France
Government finance and cost-of-living data from Eurostat — spending, debt, tax, and comparative prices.
Headline stats
Government debt
115.6% GDP
2025
EU27 avg: 81.7% GDP (2025)
Govt expenditure
57.3% GDP
2024
Budget deficit
5.1% GDP
2025
EU27 avg: 3.1% GDP (2025)
Tax revenue
15.5% GDP
2024
Public sector jobs
8,960k
2025
Tax rates
What France takes — statutory rates and effective burden on workers.
Labour tax wedge
27.2% of labour cost
2025
Top income tax rate
45%
2024
Corporate tax rate
25%
2024
Standard VAT rate
20%
2024
Labour tax wedge: effective % of gross labour cost (salary + employer contributions) going to income tax and social contributions for a single person at average wage. Source: Eurostat earn_nt_taxrate. Statutory rates: OECD Taxing Wages 2024 / EC Taxation Trends 2024.
Comparative prices
France is 8.9% more expensive than the EU average overall (2024). Index: EU27 = 100.
| Category | Price index | vs EU avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level | 108.9 | +8.9% |
| Food & non-alcoholic drinks | 110.1 | +10.1% |
| Housing, utilities & energy | 122.5 | +22.5% |
| Restaurants & hotels | 110.0 | +10.0% |
| Transport | 108.9 | +8.9% |
| Health | 98.9 | -1.1% |
| Education | 97.3 | -2.7% |
| Clothing & footwear | 97.8 | -2.2% |
| Recreation & culture | 105.7 | +5.7% |
| Alcohol & tobacco | 137.1 | +37.1% |
| Household furnishings | 107.7 | +7.7% |
| Communication | 82.2 | -17.8% |
| Miscellaneous | 102.1 | +2.1% |
Source: Eurostat prc_ppp_ind. EU27_2020 = 100. Green = cheaper than EU average.
Government debt since 2011
| Year | Debt (% GDP) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 88.7 | — |
| 2012 | 91.7 | +3 |
| 2013 | 94.6 | +2.9 |
| 2014 | 96.2 | +1.6 |
| 2015 | 97 | +0.8 |
| 2016 | 98.1 | +1.1 |
| 2017 | 98.8 | +0.7 |
| 2018 | 98.5 | -0.3 |
| 2019 | 98.2 | -0.3 |
| 2020 | 114.9 | +16.7 |
| 2021 | 112.8 | -2.1 |
| 2022 | 111.4 | -1.4 |
| 2023 | 109.5 | -1.9 |
| 2024 | 112.6 | +3.1 |
| 2025 | 115.6 | +3 |
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Data sources
| Dataset | Source | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Govt expenditure / debt / deficit | Eurostat gov_10dd_edpt1 | 1995–2025 |
| Tax revenue | Eurostat gov_10a_taxag | 1995–2025 |
| Public employment (NACE O-Q) | Eurostat nama_10_a64_e | 1995–2024 |
| Tax breakdown (VAT, income, social) | Eurostat gov_10a_taxag | 2000–2023 |
| Labour tax wedge | Eurostat earn_nt_taxrate | 2000–2023 |
| Statutory tax rates (income, corporate, VAT) | OECD / EC Taxation Trends 2024 | 2024 |
| Comparative price levels (13 categories) | Eurostat prc_ppp_ind | 1995–2024 |