History of France in Timeline

France, officially the French Republic, is primarily in Western Europe, with overseas regions and territories giving it a large exclusive economic zone. It borders multiple countries including Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain, and has a maritime border with the UK. Its metropolitan area stretches from the Rhine to the Atlantic, and from the Mediterranean to the English Channel and North Sea. Comprising 18 integral regions, including five overseas, it covers 632,702 km2 with a population of over 68.6 million (2025 est.). France is a semi-presidential republic with Paris as its capital and main cultural and economic hub.

1789: French Revolution

In 1789, the French Revolution overthrew the Ancien Régime, leading to the Declaration of the Rights of Man.

1900: Paris hosted Olympics

Paris hosted the second Olympic Games in 1900.

1904: Entente Cordiale

Since 1904, France has maintained an "Entente cordiale" with the United Kingdom.

1905: France passed the law on the Separation of the Churches and the State

After alternating between royal and secular republican governments during the 19th century, in 1905 France passed the 1905 law on the Separation of the Churches and the State, which established the aforementioned principle of laïcité.

1905: Establishment of State Secularism

In 1905, state secularism was officially established in France.

1905: Separation of Churches and the State

The 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State is the basis for laïcité (state secularism).

August 1914: Invasion of France in World War I

In August 1914, at the start of World War I, France was invaded by Germany and defended by Great Britain.

1919: Trois mouvements perpétuels

In 1919, Francis Poulenc created his piano suite Trois mouvements perpétuels.

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1921: France receives about 1.1 million net immigrants

It is currently estimated that 40% of the French population is descended at least partially from the different waves of immigration since the early 20th century; between 1921 and 1935 alone, about 1.1 million net immigrants came to France.

1923: Les biches ballet

In 1923, Francis Poulenc created the ballet Les biches.

1923: 24 Hours of Le Mans

Since 1923, France is famous for its 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car endurance race.

1924: Summer Olympics in Paris and Deaflympics

In 1924, Paris hosted the Summer Olympics and France introduced Olympics for deaf people (Deaflympics).

1928: Concert champêtre

In 1928, Francis Poulenc composed the Concert champêtre for harpsichord and orchestra.

1935: France receives about 1.1 million net immigrants

1938: FIFA World Cup

In 1938, France hosted the FIFA World Cup.

1940: Surrender and Occupation in World War II

In 1940, France surrendered to Nazi Germany and was subsequently occupied during World War II.

1940: Invasion and Defeat by Nazi Germany

In 1940, France was invaded and quickly defeated by Nazi Germany, leading to the division of the country.

1942: Deportation of French Citizens

From 1942, approximately 160,000 French citizens, including around 75,000 Jews, were deported to death and concentration camps.

June 1944: Allied Invasion of Normandy

On June 6, 1944, the Allies invaded Normandy, marking a turning point in the liberation of France.

1944: Liberation of France

Following its liberation in 1944, the short-lived Fourth Republic was established in France.

1946: Establishment of the Fourth Republic

In 1946, a new constitution led to the establishment of the Fourth Republic in France.

1947: Rally of the French People

In 1947, the Gaullist Party changed its name to the Rally of the French People.

1954: Defeat in French Indochina

In 1954, France was defeated by the Viet Minh in its attempt to regain control of French Indochina.

1957: Dialogues des Carmélites opera

In 1957, Francis Poulenc wrote the opera Dialogues des Carmélites.

May 1958: May 1958 Crisis

During the May 1958 crisis, the weak Fourth Republic gave way to the Fifth Republic, which included a strengthened presidency.

1958: Government prohibited from collecting data on ethnicity and ancestry

Beginning with the French Revolution and further codified in the French Constitution of 1958, the government is prohibited from collecting data on ethnicity and ancestry.

1958: Approval of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic

In 1958, the Constitution of the Fifth Republic was approved by referendum, establishing the framework for France's current government.

1958: Dissolution of the Fourth Republic

In 1958, the Fourth Republic was dissolved due to the crisis in Algeria.

1958: Union of Democrats for the Republic

In 1958, the Rally of the French People changed its name to the Union of Democrats for the Republic.

