France is likely to face the worst post-war economic downturn this year, which will far surpass the 2.2% decline seen in 2009 after the global financial crisis, said Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.

"We will probably be at more than the -2.2% in 2009," he said. That shows "the magnitude of the economic shock we are facing", Reuters reported quoting the minister.

According to government forecasts, in the updated emergency budget, the economy would contract 1% this year. However, the cabinet said it will have to reconsider this figure.