How is French ODA changing over time?

France's ODA fluctuated between 2020 and 2024, peaking at US$17.8 billion in 2022 before declining to US$15.4 billion in 2024. Total ODA rose from US$15.1 billion in 2020 to the 2022 peak, then fell to US$15.5 billion in 2023 and US$15.4 billion in 2024. France's ODA as a percentage of GNI followed a similar trajectory, reaching 0.56% in 2022 before dropping to 0.48% in 2024.

With fiscal tightening, the target of 0.7% ODA/GNI has been delayed; the July 2023 CICID extended the 0.7% target until 2030. The target was not mentioned in the communiqué of the Presidential Council for International Partnerships, which took place in April 2025. Despite the extension of the target, France's proportion of ODA to GNI is expected to continue decreasing beyond 2024.

In 2025, the French government announced plans to deprioritize ODA as part of a wider fiscal consolidation agenda. Facing sluggish economic growth and high levels of public debt, the government prioritized deficit reduction through large-scale expenditure cuts across ministries. The government included development cooperation in planned reductions to meet overall savings targets.

Defense has been an increasing priority, with strong continued commitment to Ukraine and an emphasis on industrial, food, and energy independence. In a solemn speech to the French people in March, Macron warned Europe to prepare for reduced US support and a potential Russian threat beyond Ukraine, and called for a budgetary reform to boost military spending amid rising threats. He called for a target of 3% of GDP for defense spending. The allocated budget would thus rise from EUR60 billion ( US$63 billion) to EUR88 billion ( US$93 billion).