French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged "failures in anticipation and intelligence" following days of violent unrest that swept across the country, while ruling out the resignation of the interior minister.

France is dealing with the aftermath of nationwide protests that left around 1,500 businesses damaged and caused losses estimated at hundreds of millions of euros.

Police arrested an estimated 1,800 people across the country during Saturday's demonstrations, which were driven by public anger over the cost of living and school conditions.