A growing wave of protests over rising living costs, low wages, housing shortages and deteriorating public services has spread across Europe, with France emerging as the epicentre of the demonstrations.
According to an analysis of data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), more than 1,700 protests and riots involving at least 100 participants were recorded in 31 European countries between September 15 and October 30, 2026.
France accounted for the largest share, recording more than 1,200 demonstrations and riots during the period, significantly exceeding the figures reported in other European countries.
The protests initially began in French secondary schools in mid-September, as students expressed frustration over overcrowded classrooms, inadequate teaching staff and deteriorating school facilities.
However, the demonstrations gradually expanded into a broader movement involving trade unions, workers and members of the Yellow Vests movement, with protesters demanding improved living conditions, higher wages, affordable housing and better public services.
On Saturday, November 7, approximately 146,000 people participated in demonstrations across France, including 46,000 in Paris, according to the country's Interior Ministry. Trade unions, however, estimated the nationwide turnout at 250,000, with 75,000 people reportedly demonstrating in the capital.
Although Saturday's turnout was lower than previous demonstrations, confrontations between protesters and security forces continued in several cities.
In Paris, police reportedly used tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators, while similar clashes occurred in Lyon, where protesters blocked a major road. Authorities deployed approximately 70,000 security personnel to maintain public order.
The demonstrations have increasingly been accompanied by incidents of looting, vandalism and violence, while police authorities have faced criticism over alleged excessive use of force.
France Records the Highest Number of Demonstrations
ACLED data show that France experienced an extraordinary increase in protest activities during the current unrest.
Clionadh Raleigh, chief executive of ACLED, said the country normally records an average of 20.5 demonstrations daily over a five-year period. However, during the current protest movement, the figure increased to approximately 66 demonstrations per day.
She also noted that about 24.2 per cent of the recorded events had been classified as riots, compared with a historical median of just 1.9 per cent during previous protest movements.
The United Nations has also expressed concern over the handling of the demonstrations by French security agencies.
On October 28, four UN human rights experts criticised what they described as the excessive use of force against student protesters, warning that widespread arrests and detention could undermine people's rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The experts said several thousand people, many of them minors, had reportedly been affected by arrests and detention.
Meanwhile, a teenager in the northern French city of Lille reportedly lost a hand following the explosion of a grenade during clashes between school protesters and police officers.
Protests Spread to Other European Countries
Beyond France, demonstrations have also erupted in several European nations as citizens express dissatisfaction with economic hardship, inadequate public services and increasing housing costs.
Spain recorded 173 protests and riots during the period, followed by Italy with 160, Germany with 70 and Portugal with 33.
In Spain, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in early October following parliament's rejection of two emergency housing measures, dealing a political setback to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's minority government.
Italy has also witnessed demonstrations against rising living expenses, low wages and unaffordable accommodation, with some rallies resulting in confrontations between protesters and police.
In Portugal, thousands of demonstrators marched through major cities, demanding better wages, affordable housing and measures to address the increasing cost of living.
Alberto Alemanno, a professor of European Union law and policy at HEC Paris Business School, described France as the centre of the growing protest movement, warning that public frustration appeared to be spreading beyond its borders.
Growing Economic Frustration Raises Concerns Across Europe
The increasing number of demonstrations highlights mounting dissatisfaction among European citizens over economic conditions, particularly the rising cost of essential goods, housing affordability, wages and the quality of public services.
Although the scale of protests varies from country to country, the demonstrations reflect similar economic and social concerns affecting millions of people across the continent.
With France continuing to experience widespread unrest and demonstrations emerging elsewhere, European governments face growing pressure to address citizens' demands and prevent further escalation of the crisis.
Tags
World News