Graph: See France’s historic debt levels

France’s debt reached a record €3,346billion at the start of 2025, new government data reveals.

This is €185billion more than the debt levels seen in the first quarter of 2024, and €40billion more than the end of 2024. 

Debt levels rose by €3.8billion more over the months of the 4th quarter of 2024 - 1st quarter of 2025 than the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2024 (where it rose by €36.2billion) suggesting that debt is becoming an ever increasing issue. 

Compared to 30 years ago, national debt has increased by €2,500billion. In 1995, it stood at €701billion. 

The graph below shows the change across the last 30 years

In terms of debt to GDP ratio, this has nearly doubled in 30 years, rising from 57.8% in 1995 to 114%. 

This places it among the worst-performing countries in Europe, behind only Italy and Greece. 

In comparison, Spain saw its debt to GDP ratio reduced in recent reports, with a rate of around 102% in December 2024.

In the same period, the UK had a debt to GDP ratio of 95.9%, Australia 43.8%, and the US 124%.