In 2023, the length of navigable inland waterways in France was approximately 4.99 thousand kilometers. According to forecasts, this length is expected to gradually decrease, projected to reach 4.89 thousand kilometers by 2028. This indicates an annual reduction of about 0.4% over the forecast period. The overall forecast reflects a consistent but slight decline in the inland waterway network.

Future trends to watch for include:

Potential investments in waterway infrastructure to reverse the decline.
Environmental policies impacting waterway maintenance and development.
Technological innovations that could improve the efficiency of existing networks.