Economic and Political Overview

flag France France: Economic and Political Overview

In this page: Economic Outline | Political Outline | COVID-19 Country Response

 

Economic Outline

Economic Overview

France is ranked as the world’s seventh-largest economic power, just behind the United Kingdom and India (WEF, 2022). After suffering one of the sharpest economic contractions among the EU countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, France’s economy recovered strongly. However, in the first quarter of 2023, domestic demand remained subdued due to high inflation and tighter financial conditions, which offset government support initiatives and resilient wages that maintained household purchasing power. Domestic demand resurged, becoming the main driver of growth only from the second quarter of the year. For 2023 as a whole, the IMF estimated growth at 1% of GDP. Economic activity is expected to slowly increase over the forecast horizon, as private consumption resumes and inflation progressively decreases (to 1.3% this year and 1.8% in 2025 as per the IMF). Due to robust domestic demand, imports are anticipated to rise, leading to a negative impact on GDP growth from net exports.

Concerning public finances the net budgetary cost of initiatives aimed at mitigating the effects of high energy prices was estimated at 0.8% of GDP in 2023, down from 0.9% one year earlier. Simultaneously, the indexation of pensions and social benefits, aimed at bolstering households' purchasing power, continued to increase public spending, while the economic deceleration was anticipated to dampen tax revenues. The general government deficit was projected to hold steady at 4.3% of GDP, with a marginal decline this year (4.1% as per the IMF) due to the withdrawal of most energy-related measures. Following a decrease to 110% of GDP in 2023 amid a robust nominal GDP growth, public debt is expected to stabilise in 2024 and 2025, although the EU Commission sees a possible rise in the upcoming future attributed to ongoing primary deficits, mounting interest expenses, and diminished nominal growth. After peaking in early 2023, inflation subsided over the course of the year, averaging 5.6%. The French government decided to extend the electricity price cap until the start of 2025. For 2024 and 2025, the IMF estimates inflation at 2.5% and 2%, respectively. According to the OECD, France should implement a medium-term fiscal strategy to accelerate fiscal consolidation. A swift and comprehensive execution of the national Recovery and Resilience Plan would be beneficial, especially given its inclusion of various reforms aimed at greening the economy, facilitating digital transformation, alleviating administrative burdens, enhancing public employment services coordination, and revitalizing health strategies at both national and local levels.

In 2023, the labour market maintained its vitality. The unemployment rate stabilized at 7.2% in the second quarter of 2023, approaching its lowest level since 2008, while the employment rate soared to an all-time high of 68.6%. However, employment growth is expected to moderate due to the gradual dissipation of labour hoarding, reduced job creation from apprenticeship contracts, a return of hours worked to 2019 levels, and an increase in labour productivity. According to the IMF, the unemployment rate is projected to decrease to 7.3% in 2024 and further to 6.9% in 2025, following a rate of 7.4% in 2023. On average, French citizens enjoy a high GDP per capita (PPP), estimated at USD 58,765 in 2023 by the IMF. Nevertheless, inequalities persist and according to a study from UNICEF, 21% of French children live below the poverty line.

 
Main Indicators 20222023 (E)2024 (E)2025 (E)2026 (E)
GDP (billions USD) 2,780.433,031.783,130.013,223.133,332.65
GDP (Constant Prices, Annual % Change) 2.50.90.71.41.6
GDP per Capita (USD) 42,30646,00147,35948,63150,143
General Government Balance (in % of GDP) -4.2-4.9-4.3-4.4-4.1
General Government Gross Debt (in % of GDP) 111.8110.6111.6112.8113.4
Inflation Rate (%) 5.95.72.41.81.8
Unemployment Rate (% of the Labour Force) 7.37.47.47.06.9
Current Account (billions USD) -56.77-22.73-18.09-17.73-15.07
Current Account (in % of GDP) -2.0-0.8-0.6-0.6-0.5

Source: IMF – World Economic Outlook Database, Latest data available.

Note : (E) Estimated data

 

Main Sectors of Industry

France is the largest agricultural power in the European Union, accounting for almost one-fourth of the EU’s total agricultural production. Nevertheless, the agricultural sector only represents a very small part of the country's GDP (1.9%) and employs 3% of the population (World Bank, latest data available). French agricultural activities receive significant subsidies, especially from the European Union. Wheat, corn, meats and wine are France's main agricultural products. The number of French farms has been divided by four in fifty years: there were more than 1.5 million in 1970, whereas nowadays they are less than 400,000, with an average farm size of 69 hectares. According to INSEE, in 2023, agricultural production achieved a value, excluding subsidies, of EUR 95.5 billion: 56.6 billion in crop production and 33.2 billion in animal production. Between 2000 and 2023, there was a real-term increase of 50.9% in the gross value added at factor cost per worker, rising from EUR 30.7 billion in 2000 to 45.9 billion in 2023.

