Keep track of France’s public debt in real time.
Public debt
France's public debt
All borrowings by general government
(state, central government agencies, local authorities and social security agencies)
Public debt increases by €5,136 per second.
Public debt/GDP
Public debt-to-GDP ratio (forecast for 2025)
0
.5%
113.2% in 2024, 118.1% in 2027 and 117.2% in 2029. France is the 3rd most indebted country in the EU, behind Greece (153.6%) and Italy (135.3%). EU average: 81.0%; euro zone average: 87.4%; Germany: 62.5%.
Public debt/capita
Public debt per inhabitant
Per capita debt increases by €8.38 every day, or €3,060 per year.
DEBT INTEREST PAYMENTS
State expenditure on interest payments on the public debt in 2025
58 billion in 2024. Interest on the debt is greater than the Defense budget (excluding pensions) and represents the second-largest State budget. Estimated amount at end 2025: €67 billion and €69.6 billion in 2027.
Public debt/State budget
Public debt as a percentage of government revenue (until end 2024)
0
,048%
The stock of debt represents more than ten times the State's annual revenues. A budget surplus of €33 billion a year for a century would be needed to pay off the debt.
STATE BORROWING NEEDS
Net borrowing requirements forecast by Agence France Trésor in 2025
0
billion €
285 billion € in 2024
SHARE OF DEBT HELD BY NON-RESIDENTS
Share of foreign lenders holding French government negotiable debt securities (in 4Q 2024)
0
.6%
compared with 40% in Germany, 30% in Italy and 28% in the UK. Between 3Q 2023 and 3Q 2024, 75% of French debt was purchased by non-residents.
increase in debt
(MACRON)
Rising public debt under Emmanuel Macron’s presidency since Q2 2017
Public debt stood at 2,280.6 billion on June 30, 2017. His presidency was marked by the covid-19 health crisis and the inflationary shock of the war in Ukraine.
increase in debt
(HOLLANDE)
Increase in public debt under the presidency of François Hollande (2012-2017)
0
billion €
Debt stood at €1,922.6 bn at June 30, 2012 and €2,280.6 bn at June 30, 2017.
increase in debt
(SARKOZY)
Increase in public debt under Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency (2007-2012)
0
billion €
Debt stood at €1,277.6 bn at June 30, 2007 and €1,922.6 bn at June 30, 2012. The severe global financial crisis of 2008-2009 led to a massive increase in the budget deficit.
DEBT, THE COVID CRISIS AND INFLATION
Increase in France’s public debt between the end of 2019 and the end of 2023
+
0
.7
points of GDP
Euro zone average: +4.5 points; EU average: +3.9 points
INTERESTS AMOUNT PAID SINCE 1974
Cumulative interest paid on France’s public debt since 1974
The interest paid on the public debt over the past 51 years represents almost half of the current stock of debt.
Sources : INSEE, ministère de l’Économie et des Finances, Banque de France, Agence France Trésor, Gouvernement (“Programme de stabilité 2024-2027”, avril 2024), Fondation IFRAP, Eurostat, Rapport sur la dette des administrations publiques, Assemblée nationale, octobre 2024. Loi de finances 2025, Cour des Comptes (“La situation des finances publiques début 2025).