The French organized breast cancer screening program invites women aged 50 to 74 to undergo a clinical breast exam and a screening mammogram every two years. It offers immediate diagnostic evaluation in the event of suspicious results and a second reading of every mammogram that is initially deemed normal. The program has been available nationwide in France since 2004. Screening is coordinated at the regional level by the Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Centers (CRCDC). Participation rates for this program, calculated for the years 2005 through 2024, are presented below at the national, departmental, and regional levels.

The tables, figures, and map illustrating temporal and geographic variations for the 2005–2024 period are available for download at the bottom of the page.

Key Findings

• The standardized participation rate of the target population in the PNDOCS is estimated at 44.0% in 2024. It was 44.8% in 20221 (48.6% in 2023). It is estimated at 46.3% for the 2023–2024 period, compared to 46.7% for the 2022–2023 period. Participation in this program continues to decline in 2024.

• The downward trend in participation is observed across all age groups.

• When comparing 2024 to 2022, the trends observed vary from region to region:

  • a significant decline (by 3 to 5 percentage points) in Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Centre-Val de Loire, and Réunion,

  • a moderate decline (1 to 2 percentage points) in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire,

  • stability in Occitanie, Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Brittany, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Martinique,

  • a significant increase (4 to 5 points) in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Corsica,

  • data collected in French Guiana and Guadeloupe are difficult to interpret.

• Since 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions have been observed in the mailing of invitations and in participation. Starting January 1, 2024, invitations will be sent by the Health Insurance Agency. For this year, data on the number of women invited are not yet available, as the Health Insurance Agency is currently unable to provide them.

• Participation in this program remains insufficient and below European recommendations (70% of the target population). A portion of the women in the target population, estimated at approximately 10%, undergoes screening outside the program. While a shift from organized screening to out-of-program screening cannot be ruled out, the available data do not allow for a reliable estimate of this shift. An analysis of the participation rate based on an estimate of the eligible population and those excluded from invitations could also supplement the program evaluation during the next update.

References (for further reading)

• Lapôtre-Ledoux B, Remontet L, Uhry Z, Dantony E, Grosclaude P, Molinié F, Woronoff A-S, Lecoffre-Bernard C, Lafay L, Defossez G, D’Almeida T. Incidence of major cancers in metropolitan France in 2023 and trends since 1990. Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2023, No. 12-13, pp. 188-204.

• Quintin C, Chatignoux E, Plaine J, Hamers FF, Rogel A. Coverage rate of opportunistic and organized breast cancer screening in France: Department-level estimation. Cancer Epidemiol. 2022 Dec;81:102270

• Rogel A, Plaine J, Quintin C, de Maria F. Participation in the organized breast cancer screening program between 2005 and 2021 in France. Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin. 2023;(14):255-65.

• Rogel A, Plaine J. Bulletin. Organized screening. Participation in the organized breast cancer screening program, 2022–2023 period and trends since 2010. National edition. July 2024. Saint-Maurice: Santé publique France, 10 p. Editor: Caroline Semaille

• Rogel A, Plaine J, Quintin C. Total coverage of breast cancer screening, within and outside the organized program, from 2016 to 2022 in mainland France. Bull Épidémiol Hebd 2025;(3-4):41-7.

• Zhang L, Mosquera I, Lucas E, Rol ML, Carvalho AL, Basu P; CanScreen5 collaborators. CanScreen5, a global repository for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening programs. Nat Med. 2023 May;29(5):1135-1145.