France's manufacturing industry is highly diversified; however, the country is currently undergoing a de-industrialisation process, which has resulted in the outsourcing of many activities. Industry represents 16.9% of GDP and employs almost a fifth of the active workforce (World Bank). While services dominate the French economy, industry remains crucial. Traditional powerhouses like aerospace (Airbus), automotive (Peugeot, Renault), and luxury goods (LVMH) thrive alongside food & beverage (renowned cheeses, wines) and chemicals/pharmaceuticals (Sanofi). Emerging sectors like digital industries, renewable energy, and green industries are gaining traction with government support. Competition, rapid technological change, and stricter environmental regulations pose challenges, but France's industrial sector, rich in innovation and manufacturing expertise, is well-positioned to adapt and remain a global force. According to official preliminary figures, French manufacturing output rose by 0.3% year-on-year in 2024.

The tertiary sector represents 70.7% of the French GDP and employs 78% of the active workforce (World Bank). France is the leading tourist destination in the world: the balance of payments surplus from tourism reached a record of EUR 16.5 billion at the end of November 2023. International receipts amounted to EUR 58.9 billion in the first eleven months of the year, representing a 12% increase compared to both 2022 and 2019 (data Atout France). According to the European Banking Federation, as of 2022, France had 334 banks operating within its banking industry. Four French banks are recognized by the Financial Stability Board as part of the eight Euro area Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs). Financial activities constitute 3.9% of the total value added in France, with the banking sector contributing around 60% of this figure.

 
Breakdown of Economic Activity By Sector Agriculture Industry Services
Employment By Sector (in % of Total Employment) 2.5 19.5 78.0
Value Added (in % of GDP) 1.8 17.4 70.3
Value Added (Annual % Change) 1.1 -1.1 3.7

Source: World Bank, Latest data available.

 

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Indicator of Economic Freedom

Definition:

The Economic freedom index measure ten components of economic freedom, grouped into four broad categories or pillars of economic freedom: Rule of Law (property rights, freedom from corruption); Limited Government (fiscal freedom, government spending); Regulatory Efficiency (business freedom, labour freedom, monetary freedom); and Open Markets (trade freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom). Each of the freedoms within these four broad categories is individually scored on a scale of 0 to 100. A country’s overall economic freedom score is a simple average of its scores on the 10 individual freedoms.

Score:
65,7/100
World Rank:
64
Regional Rank:
34

Economic freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Index of Economic Freedom, Heritage Foundation

 

Business environment ranking

Definition:

The business rankings model measures the quality or attractiveness of the business environment in the 82 countries covered by The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Country Forecast reports. It examines ten separate criteria or categories, covering the political environment, the macroeconomic environment, market opportunities, policy towards free enterprise and competition, policy towards foreign investment, foreign trade and exchange controls, taxes, financing, the labour market and infrastructure.

Score:
7.74/10
World Rank:
15/82

Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit - Business Environment Rankings 2020-2024

 

Country Risk

See the country risk analysis provided by Coface.

 

