Enterprise births in 2019 Continued Increase in the Number of New Micro-Entrepreneurs

In 2019, the total number of enterprise births in France reached a record level, with 815,300 births, representing an increase of 18% compared to 2018. The increase was again driven by registrations of micro-entrepreneurs (+25%, compared to +28% in 2018). Conventional sole proprietorships were also on the increase (+16%), as were new companies (+9%). The two sectors that made the largest contribution to total growth were professional, scientific and technical activities (+17%) and other household services (+31%).

The total number of births across all enterprise types increased in all regions for the first time since 2010.

Excluding micro-entrepreneurs, just 5% of enterprises hired employees as soon as they were established, starting out with an average of 2.9 employees.

The average age of those setting up a sole proprietorship in 2019 was 36. Of these, four out of ten were women.