Air passengers in France
France: Air passengers was 64.64 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Air passengers in France, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
France recorded 64.64 million for air passengers in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.0% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in France peaked at 71.29 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 9.11 million, in 1970.
France ranks 18th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Air passengers in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.11 million | — |
| 1971 | 9.57 million | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 11.29 million | +17.9% |
| 1973 | 11.96 million | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 12.16 million | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 13.11 million | +7.8% |
| 1976 | 14.30 million | +9.1% |
| 1977 | 15.43 million | +7.9% |
| 1978 | 16.82 million | +9.0% |
| 1979 | 17.97 million | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 19.52 million | +8.6% |
| 1981 | 21.59 million | +10.6% |
| 1982 | 22.37 million | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 23.28 million | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 23.69 million | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 24.49 million | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 25.21 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 27.95 million | +10.9% |
| 1988 | 30.67 million | +9.7% |
| 1989 | 33.98 million | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 35.96 million | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 33.13 million | -7.9% |
| 1992 | 33.96 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 35.63 million | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 38.17 million | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 36.02 million | -5.6% |
| 1996 | 41.25 million | +14.5% |
| 1997 | 43.40 million | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 42.23 million | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 49.54 million | +17.3% |
| 2000 | 52.58 million | +6.1% |
| 2001 | 50.48 million | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 49.31 million | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 47.26 million | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 48.54 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 52.48 million | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 59.54 million | +13.5% |
| 2007 | 61.55 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 61.21 million | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 58.32 million | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 60.86 million | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 64.19 million | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 64.68 million | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 63.93 million | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 63.43 million | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 65.04 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 65.36 million | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 68.32 million | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 70.19 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 71.29 million | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 24.96 million | -65.0% |
| 2021 | 32.00 million | +28.2% |
| 2022 | 59.32 million | +85.4% |
| 2023 | 64.64 million | +9.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 64.64 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 7.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- France's 64.64 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.87 million, 16.7× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +85.4% | 32.00 million | 59.32 million |
| 2020 | -65.0% | 71.29 million | 24.96 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.17 million | 9.11 million | 17.97 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.28 million | 19.52 million | 33.98 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.93 million | 33.13 million | 49.54 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.13 million | 47.26 million | 61.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.73 million | 60.86 million | 71.29 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.23 million | 24.96 million | 64.64 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in France?
- Air passengers in France was 64.64 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 71.29 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.11 million in 1970.
- How does France rank for air passengers?
- France ranks 18th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.