1958: Establishment of the Fifth Republic

In 1958, the current Fifth Republic was formed in France by Charles de Gaulle.

1959: Gloria

In 1959, Francis Poulenc composed the Gloria for soprano, choir and orchestra.

1960: Recognised Nuclear State

France has been a recognised nuclear state since 1960.

1960: French dominance of high fashion

France renewed its dominance of the high fashion industry in the years 1860–1960 through the establishment of the great couturier houses such as Chanel, Dior, and Givenchy.

1960: European Nations' Cup

In 1960, France hosted the European Nations' Cup.

1962: Évian Accords and Algerian Independence

In 1962, the Évian Accords led to Algerian independence, resulting in significant displacement and casualties.

May 1968: Revolt of May 1968

The revolt of May 1968 had an enormous social impact in France, marking a shift in moral ideals.

1968: Winter Olympics in Grenoble

In 1968, Grenoble hosted the Winter Olympics.

1969: Socialist Party

In 1969, the French Section of the Workers' International was succeeded by the Socialist Party.

1971: Creation of Environment Ministry

In 1971, France was one of the first countries to create an environment ministry.

1973: Oil Crisis

Following the 1973 oil crisis, France heavily invested in nuclear power.

1973: Oil crisis leads to energy security policy

Since the 1973 oil crisis, France has pursued a strong policy of energy security through heavy investment in nuclear energy.

1973: End of the baby boom

The highest rate since the end of the baby boom in 1973 and coincides with the rise in the total fertility rate from a nadir of 1.7 in 1994 to 2.0 in 2010.

1974: ORTF split into national institutions

In 1974, after years of centralised monopoly on radio and television, the governmental agency ORTF was split into several national institutions.

1976: Musée National d'Art Moderne moved

In 1976, the Musée National d'Art Moderne relocated to the Centre Georges Pompidou.

1976: Rally for the Republic

In 1976, the Union of Democrats for the Republic changed its name to the Rally for the Republic.

1977: Paris building height restriction

In Paris, since 1977, new buildings had to be under 37 metres (121 ft).

1981: Free broadcasting allowed

In 1981, the French government allowed free broadcasting in the territory.

1982: Public Sector Peak

At its peak in 1982, the public sector accounted for one-fifth of industrial employment and over four-fifths of the credit market in France.

1984: UEFA Euro

In 1984, France hosted the UEFA Euro.

1986: Inauguration of the Musée d'Orsay

In 1986, the Musée d'Orsay was inaugurated in the old railway station Gare d'Orsay. This major reorganisation of national art collections aimed to gather French paintings from the second part of the 19th century, mainly Impressionism and Fauvism movements.

1990: Gayssot Act

In 1990, the Gayssot Act prohibited Holocaust denial in France.

1990: Carbon Emission Reduction Agreement

Like all European Union state members, in 1990, France agreed to cut carbon emissions by at least 20% of 1990 levels by 2020.

1990: Increase in Forest Area

Since 1990, the forest area in France has increased by 7 per cent.

1992: Winter Olympics in Albertville

In 1992, Albertville hosted the Winter Games.

1992: Signing of the Maastricht Treaty

In 1992, France signed the Maastricht Treaty, furthering the development of the European Union.

1993: EU refuses culture in WTO

In 1993, France succeeded in convincing all EU members to refuse to include culture and audiovisuals in the list of liberalised sectors of the WTO.

1994: Fertility rate nadir

The total fertility rate from a nadir of 1.7 in 1994 to 2.0 in 2010.

1995: Dangerous Cults Listed

Since 1995, the Parliament has listed many religious movements as dangerous cults.

1995: Public Transport Bombings

Since the 1995 public transport bombings, France has been targeted by Islamist organizations.

1997: French health care system ranked first worldwide by the WHO

The French health care system was ranked first worldwide by the World Health Organization in 1997.

1997: End of National Conscription

There has been no national conscription in France since 1997.

1998: FIFA World Cup

In 1998, France hosted the FIFA World Cup.

1999: Establishment of the Eurozone

In 1999, France was part of establishing the eurozone.

