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The French economy
In 2025, France is the 7th largest economic power in the world.
Key points of the sheet
- France's GDP (PIB) is 2,917.4 billion euros in 2024.
- France trades a lot with Europe: 70% of its trade is with European countries. Germany is its first economic partner.
- For imports, the main partners are Germany, China, Italy, Spain and Belgium. For exports, they are Germany, the United States, Italy, Belgium and Spain.
- The great majority of workers in France work in services, called the "tertiary sector". In 2023, this sector has 80% of jobs.
- In 2023, the secondary sector (industry and construction) has 18% of jobs. The primary sector (farming, fishing, forests or mines) has 2% of jobs.
- Spending on research and development is about 2% of GDP, or 57.4 billion euros in 2022. It is higher than the European Union average.
- After the Covid-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate stabilised at around 7.8% at the end of 2024. It reached 10% in 2013 and started to fall slowly from 2017.
- France is among the countries of the European Union with the highest deficit and debt. The public deficit reaches 169.6 billion euros in 2024 (5.8% of GDP). Public debt is 113% of GDP.
Words to know
- GDP (PIB)
- PIB means "gross domestic product". In 2024, France's GDP is 2,917.4 billion euros.
- tertiary sector (secteur tertiaire)
- It is the services sector, such as trade, education, health, banks or tourism.
- secondary sector (secteur secondaire)
- It is the sector of industry and construction jobs.
- primary sector (secteur primaire)
- It is the sector of farming, fishing, forestry or mining.
- research and development (recherche et développement)
- In France, this spending is about 2% of GDP, more than the European Union average.
- public deficit (déficit public)
- In France, public spending is higher than revenue. The public deficit reaches 169.6 billion euros in 2024.
- public debt (dette publique)
- France's public debt is 113% of GDP.
- unemployment rate (taux de chômage)
- In France, it is around 7.8% at the end of 2024. It reached 10% in 2013.
Test yourself: 3 questions
What is France's leading economic partner?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel est le premier partenaire économique de la France ?
The sheet says that Germany is France's leading economic partner.
In 2023, what share of jobs is in the tertiary sector?
In French, the language of the exam: En 2023, quelle part des emplois est dans le secteur tertiaire ?
In 2023, 80% of jobs are in the tertiary sector, that is, services.
How high is France's public debt?
In French, the language of the exam: À combien s'élève la dette publique de la France ?
The sheet states that France's public debt is 113% of GDP.
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Source
Sheet “L’économie française” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.