Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in France
France: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -5.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in France, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in France stood at -5.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in France peaked at 1.6% in 1973 and was at its lowest, -8.8%, in 2020.
That places France 129th out of 156 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in France, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1.4% | — |
| 1973 | 1.6% | +13.9% |
| 1974 | 1.4% | -11.9% |
| 1975 | -1.2% | -186.9% |
| 1976 | 0.6% | -149.9% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | -94.3% |
| 1978 | -1.1% | -3181.4% |
| 1979 | -0.1% | -91.8% |
| 1980 | 0.5% | -678.9% |
| 1981 | -1.2% | -330.1% |
| 1982 | -1.9% | +58.9% |
| 1983 | -2.4% | +26.4% |
| 1984 | -2.3% | -3.0% |
| 1985 | -2.4% | +4.1% |
| 1986 | -2.4% | -1.2% |
| 1987 | -1.7% | -29.8% |
| 1988 | -1.4% | -15.5% |
| 1989 | -1.0% | -27.1% |
| 1990 | -1.4% | +37.7% |
| 1991 | -1.9% | +32.2% |
| 1992 | -3.6% | +90.8% |
| 1993 | -5.6% | +56.7% |
| 1994 | -5.5% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | -4.8% | -13.5% |
| 1996 | -3.8% | -20.3% |
| 1997 | -3.8% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | -2.6% | -32.4% |
| 1999 | -1.7% | -32.5% |
| 2000 | -1.4% | -20.5% |
| 2001 | -1.5% | +6.1% |
| 2002 | -3.3% | +121.8% |
| 2003 | -4.1% | +25.8% |
| 2004 | -3.4% | -17.6% |
| 2005 | -3.3% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | -2.4% | -26.3% |
| 2007 | -2.6% | +5.2% |
| 2008 | -3.0% | +16.8% |
| 2009 | -7.0% | +135.4% |
| 2010 | -7.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | -5.2% | -25.7% |
| 2012 | -4.9% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | -4.5% | -8.0% |
| 2014 | -4.3% | -5.2% |
| 2015 | -3.9% | -10.2% |
| 2016 | -3.9% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | -3.4% | -11.4% |
| 2018 | -2.4% | -30.1% |
| 2019 | -2.3% | -4.4% |
| 2020 | -8.8% | +282.9% |
| 2021 | -6.5% | -25.3% |
| 2022 | -4.7% | -28.2% |
| 2023 | -5.0% | +7.0% |
| 2024 | -5.2% | +4.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's -5.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is -1.8%, 2.9× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- France's -5.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -1.5%, 3.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | -3181.4% | 0.0% | -1.1% |
| 1980 | +678.9% | -0.1% | 0.5% |
| 1981 | -330.1% | 0.5% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | -282.9% | -2.3% | -8.8% |
| 1975 | -186.9% | 1.4% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.3% | -1.2% | 1.6% | 8 |
| 1980s | -1.6% | -2.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.5% | -5.6% | -1.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | -3.2% | -7.0% | -1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | -4.2% | -7.0% | -2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -6.1% | -8.8% | -4.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
More public sector data for France
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in France?
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in France was -5.2% in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 1.6% in 1973.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.8% in 2020.
- How does France rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- France ranks 129th out of 156 countries with data for 2024.
- Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.