Last updated: 2026-10-19

Immigration in Europe: EU data, country comparisons and how France fits (2026)

Short answer: Germany has the most foreign-born residents of any EU country, at 17.2 million, ahead of France at 9.6 million. About 46.7 million people in the EU were born outside it on 1 January 2025, or 10.4% of residents. Asylum applications in the EU+ area fell to about 822,000 in 2025, from 1.14 million in 2023, and the EU Migration and Asylum Pact began to apply on 12 June 2026.

"Foreign-born" (born in another country), "foreign citizen" and "born outside the EU" are different measures, and each table says which is used. Many figures below come from news outlets quoting Eurostat, EUAA or Frontex, and are marked "secondary". For France in detail see Macron's record and the immigration statistics page.

Which EU country has the most immigrants?

Germany has the most in absolute numbers and Luxembourg has the highest share. On 1 January 2025 Germany had 17.2 million foreign-born residents, France 9.6 million, Spain 9.5 million and Italy 6.9 million (Sigmalive, citing Eurostat), secondary. By share, Luxembourg was highest at 51.5%, then Malta 32.0%, Cyprus 27.6% and Ireland 23.3% (same source).

Reference years differ between sources. Belgium's statistics office reports 36% of residents have a "foreign background", a wider definition that is not comparable with the table (EMN Belgium, citing Statbel).

How many people born outside the EU live in the EU?

About 46.7 million, or 10.4% of 450.6 million residents on 1 January 2025, up 1.9 million in a year. A narrower count by citizenship, third-country nationals, was about 30.6 million, or 6.8% (Sigmalive, citing Eurostat), secondary.

Most settlement comes through permits for work, family and study, not asylum. Eurostat counted about 3.5 million first residence permits for non-EU citizens in 2024, down 8.3% from the 2023 record (EMN Belgium, citing Eurostat). By reason, employment was 31.9%, family 27.1%, other reasons including protection 25.3% and education 15.7% (Sofia Globe). Spain issued the most, 561,640 or 16.0% of the EU total (same source).

How many people apply for asylum in Europe?

Applications in the EU+ area (EU states plus Norway and Switzerland) fell from 1,143,437 in 2023 to 1,014,420 in 2024 and about 822,000 in 2025, the lowest since 2021 (EUAA; WAM).

Sources: EUAA Asylum Report 2025 via WAM; EUAA Asylum Report 2026. National 2024 counts are secondary.

In 2025 the top nationalities were Afghanistan (14%), Venezuela (11%), Syria (5%), Bangladesh (4%) and Türkiye (4%), and repeat applications rose 39% to 15% of the total (EUAA). Germany's own agency counted 168,543 applications in 2025, of which 113,236 were first-time (Tue News, citing BAMF).

How many irregular border crossings does Frontex record?

Frontex recorded almost 178,000 irregular crossings at EU external borders in 2025, down 26% and the lowest since 2021 (Frontex). The 2024 total was just over 239,000, down 38% on 2023 (Frontex). The 2015 peak was about 1.82 million (Sofia Globe, citing Frontex).

By route in 2025, the Central Mediterranean was busiest, broadly in line with 2024, with Libya the main departure point. Through November the Eastern Mediterranean fell 30% to nearly 46,200, Western Africa (Atlantic) fell about 60% to just over 16,800, and the Western Mediterranean rose 15% (Frontex).

How many people ordered to leave are actually returned?

About a third in 2025, though the ratio compares different groups of people. In 2025 EU states ordered 491,950 people to leave and 155,110 were returned to third countries, about 32% by Gapminder's calculation (Gapminder), secondary. In 2024 the figures were 453,840 and 119,155, about 26% (Eunews, citing Eurostat).

In the fourth quarter of 2025 orders were highest in France (34,040), Spain (12,380) and Germany (10,720); returns were highest in Germany (7,690), France (3,800) and Sweden (2,870) (Eurostat). France issues the most orders in the EU, and its executed returns are a small share of them. Sweden returned about 76% in 2025, 13,990 against 18,340 orders (Gapminder). Quarterly orders and returns are different cohorts and should not be divided.

What is Germany's immigration policy under Merz?

Germany tightened border and family rules after the CDU/CSU-SPD government took office in May 2025. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered stronger checks at the Polish and Czech borders on 7 May 2025 (Polskie Radio). The Bundestag voted 444 to 135 to suspend family reunification for two years for people with subsidiary protection (Arab News), and the cabinet scrapped the accelerated three-year citizenship route (Central TV).

