France Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
France's unemployment rate was 7.54% in 2025, ranked 129th globally. This represents a 2.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
France's unemployment rate stood at 7.54% in 2025, a rise of +0.15pp from 2024. The IMF projects 7.56% by 2025. France ranked 129th globally.
France’s unemployment rate stands at 7.54 % in 2025, placing it 129th worldwide, and reflects a modest rise from the 6.35 % recorded in 1980, the lowest point over the 46‑year series. The most pronounced deterioration occurred in 1994 when the rate peaked at 12.59 %, a level that followed a period of structural adjustment and labor‑market reforms in the early 1990s. Since that apex, the rate has gradually declined, though it remains above the early‑1980s trough and above the current rates of peers such as Uruguay (7.52 %) and Argentina (7.14 %). The persistence of a relatively high unemployment rate despite recent improvements suggests that further reductions will depend on the effectiveness of policies aimed at increasing labor‑force participation, enhancing vocational training, and adapting to technological change, which could steer the trajectory downward in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 6.99% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 6.99% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 7.10% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 7.33% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 7.52% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 7.56% | - | - |
| 2025 | 7.54% | +0.15pp | #129 |
| 2024 | 7.40% | +0.06pp | #133 |
| 2023 | 7.34% | +0.04pp | #132 |
| 2022 | 7.30% | −0.56pp | #130 |
| 2021 | 7.87% | −0.15pp | #125 |
| 2020 | 8.01% | −0.42pp | #121 |
| 2019 | 8.42% | −0.61pp | #136 |
| 2018 | 9.02% | −0.39pp | #138 |
| 2017 | 9.41% | −0.66pp | #139 |
| 2016 | 10.06% | −0.29pp | #140 |
| 2015 | 10.35% | +0.09pp | #142 |
| 2014 | 10.27% | −0.03pp | #137 |
| 2013 | 9.91% | +0.15pp | #133 |
| 2012 | 9.84% | +0.63pp | #130 |
| 2011 | 9.23% | −0.05pp | #129 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
France matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
France's unemployment rate was 7.54% in 2025. Ranked 129th globally. This represents a 2.0% increase from the previous year.
France's unemployment rate peaked at 12.59% in 1994.
The lowest unemployment rate in France was 6.35% in 1980.
France ranks 129th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
France's unemployment rate is projected to reach 7.56% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of France in 2025 was 7.54%. This ranks 129th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_france_unemployment-rate,
title = {France Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/france/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}