Question 5
How does France compare with its neighbours?
In 2025, France had the 3rd highest public debt of the EU’s 27 countries (115.6% of GDP), behind Greece and Italy. It ranks 2nd for public spending and 2nd for revenue: a country that spends a lot and levies a lot, yet still borrows to balance its budget.
The ranking
France among the 27
Pick an indicator: countries are ranked from highest to lowest. The vertical line marks the European Union average.
Public debt, % of GDP, 2025
The two EU rules
Debt and deficit: who follows the rules?
EU rules set two reference values: debt below 60% of GDP and a deficit below 3%. In 2025, 7 countries exceeded both: Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and Finland.
The trajectory
Some countries cut their debt; France did not
Since 2019, the last year before Covid, debt has risen by 17.4 points of GDP in France, against +4.8 points in Germany. It fell markedly in Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and Ireland.
Public debt, % of GDP
Where does the gap come from?
Where France spends more than average
In 2024, France spent 8.3 points of GDP more than the EU average. Social protection alone accounts for 4.1 points of that gap, of which 2.7 for pensions, and health for 1.6.
points of GDP above or below the EU average
- Social protection+4.1France 23.7% · EU 19.6%
- of which pensions and old age+2.7France 13.4% · EU 10.7%
- Health+1.6France 8.9% · EU 7.3%
- Housing and amenities+0.7France 1.4% · EU 0.7%
- Economic affairs+0.4France 5.7% · EU 5.3%
- Defence+0.4France 1.9% · EU 1.5%
- Education+0.4France 5.1% · EU 4.7%
- Sport and culture+0.3France 1.5% · EU 1.2%
- Environment+0.2France 1.0% · EU 0.8%
- General public services+0.1France 6.2% · EU 6.1%
- Police, courts, fire services+0.1France 1.8% · EU 1.7%
These choices are neither good nor bad in themselves: they reflect a social model where pensions and healthcare are mostly public. But they have to be paid for.