Introduction – Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the leading cause of work-related morbidity in France, as well as at the European and global levels. Objective – The objective is to estimate the prevalence of these disorders at the national level, in the general population, in the employed workforce, and by sector of activity, using data from the Santé publique France Barometer, and to identify priority sectors for preventive measures. Methods – The Santé publique France Barometer is a random telephone survey focused on the health behaviors and attitudes of people residing in France. The survey included 18,298 individuals aged 18 to 64 and 13,093 individuals aged 18 to 64 who were employed, who were asked about self-reported MSD pain over the past twelve months. Prevalence rates were calculated for two major categories of MSDs—back MSDs and upper limb MSDs—and five subcategories (low back pain excluding sciatica, sciatic pain, shoulder MSDs, elbow MSDs, and carpal tunnel syndrome) separately for each gender. Priority sectors for prevention were identified using a complementary indicator, the prevention index. Results – The prevalence of all MSDs studied (back and upper limb) in the general population aged 18 to 64 is 58% [56%; 59%] among women and 51% [49%; 52%] among men. The prevalence of back MSDs is 47% [46%; 48%] among women and 40% [39%; 41%] among men. The prevalence of upper limb MSDs is lower: 30% [28%; 31%] among women and 27% [25%; 28%] among men. Very similar prevalence rates are observed in the working-age population aged 18 to 64. The prevalence of MSDs of the back and upper limbs stands at 60% [58%; 61%] among women and 54% [52%; 55%] among men. The prevalence of MSDs of the back is 48% [46%; 50%] among women and 42% [40%; 44%] among men. The prevalence of upper limb MSDs is lower: 31% [29%; 32%] among women and 28% [27%; 29%] among men. Regarding the back, the most commonly reported MSDs are low back pain excluding sciatica. For upper limb MSDs, shoulder MSDs are the most common. The sectors to be prioritized for prevention are manufacturing and construction among men and the human health and social work sector among women. Discussion – These results confirm the prevalence of MSDs in France, with nearly 60% of women and over 50% of men reporting pain related to MSDs of the back or upper limbs. These results for the general population and the employed workforce, as well as those by sector, are consistent with data from the scientific literature. The prioritization of sectors for prevention is based here on morbidity indicators. It might be relevant to use complementary indicators, such as those measuring the impact on employment or professional careers, which could provide a different perspective on this issue.