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Political Outline

Current Political Leaders
President : Emmanuel Macron (since 14 May 2017; re-elected for a second term on 24 April 2022)
Prime Minister: Michel Barnier (since 5 September 2024)
Next Election Dates
Presidential elections: April 2027
Senate: September 2026
National Assembly: June 2027
Current Political Context
As the polls predicted, the 2022 presidential elections resulted in a duel between President Emmanuel Macron (La République En Marche, centre-liberal party) and Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National, far right), amid failed attempts to unify the left. In April 2022, Macron was re-elected for an additional 5-year term, but abstention reached a 50-year record, and Le Pen managed to gather 41.46% of the votes. As Macron’s Ensemble! (Together) coalition lost its parliamentary majority at the legislative election in June, policymaking has become more challenging.
In April 2023, France's Constitutional Council approved the key elements of President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform, which had triggered many protests and strikes in the preceding months. The court invalidated six measures considered non-essential to the core of the reform and rejected a request from the left for a referendum on an alternative pension law that aimed to maintain the retirement age at 62 (instead of 64).
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne's position has been precarious since an immigration bill proposed by Macron was rejected in parliament. Eventually, the bill was passed with numerous contentious amendments introduced by the centre-right opposition, sparking protests from the left-wing side of the Parliament. In an attempt to revamp his government, Macron decided to nominate the 34-year-old education minister Gabriel Attal as the new prime minister, becoming France's youngest-ever prime minister and leading a partially reshuffled government team composed mainly of political figures from the centre and centre-right.
Main Political Parties
- The Socialist Party (PS): centre-left, social democratic party that advocates for social justice, equality, and solidarity
- The Republicans: center-right party founded in 2002. It is the second-largest party in the National Assembly. The party is generally considered Gaullist, supporting a strong French state and national identity
- En Marche: centre, new liberal political movement founded by Emmanuel Macron
- National Rally (RN): far-right; first parliamentary representation in 1997 and gaining support amid growing voter scepticism towards the EU
- The Democratic Movement (MoDem): centrist
- Europe Ecology - The Greens (EELV): emphasises ecology and peaceful and sustainable lifestyles
- La France Insoumise (Unbowed France) (FI): far-left
- French Communist Party (PCF): communism, soft euro-scepticism
Type of State
France is a Republic, parliamentary democracy combined with presidential power.
Executive Power
The President of the Republic is the Head of State. He/She is elected by direct universal suffrage for five years. He/She appoints the Prime Minister and his/her Government at the suggestion of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister sets the amount of the State's expenses and revenue and prepares some bills.
Legislative Power
The parliament is composed of the Senate and the National Assembly. The 348 senators are elected by indirect universal suffrage for nine years, renewable by a one-third majority vote every three years. The 577 deputies (MPs) are elected by direct universal suffrage. They examine bills and private bills successively, vote laws and monitor the Government. The economic, social and environmental council has an advisory function (optional or compulsory) within the framework of the legislative process.
 

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

Definition:

The world rankings, published annually, measures violations of press freedom worldwide. It reflects the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists, the media and digital citizens of each country and the means used by states to respect and uphold this freedom. Finally, a note and a position are assigned to each country. To compile this index, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) prepared a questionnaire incorporating the main criteria (44 in total) to assess the situation of press freedom in a given country. This questionnaire was sent to partner organisations,150 RWB correspondents, journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists. It includes every kind of direct attacks against journalists and digital citizens (murders, imprisonment, assault, threats, etc.) or against the media (censorship, confiscation, searches and harassment etc.).

World Rank:
34/180
 

Indicator of Political Freedom

Definition:

The Indicator of Political Freedom provides an annual evaluation of the state of freedom in a country as experienced by individuals. The survey measures freedom according to two broad categories: political rights and civil liberties. The ratings process is based on a checklist of 10 political rights questions (on Electoral Process, Political Pluralism and Participation, Functioning of Government) and 15 civil liberties questions (on Freedom of Expression, Belief, Associational and Organizational Rights, Rule of Law, Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights). Scores are awarded to each of these questions on a scale of 0 to 4, where a score of 0 represents the smallest degree and 4 the greatest degree of rights or liberties present. The total score awarded to the political rights and civil liberties checklist determines the political rights and civil liberties rating. Each rating of 1 through 7, with 1 representing the highest and 7 the lowest level of freedom, corresponds to a range of total scores.

Ranking:
Free
Political Freedom:
1/7
Civil Liberties:
2/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House

 

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COVID-19 Country Response

Travel restrictions
Regularly updated travel information for all countries with regards to Covid-19 related entry regulations, flight bans, test and vaccines requirements is available on TravelDoc Infopage.
To find information about the current travel regulations, including health requirements, it is also advised to consult Travel Regulations Map provided and updated on a daily basis by IATA.
Import & export restrictions
A general overview of trade restrictions which were adopted by different countries during the COVID-19 pandemic is available on the International Trade Centre's COVID-19 Temporary Trade Measures webpage.
Economic recovery plan
The summary of the EU’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic is available on the website of the European Council.
For the general overview of the key economic policy responses to the COVID-19 outbreak (fiscal, monetary and macroeconomic) undertaken by the French government, please consult the section dedicated to France in the IMF’s Policy Tracker platform.
Support plan for businesses
For an evaluation of impact of the Covid pandemic on SMEs and an inventory of country responses to foster SME resilience, refer to the OECD's SME Covid-19 Policy Responses document.
You can also consult the World Bank's Map of SME-Support Measures in Response to COVID-19.

 

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Latest Update: September 2024