MigrantoMigration trends in France
Europe
France takes in more people than it loses: 8.3M immigrants against 2.5M emigrants. Net balance +5.7M — 8% of the country's population
68.6M
Population
8.3M
Immigrants
2.5M
Emigrants
+5.7M
Inflow
1 in 8 residents of France was born abroad — and 1 in 28 people born in France lives abroad
#7 in the world by net migration gain
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in France
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
5.5M immigrants · 1.4M emigrants
2000
- Rose into the 3 biggest immigrant destinations in Europe
2005
- Roughly 1 in 10 residents was now foreign-born
2010
- Spain replaced USA as the main destination for those leaving
Today
- Slipped out of the 3 biggest immigrant destinations in Europe
- Migration accounted for 51% of the country's population growth
- Since 1990: 2.8M more foreign-born residents and 1.1M more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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