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US vs France Unemployment
France moved above United States in 2009. In 1991 United States stood at roughly 74% of France’s Unemployment; today the figure is about 56%, and the pair was closest in 2020 (101%).
| Year | United States | France | France as % of US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.13% | 6.8% | 74% |
| 1970 | 9.13% | 6.8% | 74% |
| 1980 | 9.13% | 6.8% | 74% |
| 1990 | 9.13% | 6.8% | 74% |
| 2000 | 10.22% | 3.99% | 39% |
| 2010 | 9.28% | 9.63% | 104% |
| 2020 | 8.01% | 8.06% | 101% |
| 2025 | 7.54% | 4.2% | 56% |
Frequently asked questions
When did France move above United States in Unemployment?
In 2009. France’s published Unemployment rose above United States’s that year.
How do United States and France compare today?
France is ahead: 7.54% against 4.2% — the trailing economy stands at about 56% of the leader.
Are these Unemployment figures nominal or adjusted?
The series is a share expressed in % of total labor force, exactly as the World Bank publishes it; movements are percentage points, not percent.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: