EU population diversity by citizenship and country of birth

Data extracted in February 2025.

Planned article update: February 2026.

Highlights

44.7 million people (9.9%) of the 449.3 million people living in the EU on 1 January 2024 were born outside the EU.

17.9 million people (4.0%) of the 449.3 million people living in the EU on 1 January 2024 were born in another EU country.

29.0 million people (6.4%) of the 449.3 million people living in the EU on 1 January 2024 were non-EU citizens.

Share of foreign-born persons in the resident population, 1 January 2024

This article presents European Union (EU) statistics on the numbers of national and non-national citizens and of native-born and foreign-born individuals in the population ('stocks'). Migration is influenced by a combination of economic, environmental, political and social factors: either in a migrant's country of origin (push factors) or in the country of destination (pull factors). Historically, the relative economic prosperity and political stability of the EU are thought to have exerted a considerable pull effect on immigrants.

44.7 million persons born outside the EU living in the EU on 1 January 2024

On 1 January 2024, 44.7 million persons born outside the EU were residing in an EU country, representing 9.9% of the EU population. This represents an increase of 2.3 million compared with the previous year. In addition, 17.9 million persons living in 1 of the EU countries on 1 January 2024 were born in another EU country, representing an increase of 0.2 million compared with the previous year.

In absolute terms, the largest numbers of foreign-born individuals living in EU countries on 1 January 2024 were found in Germany (16.9 million), France (9.3 million), Spain (8.8 million) and Italy (6.7 million). Foreign-born individuals in these 4 EU countries collectively represented 66.6% of the total number of foreign-born individuals living in the EU, while the same 4 EU countries had a 57.8% share of the EU's population.

The highest relative share of foreign-born individuals within the total population was in Luxembourg (51.0% of the resident population), followed by Malta (30.8%), Cyprus (26.9%), Ireland (22.6%), Austria (22.1%), Sweden (20.6%) and Germany (20.2%). By contrast, foreign-born individuals represented less than 5% of the population in Poland (2.6% of its resident population on 1 January 2024), Romania (3.1%), Bulgaria (3.3%) and Slovakia (3.9%).

Table 1: Foreign-born population by group of country of birth, 1 January 2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop3ctb)

Foreign-born population in the EU countries: mostly persons born outside the EU

On 1 January 2024, in most EU countries, the majority of foreign-born individuals were born outside the EU (Figure 1). Only in Luxembourg, Hungary and Slovakia was the number of people born in another EU country higher than the number of people born outside the EU.

Figure 1: Share of foreign-born persons in the resident population, 1 January 2024
(%)
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop3ctb)

Foreign-born population in EU countries on 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2024: increases in most EU countries

Over the last 10 years, between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2024, the proportion of foreign-born persons increased in most EU countries (Figure 2). The proportion of foreign-born persons decreased only in Latvia and Greece between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2024.

Figure 2: Share of foreign-born persons in the resident population, 1 January 2024 and 1 January 2014
(%)
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop4ctb)

29.0 million non-EU citizens living in the EU on 1 January 2024

On 1 January 2024, 29.0 million citizens of non-member countries were resident in an EU country, representing 6.4% of the EU population. This represents an increase of 2.2 million compared with the previous year. In addition, 14.0 million persons living in 1 of the EU countries on 1 January 2024 were citizens of another EU country, representing an increase of 0.3 million compared with the previous year.

In absolute terms, the largest numbers of non-nationals living in EU countries on 1 January 2024 were found in Germany (12.1 million), Spain (6.5 million), France (6.0 million) and Italy (5.3 million). Non-nationals in these 4 EU countries collectively represented 69.5% of the total number of non-nationals living in the EU, while the same 4 EU countries had a 57.8% share of the EU's population.

In relative terms, the EU country with the highest share of non-nationals on 1 January 2024 was Luxembourg, where non-nationals accounted for 47.2% of the total population. High proportions of foreign citizens were also observed in Malta (28.1%) and Cyprus (24.0%). By contrast, non-nationals represented less than 3% of the population in Slovakia (1.2%), Poland (1.2%), Romania (1.2%), Bulgaria (1.8%) and Hungary (2.6%).

In relative terms, Luxembourg also had the largest share by far of citizens of other EU countries, 36.5%, followed by Cyprus with 10.2% and Austria with 9.8%. Conversely, Lithuania and Poland (0.1% of the resident population), Romania (0.3%), Bulgaria and Latvia (0.4%), Croatia (0.5%), Slovakia (0.7%) and Hungary (0.9%) had the smallest shares of citizens of other EU countries in the population.

