rki.news | Sources Xinhua
PARIS, Sept. 29 — France’s public debt rose by 59.6 billion euros in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 3.59 trillion euros, or 119 percent of gross domestic product, according to the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee).
Public debt had already increased by 75.8 billion euros in the first quarter, when it stood at 117.5 percent of GDP, Insee said Tuesday.
Under the Maastricht Treaty, eurozone countries are required to keep public debt below 60 percent of GDP and budget deficits below 3 percent.
Data released by France’s Ministry of Economy and Finance on Sept. 19 showed that public debt is expected to reach 119.3 percent of GDP in 2026.
The ministry projects the debt ratio will rise further to 121.7 percent in 2027, more than twice the European Union’s 60-percent reference level.
France’s rising debt remains a key issue for public finances as authorities face continued fiscal pressures.
France Debt Reaches 119 Percent of GDP in Second Quarter
