Insee Première · August 2024 · n° 2011

In 2023, 2.4 million immigrants born in Europe lived in France

In 2023, 32% of immigrants living in France were born in Europe. Nearly three quarters of them came from a European Union (EU) country, especially Portugal, Italy and Spain, which remained the main countries of origin of immigrants born in Europe. The number of immigrants from countries that joined the EU most recently, or that are not members of the EU, has been increasing since the mid‑2000s.

The reasons for coming to France mentioned the most frequently by immigrants aged between 18 and 59 who were born in Europe and arrived at the age of 16 or over are work (37%) and family (34%). The need to flee from political unrest is also frequently mentioned (28%) by people born in a European country that has never joined the EU.

Immigrants from France's neighbouring countries are more likely to live in border regions: almost four out of ten immigrants born in Spain or Italy live in the two border regions of their countries of origin. However, other immigrants born in Europe are over-represented in the Île-de-France region, as are all immigrants.