France enrolled 12.58 million students across its primary, secondary, and apprenticeship programs in the 2024–2025 school year. The country spent €189.9 billion on education in 2023, equal to 6.7% of GDP. With 58,100 schools, 852,800 teachers, and a tertiary attainment rate of 53% among 25–34 year-olds, France operates one of the largest public education systems in Europe.
Education in France Key Statistics
- France had 12,579,500 learners enrolled in primary, secondary, and apprenticeship programs as of 2024–2025.
- Total domestic education expenditure reached €189.9 billion in 2023, or 6.7% of GDP.
- 53% of 25–34 year-olds held a tertiary qualification in 2024, up from 48% in 2019.
- 443,500 international students were enrolled in French higher education in 2024–2025, a 17% increase over five years.
- 78.8% of a generation obtained the baccalauréat across all pathways combined as of the latest reporting year.
Education in France Enrollment by Level
France’s education system is split into three main stages: primary (including pre-primary), secondary (collège and lycée), and higher education. In 2024–2025, primary-level enrollment totaled 6,317,400 learners, with 2,265,800 in pre-primary and 4,051,600 in elementary school. Collège (lower secondary) enrolled 3,386,800 students, while lycée (upper secondary) enrolled 2,248,900.
Within lycée, 1,598,800 students pursued general or technological tracks and 650,100 were in vocational programs. More than 2.9 million students were enrolled in higher education institutions during the 2023–2024 academic year, more than double the 1.18 million recorded in 1980.
Education in France Spending and Funding
France allocated 5.32% of GDP to public education spending in 2022, according to World Bank data. The broader domestic measure—including private spending and all education levels—reached 6.7% of GDP in 2023 at €189.9 billion. France’s secondary education expenditure as a share of GDP was 2.5%, the highest among all 39 OECD and partner countries tracked.
Spending per tertiary student was $21,021, above the OECD average. Government expenditure on research and development, however, has stayed flat at around 2.2% of GDP since 2010.
Education in France Tertiary Attainment Rates
Tertiary attainment among 25–34 year-olds in France reached 53% in 2024, a five-point increase since 2019 and above the 48% OECD average. Master’s-level attainment stood at 26% for the same age group, compared to 16% across the OECD. The share of young adults without upper secondary education dropped from 13% to 11% over the same five-year period.
In 2023, 34% of graduates earned degrees in business, administration, and law. Arts and humanities accounted for 26%, and STEM fields made up 19%. France’s tertiary admission system had a 95% acceptance rate in 2024, the highest among 20 countries surveyed by the OECD. Of those accepted, 83% actually enrolled.
Education in France Bachelor’s Completion Rates
Completion rates at public universities remain a weak point. Only 34% of new entrants completed a bachelor’s degree on time in 2023. That figure rose to 46% when counting students who finished within one additional year. The OECD averages for the same measures were 43% and 59%, respectively.
Education in France Teaching Workforce
The French education system employed 852,800 teachers and 353,950 non-teaching staff in 2024–2025, for a total workforce of 1,218,100. The Ministry of National Education is the country’s largest employer. Class sizes in primary schools averaged 22 students, the seventh-highest ratio among 35 OECD countries. The student-to-teacher ratio was 18.1 at the primary level, 14.7 at lower secondary.
Teacher salaries in France remain below OECD averages. Primary teachers earned 26% less than other workers with tertiary-level education in 2024. Lower secondary teachers earned 18% less. Mid-career salaries for teachers with 15 years of experience were $49,462 at the primary level, well below the OECD average of $59,673. After the 2024 recruitment cycle, 3,000 teaching positions remained unfilled.
| Metric | France | OECD Average |
|---|---|---|
| Primary class size (students) | 22 | 21 |
| Student-teacher ratio (primary) | 18.1 | 14.5 |
| Student-teacher ratio (lower secondary) | 14.7 | 13.2 |
| Mid-career salary, primary (USD) | $49,462 | $59,673 |
| Mid-career salary, lower secondary (USD) | $53,086 | $61,563 |
International Students in France Statistics
France hosted 443,500 international students in 2024–2025, a 3% increase over the previous year and 17% growth over five years. Foreign students now account for nearly 15% of total higher education enrollment. Morocco, Algeria, and China are the top three countries of origin.
By region, 52% of international students came from Africa, 22% from Asia, and 17% from Europe. India became the 11th-largest sending country with 9,100 students, a 17% year-over-year jump. Ukrainian student numbers grew 141% over five years, reaching 4,200 enrollees. Students from Italy and Spain both increased more than 35% over the same period.
Education in France PISA and Academic Performance
French 15-year-olds scored 474 in mathematics, 474 in reading, and 487 in science on the 2022 PISA assessment. Around 29% of students lacked basic skills in math. That figure climbed to 49% among students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Only 14.4% of disadvantaged students performed at level 4 or above in any PISA domain, below the EU average of 16.3%.
In the 2023 TIMSS assessment, French fourth and eighth graders recorded some of the lowest scores among 22 EU countries. Top-performance rates in primary math (3%) and science (4%) were far below the EU-22 averages of 10% and 11%. The link between socioeconomic background and academic results was stronger in France than in most other EU countries.
Education in France School Infrastructure
France operates 58,100 schools and establishments as of 2024–2025. The breakdown includes 47,400 primary schools, 7,000 collèges, and 3,700 lycées. Most private schools in France are classified as “under contract,” meaning they follow the national curriculum and have their teachers paid by the state.
Schooling is compulsory from age 3 to 16. Since the 2020 school year, a training obligation applies to young people aged 16 to 18. Pre-primary attendance is universal and mandatory from age three. Participation in formal childcare for children under three was 59.4% in 2024, above the EU-wide target of 45%. In 2024–2025, 247,100 students with disabilities were educated in mainstream school settings.
Education in France Gender and STEM Gaps
Women made up 34.7% of STEM tertiary students in 2023, above the EU average of 32.2% but short of the 40% EU target. Female representation was 51% in natural sciences but dropped to 28.3% in engineering and 18.4% in ICT. In medium-level vocational education, only 11.1% of STEM students were female.
The Ministry of Education launched the “girls and maths” action plan in 2025 to address these gaps, setting targets for girls choosing advanced math and science at the upper secondary level.
Education in France Early Leaving Rates
Early leaving from education and training stood at 7.7% in 2024, meeting the EU target of under 9%. Upper secondary attainment among 20–24 year-olds was 90.5% in the same year. Unemployment among young adults (25–34) varied sharply by education level: 18.5% for those without upper secondary, 9.9% for those with upper secondary, and 6.3% for those with tertiary education.
FAQ
How many students are enrolled in France’s education system?
France had 12,579,500 learners enrolled across primary, secondary, and apprenticeship programs in 2024–2025. Higher education added more than 2.9 million students in 2023–2024.
How much does France spend on education?
Total domestic education expenditure was €189.9 billion in 2023, equal to 6.7% of GDP. Public spending alone was 5.32% of GDP in 2022.
How many international students study in France?
France hosted 443,500 international students in 2024–2025. This was a 3% increase year-over-year and 17% growth over five years. Nearly 15% of all higher education students are foreign nationals.
What are France’s PISA scores?
French students scored 474 in mathematics, 474 in reading, and 487 in science on the 2022 PISA assessment. About 29% of 15-year-olds lacked basic math skills.
How many teachers work in France?
France employed 852,800 teachers and 353,950 non-teaching staff in 2024–2025, totaling 1,218,100 personnel. The Ministry of National Education is the largest employer in the country.
