A visitor looks at Rue de Sevres comics book at Le Monde des Bulles section during the 49th Angouleme International Comics Festival (Festival International de la Bande Dessinee), in Angouleme, western France, on March 18, 2022. (Photo: AFP)

PARIS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- France's general government deficit in 2021 reached 160.9 billion euros (187 billion U.S. dollars), representing 6.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) said on Tuesday in its preliminary report.

According to the institute, the general government expenditure rose sharply in 2021, by 4.0 percent, due to accelerated operating expenses, social benefits and economy stimulating plan amid the pandemic.

However, with the economic rebound, the government's revenues grew by 8.4 percent in 2021 after a drop of 4.8 percent in 2020, the INSEE said, adding that they benefited from the upturn in activity as well as the European financing for part of the recovery plan via the "recovery and resilience facility".

As France proceeded to COVID-19-related restrictions lifting, the deficit of the state and social security administrations was reduced in 2021, by 29.2 billion euros. (1 euro = 1.10 U.S. dollars)