In June 2025 the Berlin Administrative Court held that turning back three Somali asylum seekers at the Polish border was unlawful without first determining which EU state was responsible; Merz said turn-backs could continue (Bluewin; Bluewin).

In the February 2025 federal election the CDU/CSU won 28.5% and the AfD 20.8%, its best national result (Wikipedia). In Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September 2026 the AfD took 43.8% and the CDU 17.2%, in preliminary results (NPR via KJZZ). Other mainstream parties continue to rule out cooperation with the AfD (same source).

What has changed in Sweden and Denmark?

Both tightened policy, and sources do not establish whether policy caused the changes in arrivals or crime.

Sweden. The Tidö coalition took office in 2022 pledging to cut gang crime and immigration (Reuters via Internazionale). Brå recorded 84 gun-violence deaths in 2025, down from 92 in 2024 and 124 in 2020, with one February 2025 mass shooting killing 10 (same source). Officials credit surveillance powers, tougher sentences and resources. Sweden's foreign-born share, 20.8%, is about 7 points above France's 14%. Preliminary results of the 13 September 2026 election gave the opposition bloc 176 seats and the Tidö bloc 173, with the Sweden Democrats on 62, down 11; the final count was not checked (Wikipedia).

Denmark. By the end of November 2025 Denmark had registered 1,835 asylum applications and granted 839 (The Local DK). Researchers at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation argue Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine also played a role in Nordic declines (Wikipedia, citing FES). Denmark is the only member state not bound by the EU common safe-countries list (EUAA).

What happened with Italy's Albania centres, the Dutch government and the UK?

Italy. Centres at Shëngjin and Gjadër opened in October 2024 for border procedures. Italian courts ordered migrants returned almost at once, and by mid-2025 the centres held a few dozen people against a target of 3,000 a month (Eunews; ANSA). On 23 April 2026 an Advocate General said the transfers are compatible with EU law; his opinion is not binding (Adnkronos). The final ruling was not found.

Netherlands. The Schoof coalition collapsed on 3 June 2025 when Geert Wilders withdrew the PVV over his asylum plan (DutchNews). The 29 October 2025 election gave D66 and the PVV 26 seats each (NL Times). A D66-VVD-CDA minority government under Rob Jetten, with 66 seats, was sworn in on 23 February 2026 (Government of the Netherlands).

United Kingdom (not an EU member). About 41,472 people crossed the Channel by small boat in 2025, 13% above 2024 and second to the 2022 record of 45,774 (Khaleej Times), secondary.

What is the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum?

It is a set of EU rules that began to apply in full on 12 June 2026 (EMN Belgium). The Commission's May 2026 report found gaps in border procedures, responsibility rules and rights monitoring, and Hungary said it would not submit a national plan (EU Migration Law Blog). The European Policy Centre argued states were not ready (EPC).

On 23 February 2026 the Council adopted the first EU-wide safe-countries-of-origin list and revised safe-third-country rules, both applying from 12 June 2026 (Anadolu).

A separate Return Regulation, proposed in March 2025, reached a provisional deal on 1 June 2026, allowing returns to transit and safe third countries and arrangements with them (Council). Parliament approved it 418 to 218 on 17 June 2026 (Curaçao Chronicle). Final adoption and entry into force were not confirmed. France's own application is covered in Macron's record.

How do the French riots compare with unrest elsewhere in Europe?

France's 2005 and 2023 riots followed police-related deaths, while other episodes had very different triggers. Arrest counts are not comparable across countries because of legal systems and counting dates.

The crowd's target also differed: police and property in France 2005 and 2023 and Belgium 2022, asylum seekers and hotels in the UK episodes. The 16 October 2023 shooting of two Swedish fans in Brussels was a terrorist attack, not a riot. The attacker was linked to Islamic State, an extremist group; most Muslims are not extremists (Free Malaysia Today). See the 2023 Nahel riots and recent riots.

What do Europeans say about immigration?

In autumn 2024, 28% of EU respondents named migration as one of the two top issues facing the EU, second to the war in Ukraine at 31% (CNA Cyprus), secondary. The peak was 48% in spring 2016 (EUobserver). The spring 2026 immigration figure was not retrieved.

How have parties campaigning against immigration done in elections?

Results vary by country. Counts of far-right seats depend on definition.

France's own election results are covered in Macron's record.

Related pages

• Immigration statistics
• Population projections
• The 2023 Nahel riots
• Recent riots, 2024 to 2026
• Macron's record on immigration
• Frequently asked questions