1999: Civil Unions Permitted

Since 1999, civil unions for homosexual couples have been permitted in France.

2000: Euronext Formation

In 2000, the Paris stock exchange merged with counterparts in Amsterdam and Brussels to form Euronext.

2000: World Health Organization assessment of world health care systems

In its 2000 assessment of world health care systems, the World Health Organization found that France provided the "close to best overall health care" in the world.

2004: Institut Montaigne estimates population demographics

In 2004, the Institut Montaigne estimated that within Metropolitan France, 51 million people were White (85% of the population), 6 million were Northwest African (10%), 2 million were Black (3.3%), and 1 million were Asian (1.7%).

2004: France leading recipient of asylum seekers in Western Europe

In 2005, France was Western Europe's leading recipient of asylum seekers, with an estimated 50,000 applications (albeit a 15% decrease from 2004).

2004: Religious Symbols Banned in Schools

Since 2004, France has banned wearing conspicuous religious symbols in schools.

2004: Madrid train bombings

The November 2015 Paris attacks were the deadliest in the European Union since the Madrid train bombings in 2004.

2005: France leading recipient of asylum seekers in Western Europe

In 2005, France was Western Europe's leading recipient of asylum seekers, with an estimated 50,000 applications (albeit a 15% decrease from 2004).

2005: UNESCO confirms decision

In 2005, the decision to exclude culture and audiovisuals from the list of liberalised sectors of the WTO was confirmed in a vote by UNESCO.

2006: Michelin Guide awards stars

By 2006, the Michelin Guide had awarded 620 stars to French restaurants.

2006: France responsible for almost all natural population growth in the EU

For much of the 21st century, France has been an outlier among developed countries, particularly in Europe, for its relatively high rate of natural population growth; by birth rates alone, it was responsible for almost all natural population growth in the European Union in 2006.

2006: Population growth averages 0.6 percent per year

From 2006 to 2011, population growth averaged 0.6 percent per year.

2007: Adult Education survey

According to the 2007 Adult Education survey, part of a project by the European Union and carried out in France by the INSEE and based on a sample of 15,350 persons, French was the native language of 87.2% of the total population, or roughly 55.81 million people, followed by Arabic (3.6%, 2.3 million), Portuguese (1.5%, 960,000), Spanish (1.2%, 770,000) and Italian (1.0%, 640,000).

2007: Approximately 140,000 inhabitants living with HIV/AIDS

As of 2007, approximately 140,000 inhabitants (0.4%) of France are living with HIV/AIDS.

2007: NYSE Euronext Merger

In 2007, Euronext merged with the New York stock exchange to form NYSE Euronext.

2007: Rugby World Cup

In 2007, France hosted the Rugby World Cup.

2007: Signing of the Treaty of Lisbon

In 2007, France signed the Treaty of Lisbon, contributing to the development of a supranational European Union.

2007: Saint Barthélemy Secession

In 2007, Saint Barthélemy seceded from Guadeloupe.

2007: Union for a Popular Movement

In 2007, the Rally for the Republic changed its name to the Union for a Popular Movement.

2008: INSEE estimates the largest minority ancestry groups

A 2008 poll conducted jointly by the Institut national d'études démographiques and the French National Institute of Statistics estimated that the largest minority ancestry groups were Italian, followed by Northwest African, Sub-Saharan African, Armenian, and Turkish.

2008: Increase resulted from the 2008 financial crisis

According to the institute, this increase resulted from the 2008 financial crisis.

2008: France's railway network second most extensive in Western Europe

As of 2008, France's railway network, stretching 29,473 kilometres, is the second most extensive in Western Europe after Germany.

2008: Renewable energy production increases

Between 2008 and 2019, France's production capacity from renewable energies rose consistently and nearly doubled.

2008: Government initiative to reform print media

In 2008, the French government launched a major initiative to help the print media sector reform and become financially independent.

2008: INSEE estimates number of foreign-born immigrants and their descendants

In 2008, the INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) estimated that the total number of foreign-born immigrants was around 5 million (8% of the population), while their French-born descendants numbered 6.5 million, or 11% of the population.

