Definition of Youth
The national policy for youth of 2013 addresses young people aged 3 to 30 with a focus on those aged 6 to 25; other policies are addressed to those aged 16 to 25.
Marriageable Age
- Opposite Sex
- Same Sex
- Without parental consent
- with parental consent
- Male
- 18
- 18
- 18
- Female
- 18
- 18
- 18
Source: UNSD, ILGA, Civil Code of France
Candidacy Age
- Lower House
- 18 Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Upper House
- 24
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Entirely indirectly elected
Criminal Responsibility
(2005)
Situation of Young People
Literacy Rates
- -- Male (15-24) %
- -- Female (15-24) %
- Year: No data.
- Source: UNESCO
Net Enrolment Rate
Secondary School- 95.83%Male %
- 97.53% Female %
- Year: 2012
- Source: UNESCO
Situation of Young People
Tobacco Use
Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.- -- Male (13-15) %
- -- Female (13-15) %
- Year: No data.
- Source: WHO
Policy & Legislation
Priorities of the youth policy of 2013, which is the first since a change of government, are the improvement of interdepartmental cooperation on youth issues, ensuring all young people the access to education, professional orientation and training, participation in the personal development of the young and supporting them in their way to personal autonomy. The Observatory on Youth and Youth Politics for 2012 by the National Institute of Youth and Popular Education (INJEP) contains abstracts of and links to additional government decisions and policies on youth of the respective year. It also displays prominent civil society positions. A review for 2011-2012 is also available.
Public Institutions
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
Youth and Representation
Budget & Spending
- % of GDP
- % of gov. expenditure
Source: World Bank
Additional Background
In France there were 22.5 million young people aged 3 to 30 in 2012. Among the total population of 65.35 million, this equals 34.4%. The number of young people aged 15 to 29 decreased from 24% in 1975 to 18.4% in January 2012 due to the aging population and the higher life expectancy.
From the Observatory on Youth and Youth Politics. One Year of Youth Policy: 2012. Original in French, own translation:One major change to those issues strongly highlighted during the previous presidency of Sarkozy should be noted: juvenile delinquency and security are no longer at the forefront of government public policy. This has been replaced with dedication of the government to the living conditions of young people, their social rights (health, housing, and notably social protection), and in particular for young people in precarious situations (jobs of the future, youth guarantee). These measures reaffirm the the principle of social justice. This philosophy breaks with the earlier perspective – oriented towards individual accountability – and contributes to an egalitarian and inclusive vision.