History of France in Timeline

France, officially the French Republic, is a country primarily in Western Europe with overseas regions and territories globally, granting it the largest discontiguous exclusive economic zone. Metropolitan France shares borders with several European countries and its area extends 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 an estimated population of over 68.6 million (2025). France is a semi-presidential republic with Paris as its capital, largest city, and main cultural and economic center.

1789: French Revolution and Declaration of Rights

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

1900: 1900 Summer Olympics

In 1900, Paris hosted the second Olympic Games.

1904: Entente Cordiale with the United Kingdom

Since 1904 France has maintained an "Entente Cordiale" with the United Kingdom, marking a strengthening of ties between the two countries, especially militarily.

1905: State Secularism

In 1905, state secularism was officially established in France.

1905: Law on the Separation of the Churches and the State

In 1905, the law on the Separation of the Churches and the State established the concept of laïcité in France.

August 1914: Germany Invades France

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

1919: Trois mouvements perpétuels

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

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1921: Immigration Wave

Between 1921 and 1935, about 1.1 million net immigrants came to France.

1923: Les Biches

In 1923, Francis Poulenc composed the ballet Les Biches.

1923: 24 Hours of Le Mans

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

1924: 1924 Summer Olympics & Deaflympics

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

1928: Concert champêtre

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

1935: Immigration Wave

Between 1921 and 1935, about 1.1 million net immigrants came to France.

1938: 1938 FIFA World Cup

In 1938, France hosted the FIFA World Cup.

1940: France Surrenders

In 1940, France surrendered and was occupied during World War II.

1940: France Invaded by Nazi Germany

In 1940, France was invaded and quickly defeated by Nazi Germany and was divided into zones.

1942: French Citizens Deported

From 1942, about 160,000 French citizens were deported to death and concentration camps.

June 1944: Allies Invade Normandy

On June 6, 1944, the Allies invaded Normandy.

1944: Liberation of France

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

1946: Fourth Republic

In 1946, a new constitution resulted in the Fourth Republic.

1947: Gaullist Party changes name

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 French Indochina.

1957: Dialogues des Carmélites

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

May 1958: May 1958 Crisis

During the May 1958 crisis, the Fourth Republic gave way to the Fifth Republic.

1958: Prohibition of Collecting Data on Ethnicity

Codified in the French Constitution of 1958, the government is prohibited from collecting data on ethnicity and ancestry.

1958: Economic Growth

In 1958, the Fourth Republic gave way to the Fifth Republic.

1958: Gaullist Party changes name

In 1958, the Gaullist Party changed its name to the Union of Democrats for the Republic.

1958: Fifth Republic Formation

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

1958: Constitution of the Fifth Republic

The Constitution of the Fifth Republic was approved by referendum in 1958.

1959: Gloria

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

1960: France becomes a recognised nuclear state

France has been a recognised nuclear state since 1960.

1960: High Fashion Dominance

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

1960: 1960 European Nations' Cup

In 1960, France hosted the European Nations' Cup.

1962: Évian Accords

In 1962, the war concluded with the Évian Accords which led to Algerian independence.

1963: Élysée Treaty with Germany

Since the 1963 Élysée Treaty, France has developed close ties with reunified Germany to become the most influential driving force of the EU.

May 1968: Revolt of May 1968

The revolt of May 1968 had an enormous social impact and a shift to a more liberal moral ideal.

1968: 1968 Winter Olympics

In 1968, Grenoble hosted the Winter Olympics.

1969: French Section of the Workers' International succeeded by Socialist Party

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

1971: Environment Ministry Created

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

1973: Oil Crisis Investment

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

1973: End of the Baby Boom

In 1973, France experienced the end of the baby boom.

1973: Oil Crisis and Energy Security Policy

In 1973, France initiated a strong energy security policy due to the oil crisis, heavily investing in nuclear energy.

1974: ORTF Split

In 1974, after years of centralised monopoly on radio and television, the governmental agency ORTF was split into several national institutions, but the three already-existing TV channels and four national radio stations remained under state control.