April 2009: France rejoins NATO

On April 4, 2009, under Nicolas Sarkozy, France rejoined the NATO joint military command.

2009: Disneyland Paris most popular theme park in Europe

In 2009, Disneyland Paris was the most popular theme park in Europe, attracting 15 million combined visitors to Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.

2009: Proposed Carbon Tax

In 2009, France was set to impose a carbon tax, but the plan was abandoned due to concerns about burdening businesses.

2009: Government aid to print media

In 2009, the French government gave €600,000 to help the print media cope with the 2008 financial crisis, in addition to existing subsidies.

2009: Growth of Spanish immigrants in France

Statistics on Spanish immigrants in France show a growth of 107 percent between 2009 and 2012, with the population growing from 5,300 to 11,000.

2010: Ban on Face-Covering Islamic Veils

In 2010, France banned the wearing of face-covering Islamic veils in public.

2010: France receives about 48,100 asylum applications

In 2010, France received about 48,100 asylum applications—placing it among the top five asylum recipients in the world.

2010: Newborns in metropolitan France had at least one foreign-born parent

In 2010, roughly one in four newborns (27 percent) in metropolitan France had at least one foreign-born parent and another 24 percent had at least one parent born outside Europe (excluding French overseas territories).

2010: Rise in the total fertility rate

The highest rate since the end of the baby boom in 1973 and coincides with the rise in the total fertility rate from a nadir of 1.7 in 1994 to 2.0 in 2010.

2011: France spent 11.6% of its GDP on health care

In 2011, France spent 11.6% of its GDP on health care, or US$4,086 per capita, a figure much higher than the average spent by countries in Europe.

2011: France's fertility rate has been steadily declining

Since 2011, France's fertility rate has been steadily declining.

2011: Annual growth has been between 0.4 and 0.5 percent annually

Since 2011, annual growth has been between 0.4 and 0.5 percent annually.

2012: Intervention in Mali Conflict

From 2012, France and other African states intervened in support of the Malian government in the Northern Mali conflict.

2012: Catholic churches in France

In 2012, among the 47,000 religious buildings in France 94% were Catholic churches.

2012: Total of 229,000 foreigners coming to France

Of the total of 229,000 foreigners coming to France in 2012, nearly 8% were Portuguese, 5% British, 5% Spanish, 4% Italian, 4% German, 3% Romanian, and 3% Belgian.

2013: France second-largest exporter of films

In 2013, France was the second-largest exporter of films in the world, after the United States.

2013: Same-Sex Marriage and LGBT Adoption Legal

Since 2013, same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption are legal in France.

2014: Opération Chammal

From 2014, France's military efforts in Opération Chammal resulted in over 1,000 ISIS troops killed between 2014 and 2015.

2014: INSEE reports increase in immigrants from Spain, Portugal, and Italy

In 2014, the INSEE reported a significant increase in the number of immigrants coming from Spain, Portugal and Italy between 2009 and 2012.

November 2015: November 2015 Paris Attacks

In November 2015, the Paris attacks resulted in 130 deaths, marking the deadliest attack on French soil since World War II.

2015: Military Ranking

According to a 2015 study by Crédit Suisse, the French Armed Forces ranked as the world's sixth-most powerful military.

2015: France leading in filmmaking

As of 2015, France produced more films than any other European country.

2015: Best Networked State

In 2015, France was described as "the best networked state in the world" due to its membership in numerous international institutions.

2015: The Republicans

In 2015, the Union for a Popular Movement changed its name to The Republicans.

2016: France saw the second-highest overall increase in population in the EU

Between 2006 and 2016, France saw the second-highest overall increase in population in the EU.

2016: UEFA Euro

In 2016, France hosted the UEFA Euro.

2016: Administrative Regions

Since 2016, France has been divided into 18 administrative regions: 13 in metropolitan France and 5 overseas.

2017: LVMH largest luxury company

According to 2017 data compiled by Deloitte, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey (LVMH), a French brand, is the largest luxury company in the world by sales.

2017: Election of Emmanuel Macron

In 2017, Emmanuel Macron was elected as the President of France.

