France

France

Western Europe

EuropeEUSchengen
74
Overall score
Strong overall · 100% data coverage
Language
French
Currency
EUR
Citizenship
5 years (2 with French degree)
Personal tax
0–45% + social charges
Cost of living
€2,000 / mo (single)
Overall scoring rubric
69
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
66Residence12%
75Citizenship and passport5%
71
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
65Salary and work12%
76Buying power13%
61
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
38Taxes7%
72Business8%
74Investment5%
83
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
83Quality of life18%
83Education7%
86
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
84Freedom6%
88Rule of law7%

Safety (75) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Healthcare (91) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Environment (96) clears the 35 floor, so no penalty applies.

Rights and institutions (86) clears the 30 floor, so no penalty applies.

Overall score
Final weighted result
74

A top EU passport with excellent healthcare, near-free public universities and the well-run French Tech Visa, balanced by high taxes, social charges and a French-language requirement.

Pros

  • French Tech Visa for founders/talent
  • Near-free public universities
  • Top healthcare & lifestyle

Cons

  • High taxes + social charges
  • French required for citizenship
  • Bureaucracy (préfecture queues)

Best for

Founders (French Tech)StudentsSkilled professionals

Score profile

Access
Residence
66
Citizenship
67
Passport
96
Earning power
Salary & work
65
Buying power
76
Cost of living
45
Economy
78
Business and wealth
Taxes
38
Personal tax
18
Corporate tax
29
Business
72
Investment
74
Wealth building
60
Daily life
Safety
75
Healthcare
91
Environment
96
Infrastructure
83
Education
83
HDI
92
Rights and institutions
Freedom
84
Rule of law
88

Access

Residence

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Good
66
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock13.8% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality1.15 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
Talent Passport (French Tech)Salarié work visaEntrepreneur/Profession LibéraleStudent
StudentStudent residence; up to 964 hrs/year work (~60%).
WorkTalent Passport for qualified hires & founders; salaried work permits.
Self-employedEntrepreneur/Profession Libérale visa; micro-entrepreneur regime for freelancers.
PermanentCarte de résident (10-yr) after ~5 years.
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Good
67
Years required5 years (2 with a French higher-education degree)
Dual allowedtrue
LanguageB1 French (rising to B2) + civic knowledge
Residence5 years legal residence with stable income & integration
NotesThe Talent Passport and French Tech Visa streamline residence for founders, employees and investors.
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Excellent
96

Passport-index style mobility for the France passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

191 / 198
Mobility
#4
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free144
  • On arrival38
  • eTA9
  • Visa required7

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Good
65
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$127,332 PPP (2024)
Unemployment7.5% (2025)
Participation55.3% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$2,097 · $2,702 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$3,031 · $3,906 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceSolid contracting; Station F & Paris startup ecosystem
Job marketParis is a major EU tech hub; some English-only startup roles.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
76
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

GNI / person$65,110 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$30,460 PPP (2023)
Price level83 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality31.8 Gini (2023)
Inflation0.9% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Moderate
45

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level83 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent€1,000–1,800 (1BR Paris)
Monthly€2,000
CitiesParis, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse
Economy
Economic strength
Good
78
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$3.4T (2025)
GDP / person$48,986 (2025)
GNI / person$65,110 PPP (2025)
GDP growth1.2% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation0.9% / yr (2025)
Unemployment7.5% (2025)
Output per worker$127,332 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture1.4% of GDP (2025)
Industry16.8% of GDP (2025)
Services70.9% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
AerospaceLuxury goodsTourismAgriculture & wineAutomotiveNuclear energy
Top exports
AircraftLuxury goodsPharmaceuticalsWine & spiritsMachinery
TypeHigh-income, diversified services- and industry-led
Key sectorsAerospace (Airbus), Luxury & fashion, Tourism (world's most-visited)
SummaryA diversified high-income economy strong in aerospace, luxury, agri-food and the world's largest tourism sector.
CurrencyEuro (eurozone member)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Limited
38
Personal0–45% progressive + ~9.7–17.2% social charges
Corporate25%
Capital gains30% flat (prélèvement forfaitaire unique)
Dividends30% flat (PFU)
Exit taxYes: on large unrealised gains when leaving France
Foreign cosCFC rules (Art. 209 B) apply
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Low
18
Personal0–45% progressive + ~9.7–17.2% social charges
FreelanceMicro-entrepreneur (auto-entrepreneur) regime is simple & popular
Capital gains30% flat (prélèvement forfaitaire unique)
Dividends30% flat (PFU)
Exit taxYes: on large unrealised gains when leaving France
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Low
29
Corporate25%
Capital gains30% flat (prélèvement forfaitaire unique)
Dividends30% flat (PFU)
Foreign cosCFC rules (Art. 209 B) apply
Business
Business friendliness
Good
72
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality1.15 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness1.20 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Yes: full foreign ownership
Local co.SAS/SARL; online formation; €1 min capital
FreelanceMicro-entrepreneur (auto-entrepreneur) regime is simple & popular
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Good
74
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Market cap85% of GDP (2018)
Private credit108% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains30% flat PFU; PEA & assurance-vie offer tax advantages
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxReal-estate wealth tax (IFI) on property fortunes above €1.3m
BrokersGood: Boursorama, Trade Republic, Interactive Brokers
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Moderate
60
How this score is calculated

How favourable France is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Good
65
Business
Good
72
Investment
Good
74
Tax friendliness
Limited
38
Cost of living
Moderate
45

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Good
75
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Personal safety
Homicide rate1.3 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption1.22 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.24 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Excellent
91
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy83.0 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality4.3 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians3.28 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds5.65 per 1,000 (2022)
Health spending$6,868 PPP / person (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemUniversal public (Assurance Maladie) + mutuelle top-up
InsuranceResidents covered via PUMA; mutuelle common
Avg costMutuelle top-up ~€30–80 / mo
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
96
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure8.2 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress21.4% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Excellent
83
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

Digital infrastructure
Internet use88.7% (2024)
Internet resilience74 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed97 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed77 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses6.6% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality3.80 / 5 (2022)
Rail density51.4 km / 1,000 km² (2021)
Air connectivity7,244 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Excellent
83
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling16.1 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment72% gross (2024)
Education spending5.3% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition€170–3,770 / yr (public); higher for some non-EU
Public uniHeavily subsidised public universities & grandes écoles
LanguagesFrench, English (many Master's)
Student workUp to 964 hrs/year (~60% full-time)
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
92
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.920 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy83.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling16.1 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$55,060 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Excellent
84
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World89 / 100 (Free)
Freedom on the Net76 / 100 (Free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Excellent
88
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile88 / 100
Resources

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.