Government and power in France
Who leads France, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary semi-presidential republic, constitutionally 'decentralised'.
Who leads France?
- Head of state: Emmanuel Macron (Président de la République française)
- Head of government: Sébastien Lecornu (Premier Ministre de la République française)
- Foreign minister: Jean-Noël Barrot (Ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères de la République française)
Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Governance scores
The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.
- Voice and accountability
- Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.
- Political stability and absence of violence
- Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.
- Government effectiveness
- Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.
- Regulatory quality
- Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.
- Rule of law
- Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.
- Control of corruption
- Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.
How does France score on voice and accountability?
Voice and accountability: 79 out of 100 in 2025, 25th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 74.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 80.3.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does France score on political stability?
Political stability and absence of violence: 64 out of 100 in 2025, 110th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 73.5). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 68.8.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does France score on government effectiveness?
Government effectiveness: 77.1 out of 100 in 2025, 26th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 69.4). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 80.5.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does France score on regulatory quality?
Regulatory quality: 72.5 out of 100 in 2025, 31st highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 66.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 75.5.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does France score on the rule of law?
Rule of law: 74.6 out of 100 in 2025, 33rd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 70.8). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 79.1.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does France score on control of corruption?
Control of corruption: 73.1 out of 100 in 2025, 23rd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 60.7). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 74.2.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many women are in France's parliament?
Women held 36.2% of seats in the national parliament (single or lower chamber) in 2025, 41st highest of 184 countries with data. Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union, via the World Bank.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many of France's ministers are women?
Women held 45.0% of ministerial posts in 2025, 21st highest of 190.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does the government of France spend?
Central government spending (expense) was 47.3% of GDP in 2023.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much tax does the government of France collect?
Central government tax revenue was 22.8% of GDP in 2024, 22nd highest of 92.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does France spend on the military?
Military spending was 2.0% of GDP in 2025, 58th highest of 149 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, via the World Bank).
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow big are the armed forces of France?
Armed forces personnel numbered 304,000 in 2020.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow good are France's official statistics?
The World Bank's Statistical Performance Indicator, which scores how well a country's official statistics system works, was 88.4 out of 100 in 2024, 27th highest of 187.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many births are registered in France?
100.0% of births of children under 5 were registered with a civil authority (2022).
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many people in France use the internet?
88.7% of people used the internet in 2024.
Source: World Bank · saved copyOfficial bodies that hold power in France
Government
- French GovernmentGovernment announcements, Council of Ministers reports and policy information.
- Élysée (Presidency of the Republic)Presidential speeches, statements and the President's agenda.
Parliament
- National AssemblyBills, debates, votes, committee reports and deputies' information.
- SenateSenate bills, debates, reports and senators' information.
Elections
- Ministry of the Interior – ElectionsOfficial results of national and local elections and electoral procedures.
Courts
- Court of CassationJudgments, annual reports and case law of the highest court for civil and criminal matters.
- Council of StateDecisions of the highest administrative court and its opinions on draft legislation.
- Constitutional CouncilDecisions on the constitutionality of laws and national election disputes.
Public audit
- Court of AuditPublic accounts audits, thematic reports and the annual public report.
Ombudsman
- Defender of RightsDecisions, opinions and reports on rights, discrimination and public services complaints.
Access to information
- Commission d'accès aux documents administratifs (CADA)Opinions on refusals of access to administrative documents and guidance on the reuse of public information.
Lobbying register
- Haute Autorité pour la transparence de la vie publique (HATVP)The register of interest representatives and the asset and interest declarations of members of the government, MPs and senior officials.
Public contracts
- BOAMPOfficial notices of public procurement tenders and contract awards.
Laws and the official gazette
- LégifranceConsolidated codes, laws, decrees, the Journal officiel and published court decisions.
Government below the national level
- Regions (18: 13 in mainland France, including Corsica, and 5 overseas): Regional council elected for six years; it elects its president
- Departments (101): Departmental council elected (pairs of one man and one woman per canton); it elects its president
- Prefects (préfets) in each department and region: Appointed by decree of the President of the Republic in the Council of Ministers
- Intercommunal groupings (EPCI: metropolises, urban/agglomeration communities, communities of communes): Councillors chosen at the same time as municipal councillors (or from them in small communes)
- Communes (about 34,900): Municipal council elected for six years (last March 2026); the council elects the mayor (maire)
How local power works in France
Places in France
Sources
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Births registered (SP.REG.BRTH.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8d443034ba7…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.