Table 2: Non-national population by group of citizenship, 1 January 2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop1ctz)

In the cases of Estonia and Latvia, the proportion of citizens from non-member countries is particularly large due to the high number of recognised non-citizens (mainly former Soviet Union citizens, who are permanently resident in these countries but have not acquired any other citizenship).

Table 3 presents a summary of the 5 main groups of foreign citizens and foreign-born populations for EU countries and EFTA countries (subject to data availability).

Table 3: Main countries of citizenship and birth of the foreign/foreign-born population, 1 January 2024
(in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the total foreign/foreign-born population)
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop1ctz) and (migr_pop3ctb)

Table 3 is available here.

Romanian, Polish and Italian citizens were the 3 largest groups of citizens from an EU country living in other EU countries on 1 January 2024, for which data are available (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Number of EU citizens that are usual residents in the rest of the EU as of 1 January 2024
(million)
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop9ctz)

Ukrainian, Turkish and Moroccan citizens were the 3 largest groups of non-EU citizens living in EU countries on 1 January 2024, for which data are available (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Top nationalities of non-EU citizens that are usual residents in the EU as of 1 January 2024
(million)
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop1ctz)

Age structure by country of birth: foreign-born persons are younger than native-born persons

An analysis of the age structure of the population shows that, for the EU as a whole, the foreign-born population was younger than the native-born population. The distribution by age of the foreign-born population shows, compared with the native-born population, a greater proportion of relatively young working age adults, and a lower proportion of children, adolescents and older adults aged 60 and above. On 1 January 2024, the median age of native-born individuals in the EU was 45.1 years, while the median age of foreign-born individuals living in the EU was 43.1 years.

Figure 5: Age structure of the native-born and foreign-born populations, EU, 1 January 2024
(%)
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop4ctb)

In most EU countries, the foreign-born population was younger than the native-born population. Only in Estonia, France, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia was the proportion of individuals over 65 years of age higher in the foreign-born population than in the native-born population. In addition, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 64 years was higher in the foreign-born population than in the native-born population in all EU countries except for Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. In Denmark, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Finland and Sweden, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 64 years was at least 20.0 percentage points higher in the foreign-born population than in the native-born population.

Table 4: Population age structure by major age groups for native-born and foreign-born populations, 1 January 2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_pop4ctb)

Source data for tables and graphs

EU population diversity by citizenship and country of birth: tables and figures

Data sources

Eurostat produces statistics on a range of issues related to international migration flows, non-national population stocks and the acquisition of citizenship. Data are collected on an annual basis and are supplied to Eurostat by the national statistical authorities of the EU countries and EFTA countries.

Data in this article are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Legal Sources

Since 2008 the collection of migration and international protection data has been based on Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and the analysis and composition of the EU, EFTA and candidate countries groups as of 1 January of the reference year are given in the implementing Commission Regulation (EU) No 351/2010. This defines a core set of statistics on international migration flows, population stocks of foreigners, the acquisition of citizenship, residence permits, asylum and measures against illegal entry and stay. Although EU countries may use any appropriate data sources according to national availability and practice, the statistics collected under the Regulation must comply with common definitions and concepts. Most EU Member States base their statistics on administrative data sources such as population registers, registers of foreigners, registers of residence or work permits, health insurance registers and tax registers. Some countries use mirror statistics (for example, country X may use for immigration from country Y the emigration flows reported by country Y as coming from country X), sample surveys or estimation methods to produce migration statistics.

As stated in Article 2.1(a), (b), (c) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, immigrants who have been residing (or who are expected to reside) in the territory of an EU Member State for a period of at least 12 months are included in the statistics, as are emigrants living abroad for more than 12 months. Therefore, data collected by Eurostat concern migration for a period of 12 months or longer. Migrants therefore include people who have migrated for a period of 1 year or more as well as persons who have migrated on a permanent basis. Data on acquisitions of citizenship are collected by Eurostat under the provisions of Article 3.1.(d) of Regulation 862/2007, which states that: 'Member States shall supply to the Commission (Eurostat) statistics on the numbers of (…) persons having their usual residence in the territory of the Member State and having acquired during the reference year the citizenship of the Member State (…) disaggregated by (…) the former citizenship of the persons concerned and by whether the person was formerly stateless'.

