ($16.5 billion), and [[gas turbine]]s ($14.4 billion)."<ref>[https://oec.world/en/profile/country/fra Country profile: France] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921120331/https://oec.world/en/profile/country/fra |date=21 September 2020 }}, [[Observatory of Economic Complexity]] (page retrieved on 28 September 2020)</ref>

In December 2023, industrial production in France experienced its most significant change since May of the same year, with a notable increase of 1.1%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=French industry receives a boost after slow GDP growth |url=https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/02/02/french-industry-receives-a-boost-after-slow-gdp-growth |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref>

===Energy===
{{Further|Energy in France}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = 2021 electricity production of France<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/energy-statistics-data-browser?country=FRANCE&fuel=Electricity%20and%20heat&indicator=ElecGenByFuel |title=Electricity generation by source, France 1990-2021 |access-date=23 February 2023 |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223164504/https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/energy-statistics-data-browser?country=FRANCE&fuel=Electricity%20and%20heat&indicator=ElecGenByFuel |url-status=live }}</ref>
|other = 
|label1 = [[Nuclear reactor technology|Nuclear]] power
|value1 = 68.4
|color1 = #75CBE5
|label2 = [[Renewable energy in France|Renewable energy]] 
|value2 = 22.5
|color2 = #92C976
|label3 = [[fossil fuel power plant|Fossil fuel]] power
|value3 = 8.6
|color3 = #EF9928
|label4 = Other 
|value4 = 0.5
|color4 = #DFE575
}}

France is the world-leading country in nuclear energy, home of global energy giants [[Areva]], [[Électricité de France|EDF]] and [[GDF Suez]]: [[nuclear power]] now accounts for about 78% of the country's electricity production, up from only 8% in 1973, 24% in 1980, and 75% in 1990. [[Radioactive waste|Nuclear waste]] is stored on site at reprocessing facilities. Due to its [[Nuclear power in France|heavy investment]] in nuclear power, France is the smallest emitter of [[Greenhouse gas|carbon dioxide]] among the seven most industrialised countries in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/environment/air_co2_emissions.htm|title=CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per capita in 2006|publisher=United Nations|date=August 2009|work=Environmental Indicators: Greenhouse Gas Emissions|access-date=27 October 2010|archive-date=10 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310190132/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/environment/air_co2_emissions.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to its overwhelming reliance on nuclear power, [[Renewable energy in France|renewable energies]] have seen relatively little growth compared to other Western countries.

In 2006, electricity generated in France amounted to 548.8 [[Watt-hour#Multiples|TWh]], of which:<ref>Source: [http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdf ''L’Electricité en France en 2006 : une analyse statistique''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326210736/http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/pdf/elec-analyse-stat.pdf |date=26 March 2009 }}</ref>
*428.7 TWh (78.1%) were produced by [[Nuclear reactor technology|nuclear]] power generation
*60.9 TWh (11.1%) were produced by hydroelectric power generation
*52.4 TWh (9.5%) were produced by fossil-fuel power generation
**21.6 TWh (3.9%) by coal power
**20.9 TWh (3.8%) by natural-gas power
**9.9 TWh (1.8%) by other fossil fuel generation (fuel oil and gases by-products of industry such as [[blast furnace gas]]es)
*6.9 TWh (1.3%) were produced by other types of power generation (essentially [[waste-to-energy]] and [[wind turbine]]s)
**The electricity produced by wind turbines increased from 0.596 TWh in 2004, to 0.963 TWh in 2005, and 2.15 TWh in 2006, but this still accounted only for 0.4% of the total production of electricity (as of 2006).

In November 2004, [[Électricité de France|EDF]] (which stands for Electricité de France), one of the world's largest utility company and France's largest electricity provider, was floated with huge success on the French stock market. However, the French state still retains 70% of the capital. Other electricity providers include [[Compagnie nationale du Rhône]] (CNR) and [[Endesa (Spain)|Endesa]] (through [[Société nationale d'électricité et de thermique|SNET]]).

=== Agriculture ===
{{See also|French wine}}
[[File:Agricultural_output_France.svg|thumb|Development of agricultural output of France in 2015 US$ since 1961]]
[[File:Villiers Le Bacle le 14 juillet 2008 - 21.jpg|thumb|A wheat field in [[Villiers-le-Bâcle]]. France is the EU's largest agricultural producer.]]France is the world's sixth largest agricultural producer and EU's leading agricultural power, accounting for about one-third of all agricultural land within the EU. In the early 1980s, France was the leading producer of the three principal grains of wheat, barley, and maize. Back in 1983, France produced around 24.8&nbsp;million tonnes, ahead of the United Kingdom and West Germany, the next two largest wheat producers.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ilbery|first=Brian|title=Western Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press, New York|year=1986|isbn=0-19-823278-0|location=New York, United States|pages=[https://archive.org/details/westerneuropesys0000ilbe/page/ Pg. 41-42]|url=https://archive.org/details/westerneuropesys0000ilbe/page/}}</ref>

Northern France is characterised by large wheat farms. Dairy products, pork, poultry, and apple production are concentrated in the western region. Beef production is located in central France, while the production of fruits, vegetables, and wine ranges from central to southern France. France is a large producer of many agricultural products and is currently expanding its forestry and fishery industries. The implementation of the [[Common Agricultural Policy]] (CAP) and the [[Uruguay Round]] of the [[General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade]] (GATT) have resulted in reforms in the agricultural sector of the economy.

As the world's second-largest agricultural exporter, France ranks just after the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france.tv/france-2/actualites-et-societe/toutes-les-videos/|title=France 2 Actualités & société - Tous les vidéos et replay &#124; France tv|website=www.france.tv|access-date=31 March 2022|archive-date=18 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918101009/http://info.france2.fr/medias/Charles-Enderlin-d%C3%A9cor%C3%A9-de-la-L%C3%A9gion-d%27honneur-56553145.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The destination of 49% of its exports is other [[EU members]] states. France also provides agricultural exports to many poor African countries (including its former colonies) which face serious food shortages. Wheat, beef, pork, poultry, and dairy products are the principal exports.

Exports from the United States face stiff competition from domestic production, other EU member states, and third-world countries in France. US agricultural exports to France, totaling some $600&nbsp;million annually, consist primarily of soybeans and soybean products, feeds and fodders, seafood, and consumer products, especially snack foods and nuts. French exports to the United States are much more high-value products such as [[French cheese|its cheese]], processed products and [[French wine|its wine]].

