| 1835: |  The Havas agency, set up by Charles Louis Havas, is established under the name "Political Notes Agency". The world's first news agency, it uses a network of correspondents and translators. News from France and across Europe reaches Paris via train and carrier pigeon. |
| 1845: | The telegraph is used for the first time. |
| 1896: | The Agency sets up headquarters on the place de la Bourse, Paris. |
| 1940: | New legislation separates Havas into an advertising branch which retains the Havas name, while the news branch becomes the state owned French Information Office (OFI) |
| 1944: |  Liberated France's first dispatch is transmitted on August 20. The OFI takes the name Agence France-Presse. |
| 1957: | AFP is established as an independent, impartial news provider to suscribers in France and around the world by an act of parliament guaranteeing its independence from both private and state interests. |
| 1969: | Launch of the Arabic language service. |
| 1975: | Computerisation of the newsroom begins. |
| 1985: | International photo service set up. |
| 1988: | Graphics service established. |
| 1996: | Launch of first multimedia Internet Journal in French. |
| 2007: | Launch of AFPTV International and the video platform. |
| 2008: |  Developments of a range of mobile services. |
| 2010: | AFP becomes the first agency to offer High Definition video. |
| 2011: |  International revenue outstrips that from France. |
