France Slips Below EU Average in Living Standards

France, once among Europe’s most prosperous nations, is now being described as having fallen into the European Union’s second tier after new data showed a sustained decline in relative wealth.

For the third year in a row, France’s wealth per capita sits below the EU average and has now dropped beneath that of Cyprus, according to figures from Eurostat.

The data has fuelled debate over economic stagnation, high public spending, and declining competitiveness, with critics warning that long term structural problems are eroding France’s position within the European Union.