Average hourly earnings of employees in France
France: Average hourly earnings of employees was 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 8.0%
World rank
10th
of 64 countries
All-time high
18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2020
All-time low
11.81 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2005
Years of data
16
2005–2020
Average hourly earnings of employees in France, 2005–2020
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
France recorded 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices for average hourly earnings of employees in 2020. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.0% on the previous year and up 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in France peaked at 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.81 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2005.
France ranks 10th of 64 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Average hourly earnings of employees in France, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 11.81 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2006 | 12.11 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 12.55 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 12.79 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 13.39 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 13.45 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 13.94 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 14.2 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 15.28 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 15.26 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 15.01 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 15.39 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 15.56 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 16.15 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 17.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.14 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- France's 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 16.04 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.2× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.53 international-$ in 2021 prices | 11.81 international-$ in 2021 prices | 13.39 international-$ in 2021 prices | 5 |
| 2010s | 15.16 international-$ in 2021 prices | 13.45 international-$ in 2021 prices | 17.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices | 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices | 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near France
- 7 Spain 25.97 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 8 Sweden 25.41 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 9 United Kingdom 21.77 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 11 Hungary 18.14 international-$ in 2021 prices
- 12 Israel 16.3 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 13 Slovakia 16.04 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
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 average hourly earnings of employees in France?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in France was 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 18.76 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.81 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2005.
- How does France rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- France ranks 10th out of 64 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Gross remuneration for time worked or work done, vacation, and other types of paid leave.