The French agricultural sector receives almost €11&nbsp;billion in EU subsidies. France produced in 2018 39.5&nbsp;million tons of [[sugar beet]] (2nd largest producer in the world, just behind Russia), which serves to produce sugar and [[ethanol]]; 35.8&nbsp;million tons of wheat (5th largest producer in the world); 12.6&nbsp;million tons of maize (11th largest producer in the world); 11.2&nbsp;million tons of [[barley]] (2nd largest producer in the world, only behind Russia); 7.8&nbsp;million tons of potato (8th largest producer in the world); 6.2&nbsp;million tons of grape (5th largest producer in the world); 4.9&nbsp;million tons of [[rapeseed]] (4th largest producer in the world, behind Canada, China and India); 2.2&nbsp;million tons of [[sugarcane]]; 1.7&nbsp;million tons of apple (9th largest producer in the world); 1.3&nbsp;million tons of [[triticale]] (4th largest producer in the world, only behind Poland, Germany and Belarus); 1.2&nbsp;million tons of [[sunflower seed]] (9th largest producer in the world); 712 thousand tons of [[tomatoes]]; 660 thousand tons of [[linen]]; 615 thousand tons of dry [[pea]]; 535 thousand tons of carrot; 427 thousand tons of [[oats]]; 400 thousand tons of [[soy]]; in addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/|title=FAOSTAT|website=www.fao.org|access-date=31 March 2022|archive-date=12 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112130804/https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in France}}
[[File:Chateau-de-versailles-cour.jpg|thumb|The [[Palace of Versailles]] is one of the most popular tourist destinations in France.]]

France is the world's most popular tourist destination with more than 83.7&nbsp;million foreign tourists in 2014,<ref>{{cite web |title=La France toujours premiere destination touristique au monde |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2015/04/08/20005-20150408ARTFIG00013-la-france-toujours-premiere-destination-touristique-au-monde.php |website=lefigaro.fr |date=8 April 2015 |access-date=2 November 2015 |archive-date=20 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120135019/http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2015/04/08/20005-20150408ARTFIG00013-la-france-toujours-premiere-destination-touristique-au-monde.php |url-status=live }}</ref> ahead of Spain (58.5&nbsp;million in 2006) and the United States (51.1&nbsp;million in 2006). This figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, such as northern Europeans crossing France on their way to Spain or Italy during the summer.

According to figures from 2003, some popular tourist sites include (in visitors per year):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.culture.gouv.fr/deps/mini_chiff_03/fr/musee.htm|title=Musées et Monuments historiques|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224180811/http://www2.culture.gouv.fr/deps/mini_chiff_03/fr/musee.htm|archive-date=24 December 2007}}</ref> [[Eiffel Tower]] (6.2&nbsp;million), [[Louvre]] Museum (5.7&nbsp;million), [[Palace of Versailles]] (2.8&nbsp;million), [[Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie]] (2.6&nbsp;million), [[Musée d'Orsay]] (2.1&nbsp;million), [[Arc de Triomphe]] (1.2&nbsp;million), [[Centre Georges Pompidou|Centre Pompidou]] (1.2&nbsp;million), [[Mont-Saint-Michel]] (1&nbsp;million), [[Château de Chambord]] (711,000), [[Sainte-Chapelle]] (683,000), [[Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg]] (549,000), [[Puy-de-Dôme (mountain)|Puy de Dôme]] (500,000), [[Musée Picasso]] (441,000), [[Carcassonne]] (362,000). However, the most popular site in France is [[Disneyland Paris]], with 9.7&nbsp;million visitors in 2017<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.statista.com/statistics/236162/attendance-at-the-paris-disneyland-park-theme-park/| title = Disneyland Park Paris attendance| access-date = 4 June 2018| archive-date = 4 October 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181004064405/https://www.statista.com/statistics/236162/attendance-at-the-paris-disneyland-park-theme-park/| url-status = live}}</ref>

=== Arms industry ===
[[File:IAF Rafale aircraft touching down at Air Force Station Ambala on its arrival on 29 July 2020 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Dassault Rafale]]]]
The French government is the French arms industry's main customer, mainly buying warships, guns, nuclear weapons and equipment.

During the 2000–2015 period, France was the fourth largest [[Arms industry#World's largest arms exporters|weapons exporter]] in the world.<ref>[http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/toplist.php SIPRI Arms Transfers Database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214003447/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/toplist.php |date=14 February 2013 }}, data 2000–10. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/arms-trade-exporters-importers-weapons-transfers-sipri-a6891491.html Arms trade: One chart that shows the biggest weapons exporters of the last five years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815131730/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/arms-trade-exporters-importers-weapons-transfers-sipri-a6891491.html |date=15 August 2017 }}, [[The Independent]]</ref>

French manufacturers export great quantities of weaponry to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Greece, India, Pakistan, Taiwan, Singapore and many others. It was reported that in 2015, French arms sales internationally amounted to 17.4&nbsp;billion U.S. dollars,<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2016/01/20/France-doubles-arms-sales-in-2015/9501453304801/ France doubles arms sales in 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221164957/http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2016/01/20/France-doubles-arms-sales-in-2015/9501453304801/ |date=21 December 2016 }}, UPI.com</ref> more than double the figure of 2014.<ref>[http://www.france24.com/en/20150503-arms-sales-becoming-france-new-el-dorado-but-what-cost-francois-hollande-saudi-arabia-rafale Arms sales becoming France's new El Dorado, but at what cost?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221233146/http://www.france24.com/en/20150503-arms-sales-becoming-france-new-el-dorado-but-what-cost-francois-hollande-saudi-arabia-rafale |date=21 December 2016 }}, [[France24]]</ref>
=== Fashion and luxury goods ===
{{Main|French fashion}}

According to 2017 data compiled by [[Deloitte]], [[Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey]] (LVMH), a French brand, is the largest luxury company in the world by sales, selling more than twice the amount of its nearest competitor.<ref name="mode">[https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ar/Documents/Consumer_and_Industrial_Products/Global-Powers-of-Luxury-Goods-abril-2019.pdf Global Powers of Luxury Goods 2019: Bridging the gap between the old and the new] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926170737/https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ar/Documents/Consumer_and_Industrial_Products/Global-Powers-of-Luxury-Goods-abril-2019.pdf |date=26 September 2020 }}, [[Deloitte]]</ref> Moreover, France also possesses 3 of the top 10 luxury goods companies by sales ([[LVMH]], [[Kering SA]], [[L'Oréal]]), more than any other country in the world.<ref name="mode"/>

