Debt Crisis 2025: France Shatters Records as National Debt Climbs to 117% of GDP

The French economy has hit a sobering milestone as newly released INSEE data for Q3 2025 shows the national debt has surged to an all-time high of €3.48 trillion. With a staggering €65.9 billion added in just three months, France's debt-to-GDP ratio now sits at 117.4%.

For the first time in modern history, France's debt burden has outpaced the growth trajectories of traditionally high-debt neighbors like Italy and Greece, signaling a critical fiscal challenge. Unlike previous spikes driven by global pandemics or financial crashes, this current escalation is occurring during a "normal" economic period, raising urgent questions about long-term sustainability and the future of the nation's public spending.