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OECD Better Life Index

FranceDid you know?

Population 63.2 mil.

Visitors per year 77.1 mil.

Renewable energy 8.07 %

How’s Life?

France performs well in many measures of well-being relative to most other countries in the

Better Life Index. France ranksabove the average in income and wealth, housing, health status,

civic engagement, work-life balance and personal security. It ranks below average in subjective

well-being, environmental quality, social connections, education and skills, and jobs and earnings.

These rankings are based on available selected data.

Money, while it cannot buy happiness, is an important means to achieving higher living standards.

In France, the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 31 137 a

year, higher than the OECD average of USD 30 563 a year. But there is a considerable gap between

the richest and poorest – the top 20% of the population earn close to five times as much as the

bottom 20%.

In terms of employment, about 65% of people aged 15 to 64 in France have a paid job, below

the OECD employment average of 67%. Some 68% of men are in paid work, compared with 61% of

Learn even more about France at oecd.org

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women. Almost 8% of employees work very long hours, less than the OECD average of 13%,

with 11% of men working very long hours compared with 5% of women.

Good education and skills are important requisites for finding a job. In France, 78% of adults aged

25-64 have completed upper secondary education, higher than the OECD average of 74%.This

is slightly truer of men than women, as 79% of men have successfully completed high school

compared with 78% of women. In terms of the quality of the education system, the average

student scored 496 in reading literacy, maths and science in the OECD's Programme for

International Student Assessment (PISA). This score is higher than the OECD average of 486. On

average in France, girls outperformed boys by 7 points, higher than the average OECD gap of 2

points.

In terms of health, life expectancy at birth in France is 82 years, two years higher than the

OECD average of 80 years. Life expectancy for women is 86 years, compared with 79 for men. The

level of atmospheric PM2.5 – tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause

damage to the lungs – is 13.4 micrograms per cubic meter, almost in line with the OECD average

of 13.9 micrograms per cubic meter. France also performs well in terms of water quality, as 82% of

people say they are satisfied with the quality of their water, broadly in line with the OECD

average of 81%.

Concerning the public sphere, there is a strong sense of community and high levels of civic

participation in France, where 88% of people believe that they know someone they could rely

on in time of need, broadly in line with the OECD average of 89%. Voter turnout, a measure of

citizens' participation in the political process, was 75% during recent elections, higher than the

OECD average of 69%. Social and economic status can affect voting rates; voter turnout for the

top 20% of the population is an estimated 78% and for the bottom 20% it is an estimated 70%

less than the OECD average gap of 13 percentage points.

In general, French people are less satisfied with their lives than the OECD average. When asked to

rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, French people gave it a 6.4 grade

on average, broadly in line with the OECD average of 6.5.

For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section

(http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/about/better-life-initiative/) and BLI database (http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?

DataSetCode=BLI).

Topics

Housing

6.9

Income

9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index

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4.7

Jobs

6.8

Community

5.6

Education

5.8

Environment

6.0

Civic engagement

5.5

Health

7.9

Life Satisfaction

5.9

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Safety

8.2

Work-Life Balance

8.9

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OECD in Action

OECD Economic Surveys: France 2017

GDP is set to grow fairly strongly in 2017-18, supported by private consumption and investment.

The labour market has started to improve. However, productivity gains are too low to sustain

social protection, high-quality public services and rising incomes in the long run.

Read this report

9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index

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Find Out More

OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: France 2016 (http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-

Management/oecd/environment/oecd-environmental-performance-reviews-france-2016_9789264252714-

en#.V_z9SPl95aQ)

International Migration Outlook 2015: France (http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-

Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/international-migration-outlook-2015/france_migr_outlook-

2015-17-en#page1)

Employment Outlook 2015: France (http://www.oecd.org/france/Employment-Outlook-France-EN.pdf)

France in Detail

Living in satisfactory housing conditions is one of the most important aspects of people's lives.

Housing is essential to meet basic needs, such as shelter, but it is not just a question of four walls

and a roof. Housing should offer a place to sleep and rest where people feel safe and have privacy

and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family. All of these elements help make a house a

home. And of course there is the question whether people can afford adequate housing.

