In 2025, Ifop for UNCCAS surveyed the French on their perception of social action, as part of the3rd wave of its barometer. In the run-up to the 2026 municipal elections, this question takes on particular importance, as expectations in terms of social action and local public services remain high, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.Social action priorities: a constant focus on healthcare, with adjustments for other needs.
For the third year running, health is by far the most important social action priority (88%). This massive figure, stable compared to previous years (88% in 2024, 87% in 2023), illustrates the importance of health issues in a society marked by an aging population and successive crises (Covid-19, medical inflation, hospital tensions). Food (70% in 2025, versus 74% in 2024 and 2023) and housing (69% in 2025, versus 72% in 2024 and 64% in 2023) also appear to be priorities, although their importance has declined slightly in recent years. The decline in the perceived priority of food, for example, can be paralleled by an easing of the purchasing power crisis.
Emergency aid and social transformation: what role for social action?
As in the previous year, when the French are asked about the main purpose of social action, two main visions emerge. On the one hand, an emergency approach, which considers that social action must above all support the most vulnerable in times of crisis (62%). On the other, a structural vision, with the emphasis on reducing inequalities (52%). Preferences vary according to age and employment status: young people and the unemployed are more inclined to give priority to reducing inequalities (60% for the under-35s, 61% for the unemployed, versus 52% on average), while pensioners and the well-off place greater emphasis on emergency aid: 68% for pensioners, and 66% for the well-off, versus 62% on average.
Priority targets for social action
When it comes to the publics perceived as priorities for social action, the vulnerable remain at the top of the list, although their share is declining slightly (39% in 2025, versus 43% in 2024). Conversely, the proportion of French people who put the elderly first is rising (33% in 2025, versus 28% in 2024), a potential sign of awareness of the aging population and its consequences in terms of dependency and pension funding. On the other hand, students and young workers (12%) remain “little considered”, despite the economic difficulties they face.
Satisfaction with social action continues to rise.
Although a majority of French people still declare themselves dissatisfied with social action in France (53%), the general judgment has nonetheless evolved positively, with 47% of respondents judging it satisfactory, an increase of 6 points compared to 2024. Disparities are more marked according to respondents’ standard of living: 59% of the most affluent people consider social action to be satisfactory, compared with 45% of the poorest. There are also notable regional differences. Satisfaction is highest in Pays de la Loire, where it reaches 57%, 10 points above the national average. It is also in the majority in Île-de-France and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where 53% of residents consider it satisfactory. However, social action remains a priority for the majority of French people, who are in favor of several measures to increase its effectiveness. Indeed, 65% of respondents support the idea of giving up certain tax advantages for businesses, 64% say they are prepared to sacrifice economic or commercial development projects, and 58% accept a reduction in public spending in areas such as culture, town planning or public transport. On the other hand, raising local and national taxes is widely rejected, with only a minority of 18% in favor of such a measure to finance increased social action, reflecting strong resistance to further tax increases, despite growing demand for social reforms.
Public and private sector: who is best placed to implement social action?
When it comes to the perception of who is best placed to implement social action, the public sector remains the preferred choice in all areas tested. In healthcare, 81% of respondents favored the public sector, compared with only 19% for the private sector. This trend is confirmed in other sectors such as dependency (72%), mobility (67%) and energy (66%), where a majority of French people consider that the State is better placed to provide social services. On the other hand, in areas such as food (56%) and employment and training (59%), opinions are more divided, with a notable proportion of French in favor of the private sector, at 44% and 41% respectively.
The importance of social action in the 2026 municipal elections.
With one year to go before the municipal elections, the Ifop barometer for UNCCAS asked the French about the importance of social action in their future electoral choices. This question is all the more significant given that 29% of French people consider the commune to be the most legitimate institutional actor for effective action in the event of a crisis, behind the State (35%), but well ahead of the region (15%). It is interesting to note that the perception of the role of the regions remains relatively stable on a national scale: on average, 15% of voters consider them the most legitimate to lead social action in times of crisis. However, regional disparities are emerging. While this proportion is similar in most territories, it reaches 24% in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, while dropping to just 8% in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, suggesting a more contrasted perception of the role of regions according to local specificities. Analysis of the results reveals that, while maintaining quality public services (which ranks first) is indicated as a determining factor by 63% of respondents, the ambition and scope of the solidarity project appears to be a fundamental issue for a third of the electorate, with 32% of voters deeming it decisive in their voting choice. This priority given to solidarity reflects a deep-seated attachment on the part of some voters to ambitious local policies, focused on support for the most vulnerable and social cohesion. Interestingly, this trend is even more pronounced among supporters of left-wing parties. Thus, 55% of La France Insoumise supporters, 44% of Ecologist supporters and 36% of Socialist Party supporters consider the ambition and scope of the solidarity project to be decisive. On the other hand, this criterion seems less relevant for supporters of the “traditional right”, with only 19% of supporters of Les Républicains deeming it decisive.
SPECIFICREGIONALFOCUSMarkedregional disparities in perception of social action.
The survey highlights significant differences between regions in terms of the objectives and priorities attributed to social action. While at national level, a majority of French people consider that social action should above all support the most vulnerable in times of crisis (62%), this perception varies greatly from region to region. Inhabitants of the Hauts-de-France region are particularly attached to this mission (74%), while this view is much less shared in the Grand Est (49%) and Pays de la Loire (50%) regions. In some regions, social action is seen more as a means of supporting local associations and initiatives. This is notably the case in the Grand Est (33%) and Pays de la Loire (26%), where this axis is much more highly valued than the national average (19%). Perceptions of the scope of social action also vary from region to region. Normandy is the region where the increase in the number of beneficiaries over the last ten years is most strongly felt (83%), a figure well above those observed in Île-de-France (63%) and the rest of France (70%).
Regional disparities in social action funding.
Differences are also widening when it comes to funding. While at national level, 65% of French people say they are in favor of abandoning certain tax benefits and exemptions for companies in order to finance more social action, this support varies considerably from region to region. Burgundy-Franche-Comté stands out for its strong support for this idea (84%), while Normandy and Hauts-de-France are the most reticent regions (57% each).
Diverging views on priority groups for social action.
The perception of which publics should be priorities for social action also reveals significant territorial disparities. While nationally, 39% of French people believe that social action should focus primarily on the vulnerable, this proportion falls to 25% in the Centre-Val de Loire region, where priority is given more to people with disabilities (34% vs. 20% nationally). As far as students are concerned, Brittany stands out as the region where they are most highly prioritized (25% vs. 12% nationally), while Normandy has the lowest support for this idea (5%).
Attachment to public service, a reality that varies from region to region.
While the public sector is still widely favored over the private sector for the delivery of social services, there are significant regional differences. In healthcare, for example, support for public service peaks in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (95%), while it is lower in Hauts-de-France (71%). Generally speaking, the Île-de-France region stands out for having a higher level of public-sector preference than the national average in all sectors.
