France highest tax rate in Europe 2025, Digi Mart USA News (France): France continues to set records. On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Eurostat published tax data for European countries covering 2025, and France took first place in the ranking, a position the source describes as far from prestigious.
The cause is a compulsory levy rate, which includes taxes and social contributions, reaching 46% of GDP that year. The European Union average stood at 40.7% of GDP.
France ranks first with an increase of 49.2 billion euros between 2024 and 2025. It is followed by Denmark at 45.1% of GDP, Belgium at 44.7%, Austria at 43.9% and Italy at 43%.
The Netherlands falls below the 40% threshold at 39.6% of GDP. Ireland is the least taxed country at 22.7%.
France has been among the top three for ten years. Since 2016, it has reached the top of the ranking five times.
The record year was 2017, with a rate of 48.5%.
The outlook is not encouraging. Given the state of the French economy and the government measures planned, the levy rate is unlikely to fall significantly and may rise.
To reduce the state deficit to 5% of GDP, Prime Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu plans an effort of 54 billion euros. As a result, an increase in taxes or certain levies is expected.
