Published on Eurydice (https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice) Political situation Since May 2017, the President of the French Republic is Emmanuel Macron, from the movement La République En Marche. He appointed Jean Castex as Prime Minister since 3 July 2020. Within the government, Jean-Michel Blanquer is Minister of National Education, Youth and Sports (MENJS), and Frédérique Vidal is Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI). Economic situation According to Eurostat, in 2019, France is the 2nd largest economy in the EU27 in terms of GDP with 2,425 billion euros (current prices - indicator [nama_10_gdp [1]]). According to the same data, the French GDP was 1,995 billion euros in 2010 and 1,478 billion dollars in 2000. On a per capita basis, these values are respectively 35,960 euros in 2019, 30,690 euros in 2010 and 24,280 euros in 2000 (indicator [nama_10_pc [2]]). In 2019, domestic expenditure on education [3] reached 161 billion euros, or 6.6% of national wealth (GDP). In 2000, DEE was €139 billion (or 7.3% of GDP), and in 2010, DEE was €151 billion (or 7.0% of GDP - Source : MENJS-MESRI-DEPP, Note d'information DEPP n° 20.35 [4], 2020). According to Eurostat data, taken from the Labour force survey (employment survey in France), the French population aged 25-64 is increasingly qualified (Figure 2). Indeed, between 2000 and 2019, the proportion of individuals with low qualifications (ISCED level 0 to 2) among people aged 25-64 decreased by 18.2 percentage points. At the same time, the proportion of higher education graduates (ISCED 5 to 8) among people in the same age group increased by 16.3 percentage points. The proportion of upper secondary school graduates did not change significantly over the period. Figure 2: Changes in the proportions of individuals aged 25-64 by ISCED level achieved in 2000, 2010 and 2019 ISCED 0-2 ISCED 3-4 ISCED 5-8 Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women 2000 37,8 34,8 40,6 40,7 44 37,4 21,6 21,1 22 2010 29,3 28 30,5 41,8 44,8 39 28,9 27,2 30,5 2019 19,6 19,7 19,5 42,5 45,2 40 37,9 35,1 40,6 Reading: In 2000, in France, the distribution of people aged 26 to 64 according to the level of education achieved was as follows: 37.8% had an ISCED level 0 to 2; 40.7% had an ISCED level 3 to 4; and finally, 21.6% had an ISCED level 5 to 8. Source: Eurostat, Labour force survey, indicator [edat_lfse_03 [5]] DID YOU FIND WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? YES NO Contact * Message * Leave this field blank Source URL: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice/france/political-and-economic-situation_en Links [1] https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nama_10_gdp&lang=fr [2] https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nama_10_pc&lang=fr [3] https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice/france/glossary_fr [4] https://www.education.gouv.fr/161-milliards-d-euros-consacres-l-education-en-2019-66-du-pib-306805 [5] https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=edat_lfse_03&lang=fr.