Final answer:
The First and Second Estates of France, consisting of the clergy and nobility respectively, represented about 3 to 5 percent of France's population during the period leading up to the French Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
About what percent of France's population belonged to the First and Second Estates? During the period leading up to the French Revolution, the First Estate, comprised of the Catholic clergy, constituted less than 1 percent of the population. They held a significant portion of the lands and were largely exempt from taxes. The Second Estate, represented by the nobility, accounted for approximately 2 to 4 percent of the population and controlled a substantial portion of the country's land and wealth. Combined, the First and Second Estates represented a small fraction of the population at about 3 to 5 percent but enjoyed profound privileges and exemptions, particularly from taxation, which contributed to the growing unrest that led to the French Revolution.