Housing costs take up a large share of the household budget and represent the largest single

expenditure for many individuals and families, by the time you add up elements such as rent, gas,

electricity, water, furniture or repairs. In France, households on average spend 21% of their gross

more ... (http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/environment/oecd-environmental-performance-reviews-france-

2016_9789264252714-en#.V_z9SPl95aQ)

more ... (http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/international-migration-outlook-

2015/france_migr_outlook-2015-17-en#page1)

more ... (http://www.oecd.org/france/Employment-Outlook-France-EN.pdf)

Housing

Key Findings

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Rank:

19 / 38

Rank:

17 / 38

Rank:

21 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

adjusted disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, slightly above the OECD

average of 20%.

In addition to housing costs it is also important to examine living conditions, such as the average

number of rooms shared per person and whether households have access to basic facilities. The

number of rooms in a dwelling, divided by the number of persons living there, indicates whether

residents are living in crowded conditions. Overcrowded housing may have a negative impact on

physical and mental health, relations with others and children's development. In addition, dense

living conditions are often a sign of inadequate water and sewage supply. In France, the average

home contains 1.8 rooms per person, in line with the OECD average. In terms of basic

facilities, 99.5% of people in France live in dwellings with private access to an indoor

flushing toilet, more than the OECD average of 97.9%.

More Resources

Indicators

Rooms per person

1.8 rooms

Dwellings with basic facilities

99.5%

Housing expenditure

21%

Trend

 +0.1%

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

Income

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Rank:

8 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

4.47 rich poor

Rank:

14 / 38

While money may not buy happiness, it is an important means to achieving higher living standards

and thus greater well-being. Higher economic wealth may also improve access to quality

education, health care and housing.

Household net adjusted disposable income is the amount of money that a household earns each

year after taxes and transfers. It represents the money available to a household for spending on

goods or services. In France, the average household net adjusted disposable income per

capita is USD 31 137 a year, higher than the OECD average of USD 30 563.

Household financial wealth is the total value of a household's financial worth, such as money or

shares held in bank accounts. In France, the average household net financial wealth per capita

is estimated at USD 59 479, lower than the OECD average of USD 90 570. While the ideal

measure of household wealth should also include non-financial assets (e.g. land and dwellings),

such information is currently available for only a small number of OECD countries, and is not

included here.

For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section

(http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/about/better-life-initiative/) and BLI database (http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?

DataSetCode=BLI).

More Resources

Indicators

Household net adjusted disposable income

31137USD

Trend

 +0.0%

Social Inequality

Household financial wealth

Key Findings

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

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Rank:

15 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

59479USD

Trend

 +0.0%

Having a job brings many important benefits, including: providing a source of income, improving

social inclusion, fulfilling one’s own aspirations, building self-esteem and developing skills and

competencies. In France, about 65% of the working-age population aged 15 to 64 has a paid

job. This figure is lower than the OECD employment average of 67%.

Unemployed persons are defined as those who are not currently working but are willing to do so

and actively searching for work. Long-term unemployment can have a large negative effect on

feelings of well-being and self-worth and result in a loss of skills, further reducing employability. In

France, the percentage of the labour force that has been unemployed for a year or longer is

currently at 4.3%, higher than the OECD average of 2%.

The wages and other monetary benefits that come with employment are an important aspect of

job quality. French people earn USD 42 992 per year on average, less than the OECD average of

USD 44 290.

Another essential factor of employment quality is job security, in terms of expected loss of

earnings when someone becomes unemployed. This includes how likely you are to lose your job,

how long you are likely to remain unemployed and how much financial assistance you can expect

from government. Workers facing a high risk of job loss are more vulnerable, especially in countries

with smaller social safety nets. In France, workers face an expected 5% loss of earnings if they

become unemployed, slightly higher than the OECD average of 4.9%.

For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section

(http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/about/better-life-initiative/) and BLI database (http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?

DataSetCode=BLI).

Developing green skills  

Jobs

Key Findings

Better Policies for Better Lives

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Rank:

28 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

1.11 men women

Rank:

12 / 38

1.66 rich poor

Rank:

32 / 38

Poor construction skills are often considered a possible weak link in the implementation of new

building codes. Thus the introduction of new building codes to improve the energy efficiency of

housing and commercial buildings requires re-training for construction workers. France introduced

a certification system with a specific label for companies that conducted specific training of their

staff on energy efficiency. Companies that adhere to the requirements receive a recognised

environmental guarantee (RGE) label. Public awareness campaigns have encouraged consumers to

ask for trained professionals with these labels. Companies are further encouraged to obtain this

label as public financial assistance for renovating buildings only employs RGE-labelled companies.