1976: Gaullist Party changes name

In 1976, the Gaullist Party changed its name to the Rally for the Republic.

1977: Building Height Restrictions in Paris

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: Peak of public sector employment

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

1984: UEFA Euro 1984

In 1984, France hosted the UEFA Euro.

1990: Forest Growth

Forests account for 31% of France's land area, representing an increase of 7% since 1990.

1990: Gayssot Act prohibits Holocaust denial

In France, the 1990 Gayssot Act prohibits Holocaust denial.

1990: Carbon Emission Cut

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

1992: 1992 Winter Olympics

In 1992, Albertville hosted the Winter Olympics.

1992: Maastricht Treaty Signed

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

1993: WTO Culture Exclusion

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

1994: Nadir of Total Fertility Rate

In 1994, France's total fertility rate reached a nadir of 1.7.

1995: Public Transport Bombings

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

1995: Religious movements listed as dangerous cults

The Parliament has listed many religious movements as dangerous cults since 1995.

1997: WHO Ranking of Health Care System

In 1997, the French health care system was ranked first worldwide by the WHO.

1997: End of national conscription

There has been no national conscription in France since 1997.

1998: 1998 FIFA World Cup

In 1998, France hosted the FIFA World Cup.

1999: Eurozone Established

In 1999, France helped establish the eurozone.

1999: Civil unions for homosexual couples permitted

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

2000: WHO Assessment of Health Care Systems

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

2004: Estimation of Ethnic Groups

In 2004, the Institut Montaigne estimated the ethnic makeup of Metropolitan France.

2004: Decrease in Asylum Applications

In 2005, the asylum applications decreased by 15% from 2004

2004: Ban on wearing conspicuous religious symbols 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: Leading Recipient of Asylum Seekers

In 2005, France was Western Europe's leading recipient of asylum seekers, with about 50,000 applications.

2005: UNESCO Vote Confirmation

In 2005, the 1993 decision regarding culture and audiovisuals was confirmed by a vote by UNESCO.

2006: Michelin Guide Stars

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

2006: Average Population Growth

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

2007: Adult Education Survey

According to the 2007 Adult Education survey, French is the native language of 87% of the population.

2007: Inhabitants Living with HIV/AIDS

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

2007: 2007 Rugby World Cup

In 2007, France hosted the Rugby World Cup.

2007: Treaty of Lisbon Signed

In 2007, France signed the Treaty of Lisbon.

2007: Saint Barthélemy secedes from Guadeloupe

In 2007, Saint Barthélemy seceded from Guadeloupe.

2007: Gaullist Party changes name

In 2007, the Gaullist Party changed its name to the Union for a Popular Movement.

2008: Estimated Minority Ancestry Groups

A 2008 poll by INSEE estimated the largest minority ancestry groups in France.

2008: Financial Crisis

According to the INSEE, the increase in immigrants from Spain, Portugal, and Italy resulted from the 2008 financial crisis.

2008: Railway Network Size

As of 2008, the railway network in France stretched 29,473 kilometres, making it the second most extensive in Western Europe after Germany.

2008: Increase in Renewable Energy Production Capacity

Between 2008 and 2019, France consistently increased its production capacity from renewable energies, nearly doubling it. Hydropower remained the leading source.

2008: Estimation of Immigrants and Descendants

In 2008, INSEE estimated that foreign-born immigrants numbered around 5 million, and their French-born descendants numbered 6.5 million.

2008: Government Initiative to Help Print Media

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

2009: Start of Immigration Increase

Between 2009 and 2012, there was a significant increase in the number of immigrants from Spain, Portugal and Italy coming to France.

2009: Disneyland Paris Europe's most popular theme park

In 2009, Disneyland Paris was Europe's most popular theme park, with 15 million combined visitors to Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.

2009: Government Aid to Print Media

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

2009: Carbon Tax

In 2009, the country was set to impose a carbon tax; however, the plan was abandoned.

2010: Ban on wearing face-covering Islamic veils in public

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

2010: Asylum Applications Received

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

2010: Rise in Total Fertility Rate

In 2010, France's total fertility rate rose to 2.0.

