The Ministry of Finance in Paris (Bercy). Jean-François Gornet / Flickr, CC BY-SA

The Ministry of Finance in Paris (Bercy). Jean-François Gornet / Flickr, CC BY-SA

France: Public Debt Surges Past €3.5 Trillion, Raising Serious Concerns

France has crossed a critical threshold as its public debt exceeded €3.5 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 117.5% of GDP. The French Court of Auditors has sounded the alarm over what it describes as an “alarming” fiscal situation, as public deficits hit record levels and debt-interest costs continue to soar.