France protests: 4 data points behind the cost-of-living anger

Protests over the rising cost of living in France escalated into violence and looting on October 17-18, 2026, with hundreds of thousands participating nationwide. The demonstrations reflect severe economic pressure on French households, including record-high poverty and soaring energy prices. France's income-based poverty rate reached 15.4% in 2024, the highest since records began in 1996, affecting about 9.8 million people. Energy prices have risen over 60% since 2015, with fuel costs surging 30% in early 2026 following the Iran war and Hormuz crisis. Eurostat data shows 28.8% of French residents cannot cover unexpected expenses without debt, and 41.1% struggle to manage daily living costs. The protests began as student demonstrations over school conditions before expanding into a broader movement against living costs.