2010: Newborns with Foreign-Born Parents

In 2010, roughly one in four newborns (27 percent) in Metropolitan France had at least one foreign-born parent.

2011: Health Care Spending

In 2011, France spent 11.6% of its GDP on health care, or US$4,086 per capita.

2011: Annual Population Growth

Since 2011, annual population growth in France has been between 0.4 and 0.5 percent.

2011: Decline in Fertility Rate

Since 2011, the fertility rate in France has been steadily declining.

2012: Growth of Spanish Immigrants

Between 2009 and 2012 statistics on Spanish immigrants in France showed a growth of 107 percent.

2012: Intervention in the Mali War

From 2012 to 2021, France and other African states intervened in support of the Malian government in the Mali War.

2012: Religious Buildings

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

2013: 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 are legal

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

2014: Opération Chammal

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

2014: INSEE Report on Immigration

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

November 2015: Paris Attacks

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

2015: French Armed Forces ranked sixth most powerful military

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

2015: Leader in Filmmaking

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

2015: France described as "the best networked state in the world"

In 2015 France was described as "the best networked state in the world" due to its membership in more international institutions than any other country.

2015: Gaullist Party changes name

In 2015, the Gaullist Party changed its name to The Republicans.

2016: High Overall Increase in Population

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

2016: UEFA Euro 2016

In 2016, France hosted the UEFA Euro.

2016: France divided into 18 administrative regions

Since 2016, France is divided into 18 administrative regions: 13 regions in metropolitan France (including Corsica), and five overseas.

2017: LVMH Largest Luxury Company

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

2017: Increase in Asylum Applications

By 2017, the number of asylum applications received by France doubled to 100,412.

2017: France fourth-largest donor of development aid

In 2017, France was the world's fourth-largest donor of development aid in absolute terms, representing 0.43% of its GNP. Aid is provided by the governmental French Development Agency.

2017: La République En Marche! becomes dominant force

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

2017: Emmanuel Macron

Since 2017, Emmanuel Macron is the president.

2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

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

2018: France fifth-largest trading nation

In 2018 France was the fifth-largest trading nation and second-largest in Europe, with the value of exports representing over a fifth of GDP.

2018: OECD Ranking of Education

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

2018: EDF produced one-fifth of the EU's electricity

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

2018: Musée d'Orsay voted best museum in the world

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

June 28, 2019: Temperature Record

On June 28, 2019, the temperature reached 46 °C in Vérargues, setting a temperature record in Metropolitan France since records began.

2019: France ranked 15th most competitive

According to the 2019 Global Competitiveness Report, France is the 15th most competitive country.

2019: Regional Nature Parks

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

2019: Consistent Increase in Renewable Energies

Between 2008 and 2019, France consistently increased its production capacity from renewable energies, nearly doubling it. Hydropower remained the leading source.

2019: 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

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

2019: France ranked 16th in the Global Innovation Index

In 2019, France ranked 16th in the Global Innovation Index.

2019: France ranked first in Europe in foreign direct investment

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: France among the world's 10 most innovative countries

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

2020: The Ecologists perform well in mayoral elections

Since 2020, The Ecologists 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: Intervention in the Mali War

From 2012 to 2021, France and other African states intervened in support of the Malian government in the Mali War.

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: Regional Newspapers Double National Newspapers Sales

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

2021: Metropolitan Area Population

In 2021, the largest metropolitan area population in France was Paris with 13,171,056 inhabitants.

2021: Share of Children of Foreign-Born Mothers

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

2022: Health care spending per capita

In 2022 the average health care spending per capita in France was US$8,630, representing 12.1% of GDP.

2022: Migrant Arrivals

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: New Ecological and Social People's Union elected to lower house

In 2022, the New Ecological and Social People's Union was the second-largest voting block elected to the lower house. Right-wing populist RN became the largest opposition party in the National Assembly.

2022: French weapon exports totalled 27 billion euros

In 2022, weapons exported from France totalled 27 billion euros, up from 11.7 billion euros the previous year. The UAE contributed more than 16 billion euros arms to the French total.