Democracy in France - statistics & facts

In 2024, France was deemed the 26th most democratic country in the world according to the Democracy Index. While France had a decent score of nearly eight points out of 10 possible, with higher scores indicating a healthier democracy, this was far below the top five countries. When looking at the reasons France trailed these countries, high abstention rates and mistrust in political figures were some of the main factors.

Number of seats obtained by the presidential majority's party in the National Assembly
168

Largest political group in the Senate
Les Républicains (****seats)

Share of people who declared they stood on the right and far right of the political ladder
**%

Editor’s Picks
Editor’s Picks
Current statistics on this topic

Policy

Number of times article 49.3 was used in France 1958-2025, by Prime Minister

Politics & Government

Share of the French who believe democracy works badly in France 2009-2025

Politics & Government

French level of trust in political figures 2026

Overview

French legislative elections' first round results in 2024, by political party
French legislative elections' first round results in 2024, by political party
Share of votes in the first round of legislative elections in France in 2024, by political party
French election 2024: seats won per coalition in the second round on July 7, 2024
French election 2024: seats won per coalition in the second round on July 7, 2024
Number of seats won per coalition group in the second round of voting in the French legislative election July 7, 2024
Breakdown of political groups in the Senate in France 2024
Breakdown of political groups in the Senate in France 2024
Breakdown of political groups in the Senate in France in 2024, by number of seats
French preference for absolute or relative majority 2022-2024
French preference for absolute or relative majority 2022-2024
Are you more in favor of an absolute or relative majority in the National Assembly?
Political positioning in France 2016-2026
Political positioning in France 2016-2026
Political positions of the French population from 2016 to 2026

Absenteeism

French presidential election first round result in relation to registered voters 2022
French presidential election first round result in relation to registered voters 2022
Percentage of votes received from all registered voters in the first round of the presidential election including abstention and blank votes in France in April 2022
Abstention rate for the presidential election first round in France 2022, by income
Abstention rate for the presidential election first round in France 2022, by income
Rate of abstention in the first round of the presidential election in France in 2022, by level of net monthly household income
Abstention rate in parliamentary elections in France 1958-2024
Abstention rate in parliamentary elections in France 1958-2024
Rate of abstention in legislative elections in France between 1958 and 2024
Reasons for abstention in the European Parliament elections in France 2024
Reasons for abstention in the European Parliament elections in France 2024
Distribution of the reasons for electoral abstention in the European Parliament elections in France in 2024
French opinion on the measures considered helpful to fight against abstention 2023
French opinion on the measures considered helpful to fight against abstention 2023
French opinion on the measures considered helpful to fight against abstention in 2023, by political affiliation

Use of the 49.3 article of the Constitution

Number of times article 49.3 was used in France 1958-2025, by Prime Minister
Number of times article 49.3 was used in France 1958-2025, by Prime Minister
Number of times that article 49.3 was used in the National Assembly in France from 1958 to 2025, by Prime Minister
Negative view on use of article 49.3 to pass pension reform in France 2023, by party
Negative view on use of article 49.3 to pass pension reform in France 2023, by party
Share of people considering the use of article 49.3 of the Constitution to adopt the pension reform as a bad thing in France in March 2023, by political proximity
French opinion on a motion of censure against the 49.3 article in March 2023
French opinion on a motion of censure against the 49.3 article in March 2023
French opinion on a motion of censure against the 49.3 article used by the Prime Minister in March 2023
Share of the French wanting the mobilization against pension reform to continue 2023
Share of the French wanting the mobilization against pension reform to continue 2023
Share of people wishing that the mobilization against the pension reform continues after its vote in the Senate and its adoption via article 49.3 in France in March 2023, by political proximity

Democratic freedoms

Opinion on the state of individual freedoms in France 2023, by political affiliation
Opinion on the state of individual freedoms in France 2023, by political affiliation
Would you say that over the past ten years, individual freedoms strengthened or weakened in France?
Opinion on the guarantee of liberties in France 2023
Opinion on the guarantee of liberties in France 2023
For each of the following freedoms, do you think it is sufficiently guaranteed in France?
Largest demonstrations in France 1984-2023, by police and organizers' estimations
Largest demonstrations in France 1984-2023, by police and organizers' estimations
Largest demonstrations in France between 1984 and 2023, by police and organizers' estimations
Police violence victims treated by volunteers during demonstrations France 2019-2023
Police violence victims treated by volunteers during demonstrations France 2019-2023
Number of police violence victims treated by volunteer rescuers during demonstrations in France between March 9, 2019, and May 1st, 2023
Share of French fearing violence during pension reform demonstration in France 2023
Share of French fearing violence during pension reform demonstration in France 2023
To what extent do you fear going to a pension reform demonstration and being a victim of violence?

Public opinion

Share of the French who believe democracy works badly in France 2009-2025
Share of the French who believe democracy works badly in France 2009-2025
Share of French people who believe that democracy is not functioning well in France between 2009 and 2025
French people trust in the democratic system in France 2014-2024
French people trust in the democratic system in France 2014-2024
French people trust in the democratic system in France from February 2014 to November 2024
French level of trust in political institutions in 2026
French level of trust in political institutions in 2026
French level of trust in political institutions in 2026
French level of trust in political figures 2026
French level of trust in political figures 2026
French level of trust in political figures in 2026
French perception of their political leaders' honesty 2014-2025
French perception of their political leaders' honesty 2014-2025
Would you say that French elected officials and political leaders are honest or corrupt?

Number of seats obtained by the presidential majority's party in the National Assembly
168

Largest political group in the Senate
Les Républicains (****seats)

Share of people who declared they stood on the right and far right of the political ladder
**%

Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Democracy in France" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

- Abstention rate during the first round of the presidential elections
- **%
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Abstention rate for the presidential election first round in France 2022, by income
- Abstention rate during the first round of the legislative elections
- ****%
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Abstention rate in parliamentary elections in France 1958-2024
- Main reason for abstention during the European elections
- These elections will not change your situation
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Reasons for abstention in the European Parliament elections in France 2024

- Share of people who believed individual freedoms weakened in the past ten years
- **%
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Opinion on the state of individual freedoms in France 2023, by political affiliation
- Share of people who believed freedom of speech was guaranteed
- **%
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Opinion on the guarantee of liberties in France 2023
- Share of people who feared going to a pension reform demonstration and being victim of violence
- **%
Log in or register to access full data.
Detailed statistics
Share of French fearing violence during pension reform demonstration in France 2023