FEEBAT is another programme of continuous vocational training partly financed by Électricité de

France through the white certificates system. The programme trained 48 000 construction

professional between 2008 and 2012 and has been prolonged to 2017.

More Resources

Indicators

Employment rate

64.6%

Trend

 +0.1%

Gender Inequality

Social Inequality

Long-term unemployment rate

4.3%

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

OECD Job Quality Database

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Rank:

31 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

1.15 men women

Rank:

17 / 38

3.14 rich poor

Rank:

26 / 38

Rank:

14 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

1.20 men women

Rank:

14 / 38

1.94 rich poor

Rank:

6 / 38

Trend

 +0.1%

Gender Inequality

Social Inequality

Personal earnings

42992USD

Trend

 +0.0%

Gender Inequality

Social Inequality

Job security

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Rank:

28 / 38

Rank:

28 / 38

1.01 men women

Rank:

10 / 38

1.27 rich poor

5%

Humans are social creatures. The frequency of our contact with others and the quality of our

personal relationships are thus crucial determinants of our well-being.

A strong social network, or community, can provide emotional support during both good and bad

times as well as provide access to jobs, services and other material opportunities. In France, 88% of

people believe that they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, very similar to

the OECD average of 89%. 

A weak social network can result in limited economic opportunities, a lack of contact with others,

and eventually, feelings of isolation. Socially isolated individuals face difficulties integrating into

society as a contributing member and fulfilling personal aspirations. 

More Resources

Indicators

Quality of support network

88.4%

Gender Inequality

Social Inequality

Community

Key Findings

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

OECD Insights: Human Capital

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Rank:

23 / 28

A well-educated and well-trained population is essential for a country's social and economic well-

being. Education plays a key role in providing individuals with the knowledge, skills and

competences needed to participate effectively in society and in the economy. Having a good

education greatly improves the likelihood of finding a job and earning enough money. The French

can expect to go through 16.5 years of education between the ages of 5 and 39, less than the

OECD average of 17 years.

Graduating from upper secondary education has become increasingly important in all countries, as

the skills needed in the labour market are becoming more knowledge-based. High-school

graduation rates therefore provide a good indication of whether a country is preparing its

students to meet the minimum requirements of the job market. In France, 78% of adults aged 25-

64 have completed upper secondary education, higher than the OECD average of 74%.

But graduation rates, while important, speak little to the quality of education received. The

OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reviews the extent to which

students have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in

modern societies. In 2015, PISA focused on examining students' reading ability, skills in maths and

level in sciences, as research shows that these skills are more reliable predictors of economic and

social well-being than the number of years spent in school.

The average student in France scored 496 in reading literacy, maths and sciences, above the

OECD average of 486. The best-performing school systems manage to provide high-quality

education to all students. 

Preparing youth for employment

French Second Chance Schools help young adults between 18 and 25 improve their skills to get a

job. These schools target youth who have been out of school for over a year and do not have a

diploma or qualifications. Students are offered individual education plans to boost their literacy,

numeracy and ICT skills. This is complemented by a work placement to gain labour market skills

and strong links with employers.

Education

Key Findings

Better Policies for Better Lives

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Rank:

25 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

1.02 men women

Second Chance Schools were established in 107 local areas and reached 15 115 students by 2015.

Evaluations show that the potential long-term effects of these schools on youth employability are

promising. Over a three year period, 58% of students in the metropolitan area exited these schools

with a labour market option in training (20%), jobs (17%), apprenticeships (12%), and subsidised

employment (9%).

Developing employment through apprenticeships

The Education Act 2013 aims to double number of students combining education with

employment by 2020. Students in France can begin an apprenticeship at a variety of levels,

including upper secondary, two-year post-secondary, bachelor and masters level qualifications.

Enterprises offering apprenticeships receive tax credits and social security exemptions.

