Finance

Number of immigrants in EU reaches record high of 64.2 million in 2025, study shows

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 22, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 22, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Number of immigrants in EU reaches record high of 64.2 million in 2025, study shows
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

By Maria Martinez BERLIN, April 22 (Reuters) - The number of immigrants residing in the European Union climbed to a record high of 64.2 million in 2025, up about 2.1 million from a year earlier,

EU Immigrant Population Reaches Record 64.2 Million in 2025, Study Reports

By Maria Martinez

Record Immigration Growth in the European Union

BERLIN, April 22 (Reuters) - The number of immigrants residing in the European Union climbed to a record high of 64.2 million in 2025, up about 2.1 million from a year earlier, according to a report published on Wednesday by the Centre for Research and Analysis on Migration at RFBerlin.

Comparative Figures and Data Sources

The figure compares with 40 million in 2010, the report said, citing Eurostat and U.N. Refugee Agency data.

Country-Specific Trends

Germany: Largest Host of Foreign-Born Residents

Germany remained the bloc's biggest host of foreign-born people at nearly 18 million, 72% of them of working age, while Spain posted the fastest recent growth, adding about 700,000 to bring its foreign-born population to 9.5 million.

Expert Commentary

"Germany remains the main destination for migrants in Europe, both in absolute terms and, to a significant extent, relative to its population," said Tommaso Frattini, one of the authors of the report.

Other EU Countries with High Immigrant Shares

The study said migration patterns were uneven across the bloc, with Luxembourg, Malta and Cyprus facing higher shares of immigrants relative to their population size.

Asylum Claims and Refugee Distribution

Asylum claims were also concentrated in certain countries, with Spain, Italy, France and Germany accounting for nearly three-quarters of all applications. Germany hosted the largest number of refugees overall, at 2.7 million.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez, Editing by Friederike Heine)

Key Takeaways

  • EU’s foreign‑born population reached a historic high of 64.2 million in 2025, up from around 63 million in 2024 and 40 million in 2010 (Eurostat/RFBerlin) (rfberlin.com).
  • Germany remained the top host with nearly 18 million foreign‑born residents—many of working age—while Spain added approximately 700,000, bringing its count to 9.5 million (rfberlin.com).
  • Immigration trends show significant variance: Luxembourg, Malta, and Cyprus have the highest immigrant shares relative to population, while Spain, Italy, France, and Germany handle nearly 75% of asylum claims; Germany alone hosts around 2.7 million refugees (euronews.com).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

How many immigrants lived in the EU in 2025?
According to a new study, the EU's immigrant population reached 64.2 million in 2025.
Which EU country hosted the largest number of immigrants?
Germany hosted the largest number of foreign-born people, with nearly 18 million immigrants.
Which countries had the fastest growth in foreign-born population?
Spain posted the fastest recent growth, adding about 700,000 immigrants to reach 9.5 million.
Which EU countries received the most asylum applications?
Spain, Italy, France, and Germany accounted for nearly three-quarters of all EU asylum applications.
What is the source of the EU immigrant population report?
The data comes from a report by the Centre for Research and Analysis on Migration at RFBerlin, citing Eurostat and U.N. Refugee Agency data.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category