Paris is considered one of the world's foremost [[fashion capital]]s, or even "the world's fashion capital".<ref>[https://www.fashion-schools.org/articles/top-10-global-fashion-capitals Top 10 Global Fashion Capitals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021072122/https://www.fashion-schools.org/articles/top-10-global-fashion-capitals |date=21 October 2020 }}, Fashion schools</ref> The French tradition for [[haute couture]] has been estimated to start as early as the era of [[Louis XIV]], the Sun King.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/09/the-king-of-couture/402952/ The King of Couture: How Louis XIV invented fashion as we know it] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924234924/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/09/the-king-of-couture/402952/ |date=24 September 2020 }}, [[The Atlantic]]</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in France}}
Education in France is organised in a highly centralised manner, with many subdivisions.<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web|title=France|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/France/Education|access-date=2 November 2019|website=Encyclopaedia Britannica|archive-date=2 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102212336/https://www.britannica.com/place/France/Education|url-status=live}}</ref> It is divided into the three stages of primary education (''enseignement primaire''), secondary education (''enseignement secondaire''), and higher education (''enseignement supérieur''). In French higher education, the following degrees are recognised by the [[Bologna Process]] (EU recognition): ''Licence'' and ''Licence Professionnelle'' (bachelor's degrees), and the comparably named ''Master'' and ''Doctorat'' degrees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=French higher educational system |url=https://www.arabiesaoudite.campusfrance.org/en/french-higher-educational-system |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Campus France |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Programme for International Student Assessment]] coordinated by the [[OECD]] currently ranks the overall knowledge and skills of French 15-year-olds as 26th in the world in reading literacy, mathematics, and science, near the OECD average of 493.<ref name="pisa2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/Combined_Executive_Summaries_PISA_2018.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206115004/https://www.oecd.org/pisa/Combined_Executive_Summaries_PISA_2018.pdf |archive-date=6 December 2019 |url-status=live|title=PISA 2018 Results Combined Executive Summaries Volume I, II & III|date=2019|website=[[OECD]]}}</ref> France's performance in mathematics and science at the middle school level was ranked 23 in the 1995 [[TIMSS|Trends in International Math and Science Study]].<ref>{{cite web|title=TIMSS 1995 Highlights of Results for the Middle School Years|url=http://timss.bc.edu/timss1995i/HiLightB.html|access-date=21 August 2017|website=timss.bc.edu|archive-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011041220/https://timss.bc.edu/timss1995i/HiLightB.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:UGA Faculté d'Economie de Grenoble.jpg|thumb|[[Grenoble Alpes University]], the third largest university in France with about 60,000 students and over 3,000 researchers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flochlay |first=Anne-Claire |title=Université Grenoble Alpes |url=https://www.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/francais/accueil-573045.kjsp?RH=2320611992734654 |accessdate=2 July 2023 |website=Université Grenoble Alpes}}</ref>]]The [[OECD]] also found that students in France reported greater concern about discipline and behaviour at school and in classrooms, much more than the rest of Europe.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |title=Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) France |url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/PISA2018_CN_FRA.pdf |journal=OECD}}</ref> This was higher than all [[OECD]] countries.<ref name="pisa20182">{{Cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/Combined_Executive_Summaries_PISA_2018.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212232913/https://www.oecd.org/pisa/Combined_Executive_Summaries_PISA_2018.pdf|archive-date=2024-02-12|title=PISA 2018 Results: Combined Executive Summaries Volume I, II & III|website=[[OECD]]|date=2019}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> School principals reported higher staff and material shortage in France, higher than [[OECD]] averages.<ref name=":1" /> About 7% of French teachers believe the teaching profession is highly valued in France and in society.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |title=Education GPS - France - Teachers and teaching conditions, primary and lower secondary education (TALIS 2018) |url=https://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=FRA&treshold=5&topic=TA}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> School principals noted regular acts of violence/ bullying among their students, higher than averages.<ref name=":5" /> The time spent of teaching time spent on keeping classes in good order is one of the largest in France, among all [[OECD]] countries studied.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1" /> France also has a high [[Dropping out|drop out]] rate.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=French schools falling further behind, shows major new study |url=https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/French-schools-falling-further-behind-shows-major-new-study |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=connexionfrance}}</ref> 

Pupils can take apprenticeships to enter the [[Labour economics|labour market]] with the [[Baccalauréat|Baccalauréat Technologique.]] It allows pupils pursue short and technical studies (laboratory, design and applied arts, hotel and restaurant, management etc).

Higher education in France was reshaped by the student revolts of [[May 68|May 1968]]. During the 1960s, French public universities responded to a massive explosion in the number of students (280,000 in 1962–63 to 500,000 in 1967–68) by stuffing approximately one-third of their students into hastily developed campus annexes (roughly equivalent to American [[satellite campus]]es) which lacked decent amenities, resident professors, academic traditions, or the dignity of university status.<ref name="Legois">{{cite book|last1=Legois|first1=Jean-Philippe|title=Student Revolt, City, and Society in Europe: From the Middle Ages to the Present|last2=Monchablon|first2=Alain|date=2018|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781351691031|editor1-last=Dhondt|editor1-first=Pierre|location=New York|pages=67–78|chapter=From the Struggle against Repression to the 1968 General Strike in France|access-date=5 February 2021|editor2-last=Boran|editor2-first=Elizabethanne|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DkgrDwAAQBAJ&dq=University%20of%20Paris%201968%20split&pg=PA68|archive-date=12 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312185100/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Student_Revolt_City_and_Society_in_Europ/DkgrDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=University%20of%20Paris%201968%20split&pg=PA68&printsec=frontcover|url-status=live}}</ref> This is why the French [[Higher education|higher education economy]] performs poorly compared with other high-performing countries such as [[Economy of England|England]] or [[Economy of Australia|Australia.]] France also hosts various [[Catholic higher education|catholic universities]] recognised by the state, the largest one being [[Lille Catholic University]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Campus France - Lille Catholic University|url=https://ressources.campusfrance.org/guides_etab/etablissements/en/institut_catholille_en.pdf|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411223832/https://ressources.campusfrance.org/guides_etab/etablissements/en/institut_catholille_en.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well branch colleges of foreign universities. They include [[Baruch College]], the [[University of London Institute in Paris]], [[Parsons Paris School of Art and Design]] and the [[American University of Paris]]. Eighteen million pupils and students are in the education system, over 2.4 million of whom are in [[higher education]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kabla-Langlois|first1=Isabelle|last2=Dauphin|first2=Laurence|date=2015|title=Students in higher education|url=http://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/EESR8EN_ES_11-students_in_higher_education.php|access-date=23 November 2015|website=Higher education & research in France, facts and figures - 49 indicators|issue=8|pages=32–33|publisher=Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche|location=Paris|archive-date=24 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124013823/http://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/EESR8EN_ES_11-students_in_higher_education.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in France}}
[[File:Gare de Brest 13.jpg|thumb|[[Brest station]]]]
[[File:Gare de l'Est Paris 2007 a5.jpg|thumb|right|Two high-speed [[TGV]] trains by [[Alstom|Alstom SA]] at [[Gare de l'Est|Paris-Gare de l'Est]]]]

Transportation in France relies on one of the densest networks in the world with 146&nbsp;km of road and 6.2&nbsp;km of rail lines per 100&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. It is built as a web with Paris at its centre.<ref>[http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/france_829/decouvrir-france_4177/france-a-z_2259/economie_2624/les-grands-secteurs-economiques_5945.html Les grands secteurs économiques] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423165523/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/france_829/decouvrir-france_4177/france-a-z_2259/economie_2624/les-grands-secteurs-economiques_5945.html |date=23 April 2015 }} ''Ministère des Affaires étrangères'' Retrieved 4 November 2007</ref> The highly subsidised [[rail transport in France|rail transport network]] makes up a relatively small portion of travel, most of which is done by car. However, the high-speed [[TGV]] trains make up a large proportion of long-distance travel, partially because intercity buses were prevented from operating until 2015.

