PARIS: France saw its strongest growth in over five decades last year as the euro zone's second-biggest economy bounced back from the COVID-19 crisis faster than expected, official data showed on Friday.

The economy grew 0.7% in the final three months of the year after a particular strong third quarter when it grew 3.1%, the INSEE stats agency said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast on average fourth quarter growth of 0.5%.

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For the full year 2021, the economy grew 7%, the strongest since 1969, after an 8% contraction in 2020 when strict coronavirus lockdowns throttled the economy.

The economy recovered in the second half of the year as a vaccination campaign gained momentum and the government eased COVID-19 restrictions.