France: housing

How many homes are built in France each year?

Construction started on 264,800 dwellings in France in 2025, according to INSEE's key figures on housing starts, based on the SDES Sitadel database. That was slightly more than the 258,100 of 2024, but well below the 433,900 of 2017. 94,300 were individual houses and 170,600 were flats, including residences for students and older people.

Starts are recorded at their estimated real date, which can be several months before the information is reported, so recent years are revised upward as late reports arrive. The figures cover France excluding Mayotte. Monthly building permits and starts are published by SDES.

Official sources: INSEE: housing starts

How many building permits are issued in France?

29,749 dwellings were authorised for construction in France in August 2026, 1.1% fewer than in July after seasonal and working-day adjustment, according to SDES housing construction results to the end of August 2026. Over the 12 months from September 2025 to August 2026, 369,723 dwellings were authorised, 9.7% fewer than the average of the previous five years.

The data come from planning permission forms processed by local authorities and recorded in the Sitadel database. An authorisation does not guarantee construction: some projects are cancelled or delayed. SDES reports that the monthly average for the first eight months of 2026 was level with 2025.

Official sources: SDES: housing construction to end-August 2026

How much can rents rise in France?

The rent reference index (IRL) stood at 148.37 in the second quarter of 2026, 1.15% higher than a year earlier, according to INSEE's rent reference index release of 10 July 2026. In the first quarter the annual rise was 0.78%. Different values apply in the overseas departments (146.94) and Corsica (146.22).

Landlords use the IRL to revise rents once a year during a lease: the rent can rise by at most the annual change in the index for the quarter named in the contract. The next value, for the third quarter, was due on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: INSEE: rent reference index, Q2 2026

What share of people in France own their home?

57.7% of households in mainland France owned their main residence at the start of 2021, according to INSEE's analysis of main residence ownership. The share has been almost stable since 1998, up 1.6 points. It rises with age: 16.7% of households whose reference person was under 30 owned their home, against 70.2% of those aged 65 or over.

INSEE notes that young households, particularly better-off ones, are more often owners than twenty years ago, helped by credit. The figures cover mainland France only. Ownership includes households still repaying a mortgage.

Official sources: INSEE: main residence ownership

How much social housing is there in France?

France had 5.4 million social rented homes on 1 January 2025, according to SDES social housing statistics published on 20 January 2026. Social housing made up 15.9% of all main residences. During 2024, 71,300 new social homes were let for the first time, while 18,100 were demolished and 10,900 sold, so the stock grew 0.5%.

The average rent in social housing was €6.76 per square metre a month, 3.6% more than a year earlier. SDES reports that vacancy and tenant turnover have fallen markedly since 2019.

Official sources: SDES: 5.4 million social rented homes

How many people in France live in cities?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is 78.8%. That is the highest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 69.6%; France is 18th highest of 52. World rank, highest first: 49th of 193.

How common are informal settlements in France?

According to UN-Habitat, the share of city dwellers living in slums in France was 0.0% in 2022. It has not changed since 2006. Europe & Central Asia median: 0.3%; France is 33rd highest of 43. Worldwide: 155th of 170.

What is the electricity access rate in France?

The World Bank puts the share of people with access to electricity in France at 100.0% in 2024. It has not changed since 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 100.0%; France is 1st highest of 52. Worldwide: 1st of 193.

What share of people in France have safe drinking water?

According to WHO and UNICEF, the share of people using safely managed drinking water in France was 99.7% in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 96.7%, and France placed 12th highest of 51. Worldwide: 16th of 134.

What share of people in France have safe sanitation?

90.0%: that is the share of people using safely managed sanitation in France for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 90.2%, and France placed 25th highest of 45. Of 134 countries with 2024 data, 37th highest.

What share of homes in France cook with clean fuels?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 100.0%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 99.0%, and France placed 1st highest of 51. Worldwide: 1st of 192.