With 3,220 kilometers of [[high-speed train]] lines, France boast the 2nd most expansive network in the world, only after China.<ref>[https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-high-speed-rail-development-worldwide Fact Sheet: High Speed Rail Development Worldwide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929073019/https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-high-speed-rail-development-worldwide |date=29 September 2020 }}, Environmental and Energy Institute</ref> [[Charles de Gaulle Airport]] is one of the busiest airports in the world by passenger traffic.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.panynj.gov/content/dam/airports/statistics/statistics-general-info/annual-atr/ATR2019.pdf|title=2019 Annual Airport Traffic Report|publisher=Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.|year=2020|location=United States|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127110141/https://www.panynj.gov/content/dam/airports/statistics/statistics-general-info/annual-atr/ATR2019.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Charles de Gaulle airport is third globally in the number of destinations served, and first in the number of countries served with non-stop flights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.anna.aero/2017/02/15/frankfurt-paris-cdg-lead-s17-airport-analysis/|title=Frankfurt and Paris CDG lead global analysis of airports in S17|date=15 February 2017|website=anna.aero|language=en-GB|access-date=26 September 2020|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811215631/https://www.anna.aero/2017/02/15/frankfurt-paris-cdg-lead-s17-airport-analysis/|url-status=live}}</ref>

France also boasts a number of seaports and harbours, including [[Bayonne]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]], [[Brest, Finistère|Brest]], [[Calais]], [[Cherbourg-Octeville]], [[Dunkerque]], [[Fos-sur-Mer]], [[La Pallice]], [[Le Havre]], [[Lorient]], [[Marseille]], [[Nantes]], Nice, Paris, [[Port-la-Nouvelle]], [[Port-Vendres]], [[Roscoff]], [[Rouen]], [[Saint-Nazaire]], [[Saint-Malo]], [[Sète]], [[Strasbourg]] and [[Toulon]]. There are approximately 470 airports in France and by a 2005 estimate, there are three heliports. 288 of the airports have paved runways, with the remaining 199 being unpaved. The national carrier of France is [[Air France]], a full service global airline which flies to 20 domestic destinations and 150 international destinations in 83 countries (including [[Overseas France]]) across all 6 major continents.

== Foreign investment==

According to a study conducted by [[Ernst & Young]], France was in 2020 the largest [[Foreign Direct Investment]] recipient in Europe, ahead of the UK and Germany.<ref name="FDI">[https://www.ey.com/en_gl/attractiveness/20/how-can-europe-reset-the-investment-agenda-now-to-rebuild-its-future How can Europe reset the investment agenda now to rebuild its future?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919025614/https://www.ey.com/en_gl/attractiveness/20/how-can-europe-reset-the-investment-agenda-now-to-rebuild-its-future |date=19 September 2020 }}, [[Ernst&Young|EY]], 28 May 2020</ref> EY attributed this as a "direct result of [[Emmanuel Macron|President Macron]]’s reforms of labor laws and corporate taxation, which were well received by domestic and international investors alike."<ref name="FDI"/>

France scored 5th in the 2019 [[AT Kearney]] FDI Confidence Index, up 2 notches from its 2017 ranking.<ref>[https://www.kearney.com/foreign-direct-investment-confidence-index/2019-full-report The 2019 Kearney Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index: Facing a growing paradox] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020155301/https://www.kearney.com/foreign-direct-investment-confidence-index/2019-full-report |date=20 October 2020 }}, [[AT Kearney]]</ref>

==Labour market==
According to a 2011 report by the American [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] (BLS), France's GDP per capita at [[purchasing power parity]] is similar to that of the UK, with just over US$35,000 per head.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Comparisons of GDP per Capita, and per Hour, 1960–2011 |url=http://www.bls.gov/fls/intl_gdp_capita_gdp_hour.pdf |publisher=Bureau of Labor Statistics |access-date=13 April 2014 |date=7 November 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093949/http://www.bls.gov/fls/intl_gdp_capita_gdp_hour.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> To explain why French per capita GDP is lower than that of the United States, the economist [[Paul Krugman]] stated that "French workers are roughly as productive as US workers", but that the French have a ''lower workforce participation rate'' and "when they work, they work fewer hours". According to Krugman, the difference is due to the French making "different choices about retirement and leisure".<ref name="Paul">{{cite news|title=GDP Per Capita, Here and There|url=https://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/gdp-per-capita-here-and-there/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|access-date=13 April 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=28 January 2011|author=Paul Krugman|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531064308/https://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/gdp-per-capita-here-and-there/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Lyon Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Fourvière Esplanade du Site Tour Part-Dieu.jpg|thumb|[[La Part-Dieu]], [[Lyon]]'s central business district]]
France has long suffered a relatively high unemployment rate,<ref>Hélène Baudchon, [https://economic-research.bnpparibas.com/html/en-US/France-unemployment-deep-rooted-problem-2/27/2015,25413 France: unemployment, a deep-rooted problem]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521084945/https://economic-research.bnpparibas.com/html/en-US/France-unemployment-deep-rooted-problem-2/27/2015,25413|date=21 May 2021}}. [[BNP Paribas]]'s Economic Research department, February 2015.</ref> even during the years when its macroeconomic performances compared favourably with other advanced economies.<ref>Reza Moghadam, [https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/IMF001/07949-9781451966589/07949-9781451966589/07949-9781451966589_A001.xml?language=en&redirect=true Why is Unemployment in France so High?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217135855/https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/IMF001/07949-9781451966589/07949-9781451966589/07949-9781451966589_A001.xml?language=en&redirect=true |date=17 February 2021 }}, IMF eLibrary, May 1994</ref> French employment rates for the working age population is one of the lowest of the OECD countries: in 2020, only 64.4% of the French working age population were in employment, compared to 77% in Japan, 76.1% in Germany, 75.4% in the UK, but the French employment rate was higher than that of the US, which stood at 62.5%.<ref>{{cite web |author=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |year=2020 |url=http://data.oecd.org/emp/employment-rate.htm |title=OECD Employment rate |format=PDF |access-date=26 September 2020 |archive-date=23 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423125555/https://data.oecd.org/emp/employment-rate.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> This gap is due to the low employment rate for 15–24 years old: 38% in 2012, compared to 47% in the OECD.