2017: France received 100,412 asylum applications

In 2017, France received 100,412 asylum applications, doubling the number of applications received in 2010.

2017: Development Aid Donor

In 2017, France was the world's fourth-largest donor of development aid in absolute terms.

2017: La République En Marche! Dominance

In 2017, the radical centrist party La République En Marche! (LREM) became the dominant force in French politics, overtaking both Socialists and Republicans in the presidential and legislative elections.

2018: Global Competitiveness Report

According to the 2018 Global Competitiveness Report, France's competitiveness increased.

2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

France had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.52/10, ranking it 123rd globally.

2018: Trading Nation

In 2018, France was the fifth-largest trading nation in the world and the second-largest in Europe.

2018: Musée d'Orsay voted best museum

In 2018, the Musée d'Orsay was voted the best museum in the world.

2018: EDF produces one-fifth of EU electricity

In 2018, Électricité de France (EDF) produced approximately one-fifth of the European Union's electricity, primarily from nuclear power.

2018: OECD ranks France's education as near the average

The Programme for International Student Assessment, coordinated by the OECD, ranked France's education as near the OECD average in 2018.

2019: Global Competitiveness Report

According to the 2019 Global Competitiveness Report, France is the 15th most competitive country, up two places from 2018.

2019: Number of Regional Nature Parks

As of 2019, there are 54 regional nature parks (PNRs) in France.

2019: Renewable energy production increases

Between 2008 and 2019, France's production capacity from renewable energies rose consistently and nearly doubled.

2019: Global Innovation Index Ranking

France ranked 16th in the 2019 Global Innovation Index.

2019: FIFA Women's World Cup

In 2019, France hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup.

2019: Foreign Direct Investment Ranking

In 2019, France ranked first in Europe and 13th in the world in foreign direct investment.

2020: Environmental Performance Index

According to the 2020 Environmental Performance Index, France was the fifth most environmentally conscious country in the world.

2020: Bloomberg Innovation Index

France is among the world's 10 most innovative countries in the 2020 Bloomberg Innovation Index.

2020: Carbon Emission Reduction Target

Like all European Union state members, France agreed to cut carbon emissions by at least 20% of 1990 levels by 2020.

2020: Europe Ecology – The Greens Performance

Since 2020, Europe Ecology – The Greens (EELV) have performed well in mayoral elections in major cities.

2020: Revision of metropolitan area borders

Since its 2020 revision of metropolitan area borders, INSEE considers that Nice is a metropolitan area separate from the Cannes-Antibes metropolitan area.

2021: End of Intervention in Mali Conflict

In 2021, France and other African states ended their intervention in support of the Malian government in the Northern Mali conflict.

2021: France biggest energy exporter in Europe

In 2021, France was the biggest energy exporter in Europe, mostly to the UK and Italy, and the largest net exporter of electricity in the world.

2021: Weapons Export Previous Year

In 2021, French weapons exported totaled 11.7 billion euros.

2021: Regional newspapers outsell national newspapers

In 2021, regional daily newspapers in France more than doubled the sales of national newspapers.

2021: Largest cities in France in terms of metropolitan area population

In 2021, the largest cities in France in terms of metropolitan area population were Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg, Montpellier, and Rennes.

2021: Share of children of foreign-born mothers was 23 percent

In 2021, the share of children of foreign-born mothers was 23 percent.

2022: Average health care spending per capita

Average health care spending per capita was US$8,630 in 2022, representing 12.1% of GDP.

2022: Weapons Export Total

French weapons exported totaled 27 billion euros in 2022, up from 11.7 billion euros the previous year.

2022: More than 320,000 migrants came to France

In 2022, more than 320,000 migrants came to France, with the majority coming from Africa.

2022: Louvre most visited art museum

In 2022, the Louvre was the most visited art museum in the world, with 7.7 million visitors.

2022: National Rally as Largest Opposition

In 2022, the right-wing populist National Rally (RN) became the largest opposition party in the National Assembly. Also in 2022, an alliance of Left parties (the NUPES) became the second-largest voting block elected to the lower house.