9 answers, 5 from France's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
91.5% of candidates passed the baccalauréat in mainland France in the 2024 session, with 659,091 successful candidates, according to INSEE's key figures on baccalauréat success by département, based on education ministry data. The pass rate was 96.1% for the general bac, 90.2% for the technological bac and 83.6% for the vocational bac.
Pass rates vary by département and by stream. The table covers the 2024 session; results for later sessions are published by the education ministry's statistics service.
12.6 million pupils were enrolled in primary and secondary schools in France at the start of the 2024 school year, according to INSEE's school population overview (France, portrait social, November 2025). The number has fallen by 244,000, or 1.9%, since 2015. In primary schools enrolment is down 7.6% since 2015, and 11.2% in nursery classes.
INSEE attributes the fall to fewer births since 2014. Secondary enrolment has risen over the same period, but the decline in primary schools will move into secondary schools in coming years. The figures include public and private schools under contract with the state.
About 2.96 million students were enrolled in higher education in mainland France in the 2024-2025 academic year, according to INSEE's key figures on school and higher education enrolment (provisional for higher education). Enrolment grew by an average of 1.4% a year over the previous five years.
Overseas departments are listed separately in the table. Detailed figures by type of institution are published by the higher education ministry's statistics service.
France's domestic expenditure on education was an estimated €197.1 billion in 2024, 6.8% of GDP, up 3.6% in current euros from €190.3 billion in 2023, according to INSEE's education spending overview (November 2025). Average spending per pupil or student was €10,920.
The total covers education spending by all funders, public and private. In constant 2024 prices, average spending per pupil was €9,220 in 2000. The 2024 figure is provisional.
7.6% of 18 to 24 year olds in mainland France were early leavers from education and training in 2023, according to INSEE's table on early school leaving (provisional). The rate was 9.5% for young men and 5.6% for young women, and has fallen from 11.2% in 2006. The EU-27 average was 9.5%.
Early leavers are young people with at most a lower secondary qualification who are not in education or training. The EU set a target of below 10% by 2020, and France a national target of 9.5%; the EU target for 2030 is 9%. INSEE notes the figures are adjusted for a break in the labour force survey questionnaire in 2013.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 98.9%. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 95.7%, and France placed 5th highest of 45. Worldwide: 14th of 134.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in France was 103.8% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 103.3% (2016) to 106.9% (2006). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 101.1%, and France placed 14th highest of 34. Worldwide: 25th of 100.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross tertiary enrolment in France at 71.5% in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 71.1%, and France placed 17th highest of 34. Of 90 countries with 2024 data, 25th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts government spending on education in France at 5.3% of GDP in 2022. That is the lowest since at least 2017. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 4.5% of GDP, and France placed 10th highest of 45. Of 155 countries with 2022 data, 35th highest.
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