Since his [[French presidential election 2017|election in 2017]], [[Emmanuel Macron]] has introduced several labour market reforms which proved successful in decreasing the unemployment rate before the global [[COVID-19 recession]] struck.<ref>[https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/02/20/emmanuel-macrons-reforms-are-working-but-not-for-him Emmanuel Macron's reforms are working, but not for him] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023042331/https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/02/20/emmanuel-macrons-reforms-are-working-but-not-for-him |date=23 October 2020 }}, [[The Economist]], 20 February 2020</ref> In late 2019, the French unemployment rate, though still high compared to other developed economies, was the lowest in a decade.<ref>Hannah Copeland, Valentina Romei, [https://www.ft.com/content/d97e480a-c99b-11e9-a1f4-3669401ba76f Macron's labour market changes begin to bear fruit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028213242/https://www.ft.com/content/d97e480a-c99b-11e9-a1f4-3669401ba76f |date=28 October 2020 }}, [[Financial Times]], October 2019</ref>

During the 2000s and 2010s, [[Classical liberalism|classical liberal]] and [[Keynesian economics|Keynesian economists]] sought out different solutions to the unemployment issue in France. Keynesian economists's theories led to the introduction of the [[35-hour workweek]] law in 1999. Between 2004 and 2008, the government attempted to combat unemployment with supply-side reforms, but was met with fierce resistance;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/04/04/france.jobslaw/index.html |title=More than 1 million protest French jobs law |publisher=CNN |access-date=21 July 2011 |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530180006/http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/04/04/france.jobslaw/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''[[contrat nouvelle embauche]]'' and the ''[[First Employment Contract|contrat première embauche]]'' (which allowed more flexible contracts) were of particular concern, and both were eventually repealed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4816306.stm |title=Q&A: French labour law row |work=BBC News |date=11 April 2006 |access-date=21 July 2011 |archive-date=18 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618103651/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4816306.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sarkozy government used the ''[[revenu de solidarité active]]'' (in-work benefits) to redress the ''negative effect'' of the ''[[revenu minimum d'insertion]]'' (unemployment benefits which do not depend on previous contributions, unlike normal unemployment benefits in France) on the incentive to accept even jobs which are insufficient to earn a living.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rsa.gouv.fr/-English-version-.html |title=Le Revenu de Solidarité active |publisher=Rsa.gouv.fr |access-date=9 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717012046/http://www.rsa.gouv.fr/-English-version-.html |archive-date=17 July 2010 }}</ref> [[Neoliberal]] economists attribute the low employment rate, particularly evident among young people, to high [[minimum wage]]s that would prevent low productivity workers from easily entering the labour market.<ref>{{cite book|author-link=Philippe Aghion|author=Philippe Aghion|first2=Gilbert|last2=Cette|first3=Élie|last3=Cohen|first4=Jean|last4=Pisani-Ferry|author-link4=Jean Pisani-Ferry|publisher=Conseil d'analyse économique|year=2007|url=http://www.cae.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/072.pdf|title=Les leviers de la croissance française|access-date=1 September 2008|page=55|isbn=978-2-11-006946-7|place=Paris|language=fr|archive-date=24 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224205530/http://www.cae.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/072.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

A December 2012 ''New York Times'' article reported on a "floating generation" in France that formed part of the 14 million unemployed young Europeans documented by the Eurofound research agency.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/world/europe/young-and-educated-in-france-find-employment-elusive.html|title=Young, Educated and Jobless in France|first=Steven|last=Erlanger|newspaper=The New York Times|date=3 December 2012|access-date=7 February 2017|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402112024/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/world/europe/young-and-educated-in-france-find-employment-elusive.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This ''floating generation'' was attributed to a dysfunctional system: "an elitist educational tradition that does not integrate graduates into the work force, a rigid labour market that is hard to enter for newcomers, and a tax system that makes it expensive for companies to hire full-time employees and both difficult and expensive to lay them off".<ref>{{cite news|title=Young, Educated and Jobless in France|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/world/europe/young-and-educated-in-france-find-employment-elusive.html?pagewanted=1|access-date=13 April 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 December 2012|author=Steven Erlanger|author2=Maïa de la Baume|author3=Stefania Rousselle|archive-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417104707/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/world/europe/young-and-educated-in-france-find-employment-elusive.html?pagewanted=1|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2013, the unemployment rate for France was 11%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=teilm020&tableSelection=1&plugin=1 |title=Harmonised unemployment rate by gender&nbsp;– total&nbsp;– % (SA) |publisher=Epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu |date=11 March 2011 |access-date=21 July 2011 |archive-date=1 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101202312/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=teilm020&tableSelection=1&plugin=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In early April 2014, employers' federations and unions negotiated an agreement with technology and consultancy employers, as employees had been experiencing an extension of their work time through [[smartphone]] communication outside of official working hours. Under a new, legally binding labour agreement, around 250,000 employees will avoid handling work-related matters during their leisure time and their employers will, in turn, refrain from engaging with staff during this time.<ref>{{cite news|title=When the French clock off at 6&nbsp;pm, they really mean it|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2014/apr/09/french-6pm-labour-agreement-work-emails-out-of-office?CMP=fb_gu|access-date=13 April 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=9 April 2014|author=Lucy Mangan|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132332/http://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2014/apr/09/french-6pm-labour-agreement-work-emails-out-of-office?CMP=fb_gu|url-status=live}}</ref>

Every day, about 80,000 French citizens are commuting to work in neighbouring [[Luxembourg]], making it the biggest cross-border workforce group in the whole of the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Foreign labour in 2014|url=http://www.statistiques.public.lu/|publisher=Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques du Luxembourg|access-date=1 June 2015|archive-date=24 November 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041124084115/http://www.statistiques.public.lu/|url-status=live}}</ref> They are attracted by much higher wages for the different job groups than in their own country and the lack of skilled labour in the booming Luxembourgish economy.

