France's digital sector expands, advertising revenues hit €6.7 bn as digital economy reaches 5.5% of GDP

France's digital advertising market showed strong growth in the first half of 2026, generating €6.689 billion in revenue, a 12 % increase over the same period last year. Search advertising remained the leading channel with €2.74 billion (41 % of the market), while social media contributed €2.22 billion, also around 41 % of total growth. Video formats now dominate display advertising, accounting for 63 % of display revenue, and Connected TV sales rose 28 % year‑on‑year. The report notes a widening gap between international streaming platforms and traditional media publishers, with the latter seeing a 5 % decline.

At the macro level, the digital economy accounts for 5.5 % of France’s GDP and employs about 3.3 % of the workforce. Growth is driven by AI‑enabled services, cloud computing, big data and the Internet of Things, but a stark digital divide persists: large firms are rapidly adopting new technologies, whereas many SMEs struggle with cloud costs, talent shortages and regulatory burdens. Policymakers are emphasizing digital sovereignty and a 2030 roadmap to close the gap.