Debt Clock France is an informative website designed to provide a clear, concise overview of France’s main national accounting data.

The statistics presented here come from official or public sources and are updated regularly.

The counters are based on dynamic projections calculated from known and published economic data and financial forecasts. Fixed figures are updated as soon as they and their reference period are known.

As some data are only available several months late, they are smoothed over the year on the basis of trends or trajectories shown in official documents (e.g. Finance Acts). When these data are not available, the previous year’s trends are used until fresher official data are published.

For example, official figures for French public debt and the debt/GDP ratio are not published by INSEE until around 80 days after the end of each quarter, and the same applies to budget deficit and foreign trade figures, which may also be subject to seasonal variations.

It is possible, however, to cross-reference these data with others without waiting for a definitive figure, which makes it possible to extrapolate trends.

Without claiming absolute accuracy, real-time counters are therefore the most reliable possible, reflecting the reality of the situation at time T with a tiny or relatively marginal margin of error.