The background of the 2023 [[2023 French pension reform law|pension reform]] was about 14% of GDP pension spending in France compared to OECD average of just over 9%. The aim of the pension reform was to reduce cost by increasing the minimum legal retirement age from 62 years to 64 years in 2030.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boulhol |first1=Hervé |last2=Queisser |first2=Monika |title=The 2023 France Pension Reform |url=https://www.intereconomics.eu/contents/year/2023/number/3/article/the-2023-france-pension-reform.html |pages=130–131 |language=en |date=2023|issue=3 }}</ref> In April 2023, president Emmanuel Macron signed the pension reforms into law.<ref>{{cite news |title=France pension reforms: Macron signs pension age rise to 64 into law |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65279818 |date=14 April 2023}}</ref>

== External trade ==
{{See also|List of exports of France}}

In 2018, France was the 5th largest trading nation in the world, as well as the second-largest trading nation in Europe (after Germany).<ref name="wto">[https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/wts2019_e/wts2019_e.pdf World Trade Statistical Review 2019] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630220225/https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/wts2019_e/wts2019_e.pdf |date=30 June 2022 }}, [[World Trade Organization]], p. 11</ref> Its foreign trade balance for goods had been in surplus from 1992 until 2001, reaching $25.4 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]] (25.4 G$) in 1998; however, the French [[balance of trade]] was hit by the economic downturn, and went into the red in 2000, reaching a US$15bn deficit in 2003. Total trade for 1998 amounted to $730&nbsp;billion, or 50% of GDP—imports plus exports of goods and services. Trade with European Union countries accounts for 60% of French trade.

In 1998, US–France trade stood at about $47&nbsp;billion – goods only. According to French trade data, US exports accounted for 8.7% – about $25&nbsp;billion – of France's total imports. US industrial chemicals, aircraft and engines, electronic components, telecommunications, computer software, computers and peripherals, analytical and scientific instrumentation, medical instruments and supplies, broadcasting equipment, and programming and franchising are particularly attractive to French importers.

The principal French exports to the US are aircraft and engines, beverages, electrical equipment, chemicals, cosmetics, luxury products and perfume. France is the ninth-largest trading partner of the US.

{|
|+'''Amounts in billions of US dollars (2016)'''
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Exports
!Rank
!Country<ref name=":0">[https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/fra/ (1)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329041855/https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/fra/ |date=29 March 2019 }} The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)</ref>
!Amount
|-
|1.
| align="left" |{{flag|Germany}}
|70.1
|-
|2.
| align="left" |{{flag|United States}}
|40.4
|-
|3.
| align="left" |{{flag|Belgium}}<br />{{LUX}}
|36.7
|-
|4.
| align="left" |{{flag|Italy}}
|35.3
|-
|5.
| align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|35.3
|-
|6.
| align="left" |{{flag|Spain}}
|34.6
|-
|7.
| align="left" |{{flag|China}}
|18.6
|-
|8.
| align="left" |{{NLD}}
|16.8
|-
|9.
| align="left" |{{CHE}}
|16.2
|-
|10.
| align="left" |{{JPN}}
|8.9
|-
|11.
| align="left" |{{POL}}
|7.9
|-
|12.
| align="left" |{{SGP}}
|7.8
|-
|13.
| align="left" |{{TUR}}
|7.5
|-
|14.
| align="left" |{{HKG}}
|6.4
|-
|15.
| align="left" |{{IRL}}
|6.3
|-
|16.
| align="left" |{{RUS}}
|6.1
|-
|17.
| align="left" |{{SWE}}
|5.7
|-
|18.
| align="left" |{{KOR}}
|5.7
|-
|19.
| align="left" |{{ALG}}
|5.3
|-
|20.
| align="left" |{{PRT}}
|5.3
|-
|}
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Imports
!Rank
!Country<ref name=":0" />
!Amount
|-
|1.
| align="left" |{{flag|Germany}}
|99.8
|-
|2.
| align="left" |{{flag|China}}
|47.9
|-
|3.
| align="left" |{{ITA}}
|43.7
|-
|4.
| align="left" |{{flag|Belgium}}<br />{{LUX}}
|41.6
|-
|5.
| align="left" |{{flag|United States}}
|37.9
|-
|6.
| align="left" |{{ESP}}
|37.1
|-
|7.
| align="left" |{{NLD}}
|26.4
|-
|8.
| align="left" |{{GBR}}
|22.4
|-
|9.
| align="left" |{{CHE}}
|15.8
|-
|10.
| align="left" |{{POL}}
|10.4
|-
|11.
| align="left" |{{flag|Japan}}
|10.1
|-
|12.
| align="left" |{{IRL}}
|7.6
|-
|13.
| align="left" |{{CZE}}
|7.6
|-
|14.
| align="left" |{{TUR}}
|7.5
|-
|15.
| align="left" |{{NOR}}
|6.4
|-
|16.
| align="left" |{{PRT}}
|6.3
|-
|17.
| align="left" |{{SWE}}
|6.0
|-
|18.
| align="left" |{{AUT}}
|5.6
|-
|19.
| align="left" |{{IND}}
|5.1
|-
|20.
| align="left" |{{VNM}}
|5.0
|-
|}
|valign=top|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Total trade
!Rank
!Country<ref name=":0" />
!Amount
|-
|1.
| align="left" |{{flag|Germany}}
|169.9
|-
|2.
| align="left" |{{ITA}}
|79.0
|-
|3.
| align="left" |{{flag|United States}}
|78.3
|-
|4.
| align="left" |{{flag|Belgium}}<br />{{LUX}}
|78.3
|-
|5.
| align="left" |{{ESP}}
|71.7
|-
|6.
| align="left" |{{flag|China}}
|66.5
|-
|7.
| align="left" |{{GBR}}
|57.7
|-
|8.
| align="left" |{{NLD}}
|43.2
|-
|9.
| align="left" |{{CHE}}
|32.0
|-
|10.
| align="left" |{{flag|Japan}}
|19.0
|-
|}
|}

{{Clear}}

In August 2023, the French current account deficit shrank by €29.7 billion in the past six months, from −€39.3 billion to −€9.6 billion, primarily due to a fall in energy prices.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 August 2023 |title=French trade balance deficit sees €35bn improvement|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/french-trade-balance-deficit-sees-e30bn-improvement/}}</ref>

==Regional economy==
{{Main|List of French regions and overseas collectivities by GDP}}

[[File:Nominal GDP per capita, 2015 Eurostat France.png|thumb|left|Nominal GDP per capita, 2015 Eurostat]]

The economic disparity between French regions is not as high as that in other European countries such as the UK, Italy or Germany, and higher than in countries like Sweden or Denmark, or even Spain. However, Europe's wealthiest and second largest regional economy, Ile-de-France (the region surrounding Paris), has long profited from the capital city's economic hegemony.

