Context The National Center for Palliative and End-of-Life Care has conducted a study on “The French and the end of life” in order to establish an inventory of the knowledge and representations of French citizens and to strengthen the process of informing and raising awareness among citizens about the end of life and their rights. Objectives To evaluate the knowledge of the French people concerning the support of the end of life and the various legislative frameworks provided by the law (designation of the trusted person, advance directives, refusal of treatment in a situation of unreasonable obstinacy, deep and continuous sedation until death). Method A questionnaire survey was carried out by telephone on a representative sample of the French population (1003 people aged 18 and over). Results Overall, French citizens feel little concerned by end-of-life issues. Women have given more thought than men to their preferences and to talk to their loved ones about their wishes regarding the end of life. There is a discrepancy between the level of objective information of the French population on the end of life and their perception of it: only 21.2% of those who consider themselves well informed are so objectively. The overall level of knowledge about end-of-life care is mean level. Conclusions These results provide a framework for the production of an annual barometer on French people's knowledge and representations regarding the end of life.