According to the ministry, as cited by the BFMTV broadcaster, around 9,500 people took part in the rallies across France as of 6:00 p.m. (16:00 GMT).
The organisers of the protests, meanwhile, attempted to contest the official figures, arguing that Saturday's rallies brought together about 23,600 yellow vests across the country.
Last Saturday, around 12,500 yellow vest protesters marched in France, of which 2,100 marched in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry.
The wave of the yellow vest rallies started in France in mid-November over planned hikes in fuel taxes. While the French government has abandoned its plans to raise fuel taxes and has introduced other measures to improve the country's socioeconomic situation, protesters continue to take to the streets across France every weekend to express their discontent with the governmental policies. The rallies usually lead to damage and clashes between the police and the activists.