The most important ''régions'' are Île-de-France (Europe's 4th regional economy), [[Rhône-Alpes]] (Europe's 5th largest regional economy thanks to its services, high-technologies, chemical industries, wines, tourism), [[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]] (services, industry, tourism and wines), [[Nord-Pas-de-Calais]] (European transport hub, services, industries) and [[Pays de la Loire]] (green technologies, tourism). Regions like [[Alsace]], which has a rich past in industry (machine tool) and currently stands as a high income service-specialised region, are very wealthy without ranking very high in absolute terms.

The rural areas are mainly in [[Auvergne (region)|Auvergne]], Limousin, and [[Centre-Val de Loire]], and wine production accounts for a significant proportion of the economy in [[Aquitaine]] ([[Bordeaux wine|Bordeaux (or claret)]]), [[Burgundy wine|Burgundy]], and [[champagne (wine region)|champagne]] produced in [[Champagne-Ardennes]].
[[File:Käferberg - Affoltern - Kloten Flughafen - Uetlibergturm IMG 1559.jpg|thumb|240x240px|[[Rhône-Alpes]], Europe's 5th largest regional economy. In the past mining, especially coal mining was an important sector, particularly around [[Saint-Étienne]], although this has declined since the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rhone Alpes Economy |url=http://www.french-property.com/regions/rhone_alpes/economy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318061505/http://www.french-property.com/regions/rhone_alpes/economy/ |archive-date=2013-03-18 |access-date=2013-09-06 |publisher=French-property.com}}</ref>]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Rank
!Region
!GDP <br />(millions of <br />euros, 2015)<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|title=Gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices by NUTS 2 regions|url=https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nama_10r_2gdp&lang=en|access-date=20 August 2020|publisher=Eurostat|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818022005/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nama_10r_2gdp&lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
!GDP per capita <br />(euros, 2015)<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Average annual population to calculate regional GDP data (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 regions|url=https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nama_10r_3popgdp&lang=en|access-date=20 August 2020|publisher=Eurostat|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812080051/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nama_10r_3popgdp&lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1
|[[Île-de-France|Île de France]]
|671,048
|55,433
|-
|2
|[[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]]
|250,197
|31,666
|-
|3
|[[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]]
|163,140
|27,527
|-
|4
|[[Occitania (administrative region)|Occitanie]]
|159,326
|27,497
|-
|5
|[[Hauts-de-France]]
|157,316
|26,170
|-
|6
|[[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]]
|154,081
|30,709
|-
|7
|[[Grand Est]]
|151,880
|27,317
|-
|8
|[[Pays de la Loire]]
|109,965
|29,482
|-
|9
|[[Normandy]]
|91,810
|27,495
|-
|10
|[[Brittany (administrative region)|Brittany]]
|91,406
|27,684
|-
|11
|[[Bourgogne-Franche-Comté]]
|74,074
|26,258
|-
|12
|[[Centre-Val de Loire]]
|70,230
|27,226
|-
|
|''[[Réunion]]''
|18,373
|21,559
|-
|
|''[[Guadeloupe]]''
|9,724
|22,509
|-
|
|''[[Martinique]]''
|9,289
|24,516
|-
|13
|[[Corsica]]
|8,761
|26,629
|-
|
|''[[French Guiana]]''
|4,441
|16,777
|-
|
|''[[Mayotte]]''
|2,309
|9,755
|}

==Departments economy and cities==

=== Departmental income inequalities ===
{{See also|Departments of France}}
[[File:Eiffel Tower from the Tour Montparnasse, 1 May 2012 N3.jpg|thumb|Paris is France's largest urban economy (and the world's third).]]

In terms of income, important inequalities can be observed among the French [[départements]].

According to the 2008 statistics of the INSEE, the [[Yvelines]] is the highest income department of the country with an average income of €4,750 per month. [[Hauts-de-Seine]] comes second, [[Essonne]] third, Paris fourth, Seine-et Marne fifth. [[Île-de-France (region)|Île-de-France]] is the wealthiest region in the country with an average income of €4,228 per month (and is also the wealthiest region in Europe) compared to €3,081 at the national level. [[Alsace]] comes second, [[Rhône-Alpes]] third, [[Picardy (region)|Picardy]] fourth, and [[Upper Normandy]] fifth.

The poorest parts of France are the [[Overseas department|French overseas departments]], French Guiana being the poorest department with an average household income of €1,826. In Metropolitan France it is [[Creuse]] in the [[Limousin (region)|Limousin]] region which comes bottom of the list with an average household income of €1,849 per month.<ref>[http://www.salairemoyen.com/departement.php?dept=23] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104183327/http://www.salairemoyen.com/departement.php?dept=23|date=4 November 2011}}</ref>

=== Urban income inequalities ===
Huge inequalities can also be found among cities.
In the [[Paris metropolitan area]], significant differences exist between the higher standard of living of ''Paris Ouest'' and lower standard of living in areas in the northern [[Banlieue|''banlieues'']] of Paris such as Seine-Saint-Denis.

For cities of over 50,000 inhabitants, [[Neuilly-sur-Seine]], a western suburb of Paris, is the wealthiest city in France with an average household income of €5,939, and 35% earning more than €8,000 per month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salairemoyen.com/revenus.php?Commune=92051&Ville=92200+-+NEUILLY+SUR+SEINE |title=Salaire moyen Neuilly-sur-Seine – 92200 (60501 habitants) : 4649 euros / mois par ménage – Tout savoir sur revenu moyen, salaire net, salaire brut et retraite par ville de France |publisher=Salairemoyen.com |access-date=27 November 2012 |archive-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513081323/http://www.salairemoyen.com/revenus.php?Commune=92051&Ville=92200+-+NEUILLY+SUR+SEINE |url-status=live }}</ref>
But within Paris, four [[Arrondissements of Paris|arrondissements]] surpass wealthy Neuilly-sur-Seine in household income: the [[6th arrondissement of Paris|6th]], the [[7th arrondissement of Paris|7th]], the [[8th arrondissement of Paris|8th]] and the [[16th arrondissement of Paris|16th]]; the 8th arrondissement being the wealthiest district in France (the other three following it closely as 2nd, 3rd and 4th wealthiest ones).