Apprenticeships have grown in popularity, particularly at the tertiary or upper secondary level. For

example, 75% of apprentices hired on the contrat de professionalisation, an apprenticeship-type

contract for older workers and jobseekers, had at least an upper secondary qualification. By

contrast, apprenticeships are much more difficult to access for young students and workers with

lower qualifications. Apprenticeships account for only about a third of all vocational students in

secondary education. Evidence shows that employment rates are higher for apprentices that have

combined training in a company with study in an apprentice training centre compared to other

graduates from vocational schools. The government plans to expand the access to apprenticeships

at vocational secondary schools, notably at the lower-secondary level, strengthen links with

enterprises and develop better guidance for students. This is the right approach to make

apprenticeships more accessible for those who are most likely to benefit.

More Resources

Indicators

Educational attainment

78.1%

Trend

 +1.0%

Gender Inequality

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

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Rank:

9 / 38

Rank:

20 / 38

1.01 men women

Rank:

23 / 38

1.26 rich poor

Rank:

36 / 38

Rank:

28 / 38

1.04 men women

Rank:

19 / 38

Student skills

496 score

Gender Inequality

Social Inequality

Years in education

16.5 years

Gender Inequality

The quality of our local living environment has a direct impact on our health and well-being.

Outdoor air pollution is one important environmental issue that directly affects the quality of

Environment

Key Findings

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people's lives. Despite national and international interventions and decreases in major pollutant

emissions, the health impacts of urban air pollution continue to worsen, with air pollution set

to become the top environmental cause of premature mortality globally by 2050. Air pollution in

urban centres, often caused by transport and the use of small-scale burning of wood or coal, is

linked to a range of health problems, from minor eye irritation to upper respiratory symptoms in

the short-term and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung

cancer in the long-term. Children and the elderly may be particularly vulnerable.

PM2.5 – tiny particulate matter small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lung – is

monitored in OECD countries because it can harm human health and reduce life expectancy. In

France, PM2.5 levels are 13.4 micrograms per cubic meter, almost in line with the OECD average

of 13.9 micrograms per cubic meter but higher than the annual guideline limit of 10 micrograms

per cubic meter set by the World Health Organization.

Access to clean water is fundamental to human well-being. Despite significant progress in OECD

countries in reducing water pollution, improvements in freshwater quality are not always easy to

discern. In France, 82% of people say they are satisfied with water quality, broadly in line with

the OECD average of 81%.

Public transportation for lower carbon emissions

STIF, the organising transport authority for the Île-de-France, is a good example of how

institutional co-ordination can advance low-carbon mobility goals. STIF defines operational and

services level targets, set fares, and negotiate performance-based contracts with public service

providers. They also develop an urban mobility plan which includes objectives and actions to help

reach the national CO emissions mitigation target of a 20% reduction by 2020. By including

stakeholders and the public, this framework has helped foster consensus over plans and develop

coherence in projects implemented by different authorities. These efforts have helped increase the

provision of public transport (measured by the number of trips) by 27% between 2000 and 2014.

Reducing air pollution in Paris

In 2014, over 2.3 million residents in Île-de-France were exposed to levels of fine particles and

nitrogen dioxide above safe limits for human health. In 2015, the city of Paris adopted a plan to

combat air pollution which included incentive measures to encourage use of public transport,

subsidies to purchase electric bicycles and cars, and the extension of the bike lane network and 30

km/h zones. It also became the first city in France to test restricted traffic zones. Since 1

September 2015, vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes identified as heavily polluting may not circulate

in Paris between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. This ban will be extended progressively to other polluting

vehicles according to a fixed schedule by 2020. Air quality will also improved through the

reduction of the tax differential between diesel and petrol. The government plan to align the rates

before 2022.

Better Policies for Better Lives

2

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Rank:

18 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

Rank:

24 / 38

1.05 men women

Rank:

34 / 38

Reducing the use of pesticides by spreading good practices

The Dephy network of demonstration and experimentation farms tests, verifies, develops and rolls

out agricultural techniques and systems for reducing the use of plant protection products. At the

end of 2014, 1 900 farms were voluntary members of the network. All the sectors involved have

managed to reduce their use of plant protection products while maintaining very good

productivity levels. The 2015 Ecophyto II Plan aims to increase the number of farms in the Dephy

network to 3 000 and to share their practices with a further 30 000 farms.

 

More Resources

Indicators

Air pollution

13.4 micrograms

Trend

 -0.0%

Water quality

81.7%

Gender Inequality

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050

Civic Engagement

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Trust in government is essential for social cohesion and well-being. High voter turnout is a

measure of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which

data are available, voter turnout in France was 75% of those registered. This figure is higher

than the OECD average of 69%.

