Migration continues to shape the demographic and economic landscape of the European Union. In 2024, millions of people moved either into, within, or out of EU countries, highlighting the region’s role as both a destination and a transit zone for global mobility. The latest data from Eurostat reveals how immigration, emigration, and internal EU migration have evolved, and how these movements differ between countries.
This analysis below explores the scale of migration flows, the differences between EU and non-EU migration patterns, and how migration is influencing the EU’s population structure.
Overall Migration Flows in the EU
In 2024, migration to the European Union remained substantial. Approximately 4.2 million people immigrated to the EU from non-EU countries, while 1.5 million people moved between EU member states. During the same year, about 3.2 million individuals emigrated from EU countries, including 1.6 million who left the EU for destinations outside the bloc.
Although immigration remained high, it showed a slight decline compared with 2023, when 4.4 million immigrants arrived from non-EU countries. Meanwhile, migration between EU countries remained stable at roughly 1.5 million people annually.
Overall, the EU recorded 9.2 immigrants from non-EU countries per 1,000 residents in 2024, illustrating the continued demographic importance of international migration.
Immigration Rates Across EU Countries
Migration patterns vary significantly across EU member states. Some countries experience high immigration relative to their population size, while others receive comparatively few newcomers.
| Country | Immigration Rate (per 1,000 residents) |
| Malta | 60 |
| Cyprus | 42 |
| Luxembourg | 38 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| France | 6 |
| Italy, Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland | 8 |
Malta recorded the highest immigration rate, with 60 immigrants per 1,000 residents, far exceeding the EU average. Cyprus and Luxembourg also experienced strong migration inflows relative to their population sizes.
In contrast, Slovakia had the lowest immigration rate, followed by France and several Central and Eastern European countries. These differences highlight how geographic position, economic opportunities, and migration policies shape population movements across the EU.
Countries with the Largest Number of Immigrants
While smaller states often record higher immigration rates, larger economies attract the highest absolute numbers of migrants.
| Country | Number of Immigrants (2024) |
| Spain | 1,288,600 |
| Germany | 1,078,500 |
| Italy | 451,600 |
| France | 438,600 |
Spain and Germany also reported the highest numbers of emigrants during the same year. Despite these departures, nearly all EU countries—except Latvia—recorded more immigration than emigration, indicating continued population growth driven by migration.
Migration from EU Countries vs Non-EU Countries
In most EU countries, immigrants arriving from outside the EU outnumber those moving from other EU member states. However, there were notable exceptions.
Furthermore, Luxembourg stands out as a unique case: 85.5% of its immigrants came from other EU countries, reflecting its highly integrated labor market with neighboring states. Romania also recorded a majority of immigrants coming from within the EU.
Conversely, several countries relied heavily on immigration from outside the EU. The highest proportions were recorded in:
- Czechia – 87.0%
- Italy – 86.2%
- Spain – 84.5%
This means this contrast demonstrates how economic structure and geographic location influence migration sources across Europe.
Gender Distribution of Immigrants
Migration to the EU in 2024 was slightly male-dominated. Men represented 55% of immigrants, while women accounted for 45%.
In 23 out of 26 EU countries with available data, male immigrants formed the majority. Croatia reported the highest proportion of male immigrants at 73.6%, followed by Lithuania and Romania.
By contrast, several countries recorded higher shares of female immigrants. France led this group with 52.3% female migrants, followed by Sweden and Czechia.
These variations often reflect differences in labor demand, migration pathways, and family reunification patterns.
Citizenship and National Migration Patterns
Migration statistics can also be examined by citizenship. In 2024, nationals returning to their home countries represented a majority of immigrants in Romania, Latvia, and Slovakia.
Romania recorded the highest proportion of returning citizens, where 64.5% of immigrants held Romanian citizenship. Latvia and Slovakia also showed strong patterns of return migration.
In contrast, countries such as Czechia experienced very low levels of returning nationals, with only 2.3% of immigrants being Czech citizens. Most migrants in these countries were foreign nationals.
Age Structure
One of the most striking features of migration in the EU is the younger age profile of immigrants compared with the resident population.
| Group | Median Age |
| EU Population | 44.9 years |
| Immigrants (2024) | 30.2 years |
| National Immigrants | 33.2 years |
| Non-National Immigrants | 29.7 years |
Immigrants are predominantly young working-age adults, which contrasts with the EU’s aging population. This demographic difference is significant because migration can partially offset labor shortages and demographic decline in several European economies.
Foreign-Born Population in the EU
As of 1 January 2025, approximately 46.7 million people born outside the EU were living in EU countries, representing 10.4% of the EU’s population. This figure increased by 1.9 million compared with the previous year.
An additional 18 million residents were born in another EU country, highlighting the scale of mobility within the union. The largest numbers of foreign-born residents were concentrated in four major EU countries:
| Country | Foreign-Born Population |
| Germany | 17.2 million |
| France | 9.6 million |
| Spain | 9.5 million |
| Italy | 6.9 million |
Together, these four countries accounted for two-thirds of all foreign-born residents in the EU.
Countries with the Highest Shares of Foreign-Born Residents
When measured relative to population size, smaller countries dominate the ranking of foreign-born residents.
| Country | Share of Foreign-Born Population |
| Luxembourg | 51.5% |
| Malta | 32.0% |
| Cyprus | 27.6% |
| Ireland | 23.3% |
| Austria | 22.5% |
| Sweden | 20.8% |
| Germany | 20.5% |
Luxembourg stands out dramatically, with more than half of its population born outside the country. By contrast, countries such as Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria reported foreign-born populations below 5%.
Non-EU Citizens Living in the EU
On 1 January 2025, approximately 30.6 million non-EU citizens were living in EU countries, accounting for 6.8% of the EU’s total population.
Germany hosted the largest number of non-EU citizens (12.4 million), followed by Spain, France, and Italy. These four countries collectively hosted nearly 70% of all non-EU citizens living in the EU.
The largest groups of non-EU citizens in the EU were:
- Ukrainian citizens.
- Turkish citizens.
- Moroccan citizens.
Long-Term Trends in EU Migration
Over the last decade, the proportion of foreign-born residents has increased in most EU countries, reflecting sustained migration inflows and internal EU mobility. Only Latvia and Greece experienced declines in their foreign-born populations during this period.
Migration has therefore become an increasingly important factor shaping Europe’s demographic structure, especially as the region faces population aging and workforce shortages.
Conclusion
Migration remains a defining demographic force in the European Union. With 4.2 million immigrants arriving from non-EU countries in 2024 and millions more moving within the EU, population mobility continues to influence economic growth, labor markets, and demographic change.
The data reveals clear contrasts between countries. Smaller states such as Malta and Luxembourg record extremely high migration rates relative to their population, while large economies like Spain and Germany attract the highest absolute numbers of migrants.
At the same time, migrants tend to be younger than the resident population, making migration a crucial factor in balancing Europe’s aging demographic profile.