== Poverty ==
{{Main|Poverty in France}}

[[OECD]] data from 2021 estimate that 8.4% of the French population lived in poverty, compared with 18% in the United States, 11.6% in Canada, and 9.8% in Germany.<ref name="OECD Data Poverty rate">{{Cite web |url=https://data.oecd.org/inequality/poverty-rate.htm |title=Inequality - Poverty rate - OECD Data |access-date=24 October 2022 |archive-date=12 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212173822/https://data.oecd.org/inequality/poverty-rate.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, the poverty rate in France stood at 14%, compared to 12.8% in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-08-15 |title=Entre cinq et huit millions de Français vivent sous le seuil de pauvreté |language=fr-FR |work=La Croix |url=https://www.la-croix.com/Economie/Social/Entre-cinq-huit-millions-Francais-vivent-seuil-pauvrete-2019-08-15-1201041115 |access-date=2023-12-31 |issn=0242-6056}}</ref> The northern districts of [[Marseille]] represent one of the poorest and unequal areas in France, where poor neighbourhoods rub shoulders with wealthier pockets. The share of people living below the poverty line (949 euro per month) was 28.8% in 2008 in sensitive urban zones (ZUS) compared to 12% in the rest of the territory.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-03-16 |title=Fabienne Keller, sénatrice UMP, prône "un autre regard sur les quartiers fragiles" |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/ecole-primaire-et-secondaire/article/2011/03/16/fabienne-keller-senatrice-ump-prone-un-autre-regard-sur-les-quartiers-fragiles_1493676_1473688.html |access-date=2023-12-31}}</ref>

In comparison with the average French workers, foreign workers tended to be employed in the hardest and lowest-paid jobs. They also live in poor conditions. A 1972 study found that foreign workers earned 17% less than their French counterparts, although this national average concealed the extent of inequality. Foreign workers were more likely to be men in their prime working years in the industrial areas, which generally had higher rates of pay than elsewhere.<ref name="poverty-and-inequality">{{cite book|author1=Victor George|title=Poverty and inequality in Common Market countries|author2=Roger Lawson|publisher=[[Routledge & Kegan Paul]]|year=1980|isbn=9780710005175}}</ref>

== Wealth ==

=== Overview ===
In 2010, the French had an estimated wealth of US$14.0&nbsp;trillion for a population of 63 million.<ref>Credit Suisse 2010's Global Wealth Report, p. 32.</ref>

*In terms of aggregate wealth, the French are the wealthiest Europeans, accounting for more than a quarter of wealthiest European households.<ref>"Europe as a whole accounts for 35% of the individuals in the global top 1% (of wealthiest households), but France itself contributes a quarter of the European contingent." 2010's Global Wealth Report</ref> Globally, the French nation ranks fourth-wealthiest.<ref>Rankings: 1st: United States with $54.6 trillion for 318 million inhabitants; 2nd: Japan with $21 trillion for 127 million inhabitants; 3rd: China with $16.5 trillion for 1.331 billion inhabitants; 4th: France with $14.0 trillion for 63 million inhabitants.</ref><ref>" Although it has just 1.1% of the world's adults, France ranks fourth among nations in aggregate household wealth – behind China and just ahead of Germany". 2010's Global Wealth Report. {{cite web |url=http://thewisebuck.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/credit_suisse_global_wealth_report1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427015348/http://thewisebuck.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/credit_suisse_global_wealth_report1.pdf |archive-date=27 April 2011 }}</ref>
*In 2010, wealth per French adult was a little higher than $290,000, down from a pre-crisis high of $300,000 in 2007. According to this ratio, the French are the wealthiest in Europe. The wealth tax is paid by 1.1 million people in France. Liability to this tax starts from €1.3 million of assets. (There is a discount on the principal residence value.)
*Almost every French household has at least $1,000 in assets.<ref>2010's Global Wealth Report, p. 32: "Very few households in France are recorded as having less than US$1000 per adult".</ref> Proportionally, there are twice as many French with assets of over $10,000 and four times as many French with assets of over $100,000 than the world average.<ref>2010's Global Wealth Report, p. 32: "The proportion with assets over $10,000 is double the world average, and the proportion with more than $100,000 is four times the global figure".</ref>
{{clear}}
=== Millionaires ===
France has the third-highest number of millionaires in Europe as of 2017. There were 1.617&nbsp;million millionaire households (measured in US dollars) living in France in 2017, behind the UK (2.225 million) and Germany (1.637 million).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/countries-with-most-millionaires-2017-4|title=The 18 countries with the most millionaires|work=Business Insider|access-date=19 December 2017|language=en|archive-date=15 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215004227/http://www.businessinsider.com/countries-with-most-millionaires-2017-4|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:France Macroeconomic indicators 1.jpg|thumb|France Macroeconomic indicators<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Wealth Report |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us/en/reports-research/global-wealth-report.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Credit Suisse |language=en |archive-date=18 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718152440/https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us/en/reports-research/global-wealth-report.html |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

The wealthiest man in France is the [[LVMH]] CEO and owner [[Bernard Arnault]].

By 2022, the combined wealth of France's 500 richest people will be worth 1,170 billion euros, or 45% of GDP. In 2009, this figure was just 194 billion, representing 10% of GDP at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=à 11h40 |first=Par Le Parisien avec AFP Le 5 juillet 2023 |date=2023-07-05 |title=Le patrimoine des 500 plus grandes fortunes françaises a bondi de 17 % en un an |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/economie/le-patrimoine-des-500-plus-grandes-fortunes-francaises-a-bondi-de-17-en-un-an-05-07-2023-SN5XZ3THH5DIZEDCM2XYO3KOXE.php |access-date= |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Economic impacts of climate change in France]]
*Economy of [[Economy of French Guiana|French Guiana]], [[Economy of French Polynesia|French Polynesia]], [[Economy of Guadeloupe|Guadeloupe]], [[Economy of Martinique|Martinique]], [[Economy of Mayotte|Mayotte]], [[Economy of New Caledonia|New Caledonia]], [[Economy of Réunion|Réunion]], [[Economy of Saint Barthélemy|Saint Barthélemy]], [[Economy of Saint Martin (France)|Saint Martin]], [[Economy of Saint Pierre and Miquelon|Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] or [[Economy of Wallis and Futuna|Wallis and Futuna]]
*[[Economy of Paris]]
*[[Economy of Europe]]
*[[Economy of the European Union]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
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*[https://www.insee.fr/en/accueil National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies – Insee]
*[https://www.banque-france.fr/en Banque de France]
*[https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/FRA World Bank: France Trade Statistics]
*[http://www.oecd.org/france/ France – OECD]
*[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/france/ France profile] at the [[CIA World Factbook]]
*[http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/france France profile] at [[The World Bank]]
*[https://bizpages.org/countries--FR--France France Business Facts]

{{France topics}}
{{World Trade Organization}}
{{Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development}}
{{Economy of Europe}}
{{EU Dependent economies|state=collapsed}}
{{Europe topic|Agriculture in}}
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[[Category:Economy of France| ]]
[[Category:European Union member economies|France]]
[[Category:World Trade Organization member economies|France]]
[[Category:OECD member economies|France]]
[[Category:Economies of Europe by country|France]]
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