Broader public engagement in the decision-making process is also important for holding the

government to account and maintaining confidence in public institutions. The formal process for

public engagement in developing laws and regulations is one way to measure the extent to which

people can become involved in government decisions on key issues that affect their lives. In

France, the level of stakeholder engagement in developing regulations is 2.1 (on a scale between 0

and 4); lower than the OECD average of 2.4.

Coding for better, more understandable services

Source codes for software written by public authorities are considred administrative documents

and publicly available in France. Free access was first granted after the administrative court in Paris

reviewed a denied request for the source code of the fiscal caluculator used for the income taxes

for some 37 million citizens.

In 2016, a vote was put by the French National Assembly for a new bill on digital rights, including

algorithmic transparency. Later that year, Etalab and the Direction Général des Finances Publiques

(DGFIP) organised a “hackathon” called #CodeImpot. This event promoted the use of code to

develop services that build trust between citizens and the government in relation to the taxation

process. Over 150 students, scientists, developers, national authorities, start-ups and

entrepreneurs attended creating 9 projects. Among the new projects was a new tool to make

income tax more understandable and help people compare their fiscal situation to that of others.

For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section

(http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/about/better-life-initiative/) and BLI database (http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?

DataSetCode=BLI).

More Resources

Indicators

Voter turnout

74.6%

Key Findings

Better Policies for Better Lives

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

Regulatory Policy Outlook: France

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Rank:

15 / 38

average annual increasesince 2007

  

1.02 men women

Rank:

18 / 38

1.11 rich poor

Rank:

15 / 38

Rank:

18 / 38

Trend

 -1.1%

Gender Inequality

Social Inequality

Stakeholder engagement for developing regulations

2.1 index

Most OECD countries have enjoyed large gains in life expectancy over the past decades, thanks to

improvements in living conditions, public health interventions and progress in medical

care. Life expectancy at birth in France stands at 82 years, two years above the OECD average

of 80 years. Higher life expectancy is generally associated with higher health care spending per

person, although many other factors have an impact on life expectancy (such as living standards,

lifestyles, education and environmental factors). 

When asked, "How is your health in general?" 68% of people in France reported to be in good

health, close to the OECD average of 69%. Despite the subjective nature of this question, answers

have been found to be a good predictor of people's future health care use. Gender, age and social

status may affect answers to this question. 

Health

Key Findings

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Rank:

7 / 38

 

Lean hospitals for better service delivery

France launched a number of performance projects in 2009 to improve the quality of service,

global efficiency and working conditions in hospitals. These projects promote participative

management and are results-oriented. Following the success of a pilot conducted in a training

hospital in Nancy performance projects have been rolled out in hospitals across France. Around 30

performance projects are up and running.

The increased involvement of medical and paramedical staff and reduced number of tasks has

lowered the average emergency room waiting time by 28%. Operating room occupancy rates have

also increased by 20% thanks to the optimisation of technical equipment and better monitoring.

Staff have also reviewed their processes to remove inefficiencies and improve the functioning of

daily services. The introduction of participative management has also encouraged communication

and collaboration between staff. Together these changes have improved the quality of patient

experiences.

Helping people with chronic illness

The Sophia programme offers support for people suffering from chronic illnesses. The services are

completely free of charge and provide access to nurses who answer questions, inform patients and

help them find concrete solutions to living with their illness, as well as information via a website,

e-mails, brochures and newsletter.

Some 140 000 people joined the pilot programme, with the expectation of reaching double that

number following programme roll out across the country.

An independent evaluation of the pilot showed net savings, with the cost of the programme more

than offset by a decrease of hospital spending. Patients appreciated the advice given by the

nurses and said the service helped them change their behaviour.

More Resources

Indicators

Life expectancy

82.4 years

Trend

Better Policies for Better Lives

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

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average annual increasesince 2005

 

1.08 men women

Rank:

31 / 38

Rank:

21 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

1.07 men women

Rank:

19 / 38

1.22 rich poor

Rank:

9 / 38

 +0.0%

Gender Inequality

Self-reported health

67.8%

Trend

 -0.1%

Gender Inequality

Social Inequality

Happiness or subjective well-being can be measured in terms of life satisfaction, the presence of

positive experiences and feelings, and the absence of negative experiences and feelings. Such

measures, while subjective, are a useful complement to objective data to compare the quality of

life across countries.

