France Sees Growth in Foreign Resident Population in 2024, Yet Below EU Average

A recent study by the Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (Insee), published on October 7, 2024, reveals that France is home to 6 million foreigners, representing 8.8% of its population. This figure has doubled since 2000, when just over 3 million foreigners lived in the country. The broader category of immigrants, including those who have acquired French nationality, now totals 7.7 million, accounting for more than 11% of the French population.

Nearly 1 million of the foreigners residing in France are minors born to foreign parents within the country and will be eligible for French nationality upon reaching adulthood. However, France remains less welcoming compared to the European Union average, which has 9.6% foreigners among its population.

Demographically, approximately 46% of foreigners in France come from Africa, marking a significant shift from the late 1960s when the majority were European. Currently, three-quarters of foreigners are from outside the EU, with a sizable portion originating from African nations. Compared to neighboring countries, France has fewer non-European foreigners, at just 2.3%, while countries like Belgium and Germany report higher figures.

The study also highlights the changing trends in nationality acquisition: 2.6 million immigrants have obtained French citizenship, with higher naturalization rates among individuals from Africa (37%) and Asia (35%), while rates for Europeans have declined significantly since the late 2000s.

These findings illustrate both the growth and evolving composition of France's foreign population amidst broader European migratory trends, underscoring shifts in origin and integration patterns within the country.