Brief
France spends 6.7% of GDP on education amid student protests
Public education outlays rose to €199.2 bn in 2025, but schools face overcrowding and staff gaps fueling nationwide protests.
By Felo News Desk · Published
French high‑school students have been protesting for more than two weeks over overcrowded classrooms and staff shortages, while the government’s education budget rose to €199.2 billion in 2025, equivalent to 6.7% of gross domestic product, according to Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera reports that the unrest began on 21 September when pupils blockaded a school in the Paris suburb of Créteil. Within a week the demonstrations spread nationwide, clashing with police and coinciding with a public‑sector strike on 29 September. More than 6,100 people have been arrested since the protests started.
Eurostat data shows France’s public spending on education accounts for 5.1% of GDP, a figure that excludes private contributions such as school fees. The French Ministry of National Education uses a broader measure – domestic expenditure on education – that includes state, local, business and household funding. By that metric, education spending reached €199.2 bn in 2025, a €2.4 bn increase over 2024 and more than double the amount spent in 1980 after adjusting for inflation.
Breakdown of the 2025 budget shows secondary education received the largest share at €73.7 bn (37% of total), followed by primary education (€60 bn, 30%), higher education (€45.6 bn, 23%) and adult/continuing education (€19.7 bn, 10%).
Compared with other EU members, France ranks joint‑13th, tied with the Netherlands and Slovakia at 5.1% of GDP, above the EU average of 4.8%. Sweden leads with 7.3% of GDP, while Ireland spends the least at 2.7%.
The article also notes that teacher shortages are a pan‑European issue. OECD data for 2024‑25 shows 9% of primary and secondary teachers across the bloc lack full qualifications; in France, 11% of secondary teachers are unqualified, compared with less than 3% in primary schools. Class sizes in French lower secondary schools average 26 pupils, higher than the OECD average of 23.
Key facts
- France spent €199.2 bn on education in 2025, 6.7% of GDP (aljazeera.com)
- More than 6,100 people have been arrested since student protests began on 21 September (aljazeera.com)
- Secondary education received €73.7 bn, the largest share of the 2025 education budget (aljazeera.com)
- France ranks joint‑13th in EU education spending at 5.1% of GDP (aljazeera.com)
- 11% of French secondary teachers are not fully qualified, higher than the OECD average (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “How much does France spend on education?”