Definitions

Member States and EFTA countries by inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees in the data on population reported to Eurostat in the framework of the Eurostat Population Statistics data collection for Reference Year 2023

Population as of 01.01.2024	Included	Excluded
Asylum seekers usually resident for at least 12 months	Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Norway, Switzerland	Bulgaria, Denmark, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein
Refugees usually resident for at least 12 months	Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU (¹)	Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland	Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Liechtenstein

(¹) On 2 March 2022, the Commission activated the Temporary Protection Directive to offer quick and effective assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Under this proposal, those fleeing the war will be granted temporary protection in the EU, meaning that they will be given a residence permit, and they will have access to education and to the labour market. See Context for additional information.

Refugee: The term does not solely refer to persons granted refugee status (as defined in Article 2(e) of Directive 2011/95/EC within the meaning of Article 1 of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, as amended by the New York Protocol of 31 January 1967) but also to persons granted subsidiary protection (as defined in Article 2(g) of Directive 2011/95/EC) and persons covered by a decision granting authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons under national laws concerning international protection.

Asylum seeker: First-time asylum applications are country-specific and imply no time limit. Therefore, an asylum seeker can apply for the first time in a given country and afterwards again as first-time applicant in any other country. If an asylum seeker lodges once more an application in the same country after any period of time, (s)he is not considered again a first-time applicant.

Methodological notes

The population data for the year 2021 and after take into account the results of the latest population census (held in 2021-2022). Following Eurostat's recommendations to ensure consistency of statistics over time, several EU countries (Bulgaria, Ireland, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal) revised their population time series between the reference years of the population and housing censuses held in 2011 and 2021. While this work was spread over time, revisions were transmitted and released in Eurostat's online database in 2024.

Guidance on the inclusion of refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU in the usually resident population: persons from Ukraine granted temporary protection should be counted as part of the usually resident population. Based on this, those who arrived from Ukraine and were granted temporary protection during the year – and who are believed to still be present at the end of the year – should be counted as immigrants during the year and as part of the migrant stock at the end of the reference period.

Context

Citizens of EU countries have freedom to travel and freedom of movement within the EU's internal borders. Migration policies within the EU in relation to citizens of non-member countries are increasingly concerned with attracting a particular migrant profile, often in an attempt to alleviate specific skills shortages. Selection can be carried out on the basis of language proficiency, work experience, education and age. Alternatively, employers can make the selection so that migrants already have a job upon their arrival.

Besides policies to encourage labour recruitment, immigration policy is often focused on 2 areas: preventing unauthorised migration and the illegal employment of migrants who are not permitted to work, as well as promoting the integration of immigrants into society. Significant resources have been mobilised to fight people smuggling and trafficking networks in the EU.

Within the European Commission, the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs is responsible for the European migration policies.

For more information please see the new Pact on Migration and Asylum

Explore further

Database

Thematic section

Publications

Methodology

Population (ESMS metadata file — demo_pop_esms)
International migration statistics (ESMS metadata file — migr_immi_esms)
Acquisition and loss of citizenship (ESMS metadata file — migr_acqn_esms)

External links

Legislation

In 2005, the European Commission relaunched the debate on the need for a common set of rules for the admission of economic migrants with a Green paper on an EU approach to managing economic migration (COM(2004) 811 final) which led to the adoption of a policy plan on legal migration (COM(2005) 669 final) at the end of 2005. In July 2006, the European Commission adopted a Communication on policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third-country nationals (COM(2006) 402 final), which aims to strike a balance between security and an individuals' basic rights during all stages of the illegal immigration process. In September 2007, the European Commission presented its third annual report on migration and integration (COM(2007) 512 final). A European Commission Communication adopted in October 2008 emphasised the importance of strengthening the global approach to migration: increasing coordination, coherence and synergies (COM(2008) 611 final) as an aspect of external and development policy. The Stockholm programme, adopted by EU heads of state and government in December 2009, set a framework and series of principles for the ongoing development of European policies on justice and home affairs for the period 2010 to 2014; migration-related issues are a central part of this programme. In order to bring about the changes agreed upon, the European Commission enacted an action plan implementing the Stockholm programme – delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens (COM(2010) 171 final) in 2010.

In May 2013, the European Commission published the 'EU Citizenship Report 2013' (COM(2013) 269 final). The report noted that EU citizenship brings new rights and opportunities. Moving and living freely within the EU is the right most closely associated with EU citizenship. Given modern technology and the fact that it is now easier to travel, freedom of movement allows Europeans to expand their horizons beyond national borders, to leave their country for shorter or longer periods, to come and go between EU countries to work, study and train, to travel for business or for leisure, or to shop across borders. Free movement potentially increases social and cultural interactions within the EU and closer bonds between EU citizens. In addition, it may generate mutual economic benefits for businesses and consumers, including those who remain at home, as internal obstacles are steadily removed.

