More than one in two French people (55%) identify as middle classbased on their income level, socio-professional category or even their level of diploma, according to a study by the statistical service of social ministries published Thursday.
In detail, 34% identify as lower middle class and 21% as upper middle classaccording to the opinion barometer of the Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) carried out in 2023 in mainland France. Barely 7% of French people surveyed identify with the wealthy categories8% for the very modest and 30% for the modest categories.
For comparison, the usual approach – and not self-declaration – based on income generally reports 10% very modest French people, 20% modest, 30% belonging to the lower middle class, 20% to the upper middle class and 20% from wealthy categories, according to the study.
Income and socio-professional category are among the main factors influencing identification with a social class, along with the level of diploma, the type of income received (social minimum, income from financial assets or rental, etc.) and occupation status housing, notes Drees.
The richer we are, the more optimistic we are
So the fact of being a higher education graduate “significantly increases the probability of self-positioning in a higher social category”.
Conversely, continues Drees,e receiving social income or being a tenant reduces the probability of declaring oneself in a higher social category.
Furthermore, the higher the perception of their social position, the more the people interviewed take an optimistic view about their own situation, the future or society.
The French “self-positioning” in the upper middle class thus judge their situation rather or much better than those in the lower middle class (57% versus 40%).
In the same way, they more frequently say they are somewhat or very optimistic about their own future (59% versus 48%) or that of their children or future generations (42% versus 33%).
Same dichotomy regarding expectations in terms of social policies. At least nine in ten French people identify with the lower middle class or modest categories (including very modest) consider for example that the minimum wage must be increasedthe minimum wage (1426.30 euros net since November 1).
This share goes down to 85% of the upper middle class and 75% of the wealthy categoriesspecifies Drees.
