How does France’s vaccination rate compare with UK, US and rest of EU?

After a highly criticised slow start, France’s vaccination campaign has accelerated and now compares favourably with the UK, US, and the rest of the EU. We take a closer look.

As of September 2, 2021, figures show that 72.70% of the total population in France have received at least one injection (3,881,216 still waiting for their second dose), and 66.92% are fully vaccinated (44,877,194 people, all doses received).

Of the eligible population only (over 12s and people without medical conditions that mean they cannot receive the vaccination), this rises to 84.58% who have so far had one dose (3,873,314), and 77.86% who are now fully vaccinated (44,867,859).

Vaccination in France is continuing, with numbers boosted especially after President Emmanuel Macron announced the extension of the health pass requirement on July 12.

The rate is slowing, however. Over the past seven days, 101,347 first injections were given every day on average, which represents just 27% of the maximum rate seen in France, which peaked at 372,732 per day on July 30.

Vaccination rates across much of the country are at between 54-72% and more, depending on the department. The Covid tracker website CovidTracker.fr has an interactive map on which you can check the vaccination rates by department.

How does this compare to the rest of the world?

France is 13th in the world in terms of the percentage of the population to have been vaccinated with at least one dose, and 11th for full vaccinations.

In front of it is:

• UAE (87.8% partially vaccinated, 76.72% fully)

• Portugal (86.09%, 77.25%)

• Qatar (79.94%, 74.43%)

• Spain (78.77%, 73.31%)

• Singapore (78.34%, 76.45%)

• Uruguay (77.09%, 72.61%)

• Denmark (76.05%, 73.16%)

• Chile (75.13%, 71.51%)

• Ireland (74.53%, 69.11%)

• China (74.26%, 61.59%)

• Canada (73.87%, 67.54%)

• Finland (72.04%, 53.47%)

France is also ahead of many major international nations including:

• US (61.52% partially vaccinated, 52.32% fully)

• Brazil (64.84%, 31.18%)

• Japan (59.55%, 48.09%)

• New Zealand (53.73%, 27.71%)

• Australia (50.87%, 30.51%)

• Mexico (45.34%, 27.49%)

• India (37.88%, 11.53%).

In Europe, it compares well too, and is among the countries with the highest proportion of vaccinations.

It is notably well ahead of countries including:

• Germany (65.29% partially vaccinated, 60.87% fully)

• Switzerland (57.93%, 51.5%)

• Austria (61.31%, 58.04%)

• Czech Republic (55.75%, 54.02%)

• Poland (51.31%, 50.11%)

• Hungary (60.42%, 0%)

• Slovakia (43.82%, 40.08%)

• Slovenia (48.33%, 44.17%)

• Croatia (42.66%, 39.95%)

• Sweden (68.25%, 57.89%).

Countries with similar rates or over to France (again, 72.70% partially vaccinated, and 66.92% completely vaccinated), include:

Ahead of France in Europe:

• Portugal (86.09%, 77.25%)

• Spain (78.77%, 73.31%)

• Finland (73.04%, 53.47%)

• Ireland (74.53%, 69.11%)

Very close behind France in Europe:

• Belgium (72.69%, 70.44%)

• Italy (71.7%, 62.31%)

• Norway (71.57%, 60.26%)

• UK (70.77%, 63.71%)

The data, from Santé publique France, is subject to change, it said, and is continually changing as vaccination campaigns continue.

The latest data from the various European countries comes from different sources and different dates - for example, France’s figures are from Santé publique France on September 2, while the UK’s are from Public Health England, from September 5.

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