The European Commission presented a European Agenda on Migration (COM(2015) 240 final) outlining immediate measures to be taken in order to respond to the crisis situation in the Mediterranean as well as steps to be taken in the coming years to better manage migration in all its aspects on 13 May 2015.

The European migration network started publishing in 2016 annual reports on migration. They provide an overview of the main legal and policy developments taking place across the EU as a whole and within participating countries. They are comprehensive documents and covers all aspects of migration and asylum policy by the European Commission's Migration and Home Affairs and EU agencies.

On 15 November 2017, the updated European Agenda on Migration focused on the refugee crisis, a common visa policy and Schengen. Matters included resettlements and relocations, financial support to Greece and Italy, and facilities for refugees. Objectives included enabling refugees to reach Europe through legal and safe pathways, ensuring that relocation responsibility is shared fairly between Member States, integrating migrants at local and regional levels.

On 4 December 2018, the Commission published a progress report on the implementation of the European Agenda on Migration, examining progress made and shortcomings in the implementation of the European Agenda on Migration. Focusing on how climate change, demography and economic factors create new reasons pushing people to move, it confirmed that the drivers behind migratory pressure on Europe were structural, thus making it all the more essential to deal with the matter efficiently and uniformly.

On 16 October 2019, the Commission published a progress report on the implementation of the European Agenda on Migration, focusing on key steps required on the Mediterranean routes in particular, as well as actions to consolidate the EU's toolbox on migration, borders and asylum.

On 23 September 2020, the Commission presented a New Pact on Migration and Asylum, setting out a fairer, more European approach to managing migration and asylum. It aims to put in place a comprehensive and sustainable policy, providing a humane and effective long-term response to the current challenges of irregular migration, developing legal migration pathways, better integrating refugees and other newcomers, and deepening migration partnerships with countries of origin and transit for mutual benefit. In December 2023, the European Parliament and the Council reached political agreement on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted on 22 May 2024.

On 2 March 2022, the Commission activated the Temporary Protection Directive to offer quick and effective assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Under this proposal, those fleeing the war will be granted temporary protection in the EU, meaning that they will be given a residence permit, and they will have access to education and to the labour market. The Commission created a solidarity platform to coordinate the reception of displaced people in the Member States. The EU Migration Preparedness and Crisis Management Mechanism Network, which gathers and disseminates information on the latest developments, strengthened the EU's collective response.

Some of the most important legal texts adopted in the area of immigration include:

Article 20 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Union law on EU citizens;
Article 21 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on EU citizens;
Article 79 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on border checks, asylum and immigration for third country nationals;
Directive 2003/09/EC on reception conditions for asylum seekers;
Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family reunification;
Directive 2003/109/EC on a long-term resident status for non-member nationals;
Directive 2003/110/EC on assistance in cases of transit for the purposes of removal by air;
Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States;
Directive 2004/81/EC on victims of trafficking;
Directive 2004/82/EC on the obligation of carriers to communicate passenger data;
Directive 2004/83/EC on qualification;
Directive 2004/114/EC on the admission of students;
Directive 2005/71/EC for the facilitation of the admission of researchers into the EU;
Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on migration and international protection;
Directive 2008/115/EC for returning illegally staying third-country nationals;
Directive 2009/50/EC concerning the admission of highly skilled migrants;
Directive 2009/52/EC concerning employer sanctions;
Directive 2011/95/EC on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status of refugees eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content for the protection granted;
Directive 2011/98/EU on single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State;
Directive 2013/32/EU on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection;
Directive 2013/33/EU on standards for the reception of applicants for international protection;
Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 EURODAC Regulation on law enforcement access to the EU fingerprint database of asylum seekers under strictly limited circumstances, in order to prevent, detect or investigate the most serious crimes, such as murder and terrorism;
Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the EU Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in 1 of the Member States by a third-country national (national of a non-member country) or stateless person (Dublin Regulation);
Directive 2014/36/EU on seasonal workers;
Directive 2014/54/EU on freedom of movement of workers;
Directive 2014/66/EU on intra-corporate transferees;
Directive 2014/67/EU on posted workers;
Directive 2016/801/EU on students and researchers;
Regulation (EU) 2020/851 amending Regulation (EC) No 862/2007;
Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection.

For more information please see the New pact on Migration and Asylum