Due to mounting debt, France is reportedly considering an IMF bailout, according to French Finance Minister Eric Lombard. Since 2011, France’s long-term borrowing costs have been rising, and on August 26, 2025, they reached their highest level at 5.4% of GDP, pushing total public debt to 116.3% of GDP. In 2024, the debt-to-GDP ratio was 113.11%, and it is projected to rise to 128.39% by 2030. This upward trend is driven by primary deficits, rising interest payments, and a slowdown in debt reduction from nominal growth.
| Indicators | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| GDP growth (%, year-over-year) | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.3 |
| Inflation (%, year-over-year) | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| Unemployment (%) | 7.4 | 7.9 | 7.8 |
| General government balance (% of GDP) | -5.8 | -5.6 | -5.7 |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 113.0 | 116.0 | 118.4 |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -0.9 | -0.6 | -0.6 |
The above table presents forecasts by the European Commission. In this table, French inflation is projected at 1.2% in 2026, while unemployment is expected to reach 7.8%. The general government deficit is forecasted at -5.7% of GDP, and gross public debt is projected to rise to 118.4% of GDP. The current account balance is expected to remain negative at -0.6% of GDP. On a positive note, GDP growth is anticipated to recover to 1.3% in 2026.
