Migration in France: Growth, Challenges, and a New Era of Restrictions

According to INSEE, immigrants made up 6.5% of the French population in 1968 and reached 10.3% (about 7 million people) by 2021. Over 50 years, the diversity of origin countries has expanded, but immigrants from non-European countries still face tougher labor market conditions — unemployment among this group stood at 13% in 2021, with lower wages and higher poverty risks compared to the general population.

2022: A Record Year for Immigration

2022 marked a historic record with 320,330 residence permits issued, a 17% increase from 2021. Students (108,340), family reunification (90,385), labor migration (52,570), and humanitarian reasons (40,490) were the main categories. Over 255,000 short-term work visas were also issued.

France registered over 168,699 asylum requests in 2022, and valid residence permits exceeded 3.8 million. Yet only 11,410 undocumented migrants were deported.

2023–2024: Rising Numbers from North Africa

In 2023, France issued 323,260 residence permits. INSEE data shows that 7.3 million immigrants lived in France, making up 10.7% of the population. The majority come from Africa (48%), especially Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, followed by Europe (32%) and Asia (14%).

2024 saw another rise: 336,700 permits were granted, mostly to nationals of Morocco (37,000), Algeria (29,000), and Tunisia (23,000). Deportations rose by 27%, reaching 21,601 individuals.

Tougher Immigration Rules

France faces labor shortages in healthcare, construction, agriculture, and logistics. But public concern is mounting: 68% of French citizens view migration as a negative force, and 75% support stricter controls (IFOP).

The French government has responded with:

Tighter language and income requirements for residency and citizenship (January 2024);

A ban on marriage for undocumented migrants (February 2025);

A planned overhaul of visa rules, including entry audits and more power for border control (March 2025).

The tightening trend mirrors a broader EU shift toward stricter migration control, accelerated deportations, and external migration processing centers.