Life Satisfaction

Key Findings

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Rank:

23 / 38

1.01 men women

Rank:

11 / 38

1.18 rich poor

Rank:

25 / 33

Life satisfaction measures how people evaluate their life as a whole rather than their current

feelings. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, French

people on average gave it a 6.4 grade,  broadly in line with the OECD average of 6.5.

Using Key National Indicators

The Loi Organique Relative aux Lois des Finances (LOLF) requires that the government presents

wealth and well-being indicators other than GDP when tabling the annual budget to promote

debate on policy impacts. The government is planning to implement a strategic dashboard using a

limit set of internationally-comparable Key National Indicators. These indicators will be grouped

by three themes: economic development, social progress and sustainable development.

More Resources

Indicators

Life satisfaction

6.4 rate

Gender Inequality

Social Inequality

Better Policies for Better Lives

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

Safety

Key Findings

9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/france/ 22/24

Rank:

21 / 38

1.15 men women

Rank:

5 / 38

Rank:

7 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

2.00 men women

Rank:

20 / 37

Personal security is a core element for the well-being of individuals. Do you feel safe out walking,

alone at night, for example? In France, about 70% of people say that they feel safe walking

alone at night, broadly in line with the OECD average of 69%.

The homicide rate (the number of murders per 100 000 inhabitants) is a more reliable measure of a

country's safety level because, unlike other crimes, murders are usually always reported to the

police. According to the latest OECD data, France's homicide rate is 0.6, much lower than the

OECD average of 3.6. 

More Resources

Indicators

Feeling safe walking alone at night

69.6%

Gender Inequality

Homicide rate

0.6 homicides

Trend

 -0.0%

Gender Inequality

How's Life?: Measuring Well-being

9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/france/ 23/24

Finding a suitable balance between work and life is a challenge for all workers, especially working

parents. The ability to successfully combine work, family commitments and personal life is

important for the well-being of all members in a household. Governments can help to address the

issue by encouraging supportive and flexible working practices, making it easier for parents to

strike a better balance between work and home life.

An important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work. Evidence

suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardise safety and increase stress. In

France, almost 8% of employees work very long hours, less than the OECD average of 13%.

The more people work, the less time they have to spend on other activities, such as time with

others, leisure activities, eating or sleeping. The amount and quality of leisure time is important

for people's overall well-being, and can bring additional physical and mental health benefits. In

France full-time workers devote 68% of their day on average, or 16.4 hours, to personal

care (eating, sleeping, etc.) and leisure (socialising with friends and family, hobbies, games,

computer and television use, etc.) – more than the OECD average of 15 hours. 

Greater gender equality can be achieved in France

France performs well in a number of important dimensions of work-life balance: fertility is above

the OECD average; the employment rate of women aged 25 to 54 is above the OECD average, and

78% of them work full-time; and despite a recent slight increase, at 10.8% the child poverty rate

regarding children aged from 0 to 17 remains below the OECD average (13.9%). These positive

outcomes go hand-in-hand with high investment in family policies across the different stages of

childhood.

Despite these positive outcomes, access to the labour market of mothers of young or large families

could be improved but would likely require a more equal share of caring activities between

parents. A greater involvement of fathers in care activities after childbirth is likely to facilitate the

return to work of mothers. Fathers are entitled to paid paternity leave for two weeks (11 working

days). In addition, parents of two or more children can leave employment or reduce working time

after childbirth and receive a flat-rate childcare benefit for up to three years. Since July 2014, one

parent (usually the mother) can claim this payment for two and half years while the other parent

(usually the father) can take the remaining 6 months. This reform was introduced to encourage

fathers to take more parental leave and get more involved in the care of children. However, at the

same time this payment encourages young mothers with limited working hours and earnings to

Work-Life Balance

Key Findings

Better Policies for Better Lives

9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/france/ 24/24

Rank:

25 / 38

average annual increasesince 2005

  

2.21 men women

Rank:

11 / 38

Rank:

1 / 38

1.04 men women

Rank:

29 / 38

stop working for a prolonged period which is likely to negatively affect their future employment

prospects.

More Resources

Indicators

Employees working very long hours

7.8%

Trend

 -0.1%

Gender Inequality

Time devoted to leisure and personal care

16.4 hours

Gender Inequality

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How's Life?: Measuring Well-being