Immigration to Europe#Migration within Europe

{{further|Pre-modern human migration|Genetic history of Europe|Migration and asylum policy of the European Union#History of migration in Europe}}

File:Yamnaya Steppe Pastoralists.jpg Steppe pastoralist ancestry in 3000–1500 BC.{{cite news |title=Thousands of horsemen may have swept into Bronze Age Europe, transforming the local population |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/thousands-horsemen-may-have-swept-bronze-age-europe-transforming-local-population |work=Science |date=21 February 2017}}]]

File:Genomic_evidence_from_Avar_period_human_remains.png were essentially derived from Ancient Northeast Asians.{{cite journal |last1=Gnecchi-Ruscone |first1=Guido Alberto |title=Ancient genomes reveal origin and rapid trans-Eurasian migration of 7th century Avar elites |journal=Cell |date=14 April 2022 |volume=185 |issue=8 |pages=1402–1413.e21 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.007 |pmid=35366416 |pmc=9042794 |s2cid=247859905 |language=en |issn=0092-8674}}]]

File:Ceux qui dorment dehors.jpg from South Asia about 1,000 years ago]]

Historical migration into or within Europe has mostly taken the form of military invasion, but there have been exceptions; this concerns notably population movements within the Roman Empire under the Pax Romana; the Jewish diaspora in Europe was the result of the First Jewish–Roman War of AD 66–73.

With the collapse of the Roman Empire, migration was again mostly coupled with warlike invasion, not least during the so-called migration period (Germanic), the Slavic migrations, the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin, the Islamic conquests and the Turkic expansion into Eastern Europe (Kipchaks, Tatars, Cumans).

The Ottomans once again established a multi-ethnic imperial structure across Western Asia and Southeastern Europe, but Turkification in Southeastern Europe was due more to cultural assimilation than to mass immigration.

In the late medieval period, the Romani people moved into Europe both via Anatolia and the Maghreb.

There were substantial population movements within Europe throughout the Early Modern period, mostly in the context of the Reformation and the European wars of religion, and again

as a result of World War II.

From the late 15th century until the late 1960s and early 1970s, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Norway,{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/BLD/IMA/Report_oecd_2010_final.pdf|title=International Migration 2009-2010: SOPEMI-report for Norway|date=December 2010|website=Regjeringen.no|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=5 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105050307/http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/BLD/IMA/Report_oecd_2010_final.pdf|url-status=live}} Sweden,{{cite web |url=https://augustana.net/general-information/swenson-center/academic-activities/swedish-american-immigration-history |title=Swedish Immigration to North America | Augustana College |access-date=2018-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702011511/https://augustana.net/general-information/swenson-center/academic-activities/swedish-american-immigration-history |archive-date=2018-07-02 |url-status=dead }} Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1569400/Emigration-soars-as-Britons-desert-the-UK.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Philip | last=Johnston | title=Emigration soars as Britons desert the UK | date=15 November 2007 | access-date=2 April 2018 | archive-date=4 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184443/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1569400/Emigration-soars-as-Britons-desert-the-UK.html | url-status=live }} were primarily sources of emigration, sending large numbers of emigrants to the Americas, Australia, Siberia and Southern Africa. A number also went to other European countries (notably France, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium). As living standards in these countries have risen, the trend has reversed and they were a magnet for immigration (most notably from Morocco, Somalia, Egypt to Italy and Greece; from Morocco, Algeria and Latin America to Spain and Portugal; and from Ireland, India, Pakistan, Germany, the United States, Bangladesh, and Jamaica to the United Kingdom).

Article 17 of the Schengen Agreement aims at moving internal borders to external borders.Article 17 of the Schengen Agreement

Mobility or mobility of workers is the name given to ease people from one EU country to work into another EU country. The Maastricht treaty name it "the free movement of persons".The Maastricht treaty This is one of the key principles of the European Union.

As a result of the Schengen Agreement, signed on June 14, 1985,{{cite web|title=The Schengen Agreement - History and the Definition|url=https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-agreement/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=SchengenVisaInfo.com|language=en|archive-date=2022-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530135837/https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-agreement/|url-status=live}} there is free travel within part of Europe — known as the Schengen area{{cite web|title=Schengen Area|url=https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area_en|access-date=2022-01-10|website=ec.europa.eu|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103125150/https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area_en|url-status=live}} — for all citizens and residents of all 27 member states;{{cite web|title=The Schengen area and cooperation|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Al33020|work=Summaries of EU legislation|publisher=European Commission|access-date=30 September 2021|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024173356/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:l33020|url-status=live}} however, non-citizens may only do so for tourism purpose, and for up to three months.{{cite web|title=Schengen thirty years on: results, realities, challenges|url=https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/european-issues/0361-schengen-thirty-years-on-results-realities-challenges|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.robert-schuman.eu}}

Moreover, EU citizens and their families have the right to live and work anywhere within the EU;{{cite web|title=EU freedom of movement and residence|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Al33152|work=Summaries of EU legislation|publisher=European Commission|access-date=30 September 2021|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930105747/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:l33152|url-status=live}} citizens of non-EU or non-EEA states may obtain a Blue Card or long-term residency.{{cite web|title=Non-EU nationals — rules for long-term residence|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Al23034|work=Summaries of EU legislation|publisher=European Commission|access-date=30 September 2021|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930105758/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:l23034|url-status=live}}

A large proportion of immigrants in western European states have come from former eastern bloc states in the 1990s, especially in Spain, Greece, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom. There are frequently specific migration patterns, with geography, language and culture playing a role. For example, there are large numbers of Poles who have moved to the United Kingdom and Ireland and Iceland, while Romanians and also Bulgarians have chosen Spain and Italy.{{cite web|url=http://www.ceemr.uw.edu.pl/vol-3-no-2-december-2014/articles/polish-emigration-uk-after-2004-why-did-so-many-come|title=Polish Emigration to the UK after 2004; Why Did So Many Come?|author=Okólski, Marek|work=Central and Eastern European Migration Review|date=24 May 2014|access-date=13 March 2018|archive-date=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228041159/http://www.ceemr.uw.edu.pl/vol-3-no-2-december-2014/articles/polish-emigration-uk-after-2004-why-did-so-many-come|url-status=live}}{{cite book|author=Kivisto, Peter; Faist, Thomas|title=Beyond a Border: The Causes and Consequences of Contemporary Immigration |publisher=SAGE Publishing|year=2009|pages=75–76|isbn=978-1-41292-495-5}}

With the earlier of the two recent enlargements of the EU although most countries restricted free movement by nationals of the acceding countries, the United Kingdom did not restrict for the 2004 enlargement of the European Union and received Polish, Latvian and other citizens of the new EU states.

Spain was not restricted for the 2007 enlargement of the European Union, when 9 countries entered Schengen area in 2007, and received many Romanians and Bulgarians as well other citizens of the new EU states.{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/pages/publication14287_en.pdf|title=Migration in an enlarged EU: A challenging solution?|website=ec.europa.eu|date=28 March 2009|access-date=20 June 2015|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808220345/http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/pages/publication14287_en.pdf|url-status=live}}

Many of these Polish immigrants to the UK have since returned to Poland, after the serious economic crisis in the UK{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}. Nevertheless, free movement of EU nationals is now an important aspect of migration within the EU, since there are now 27 member states,{{cite web|title=The Schengen area and cooperation|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=LEGISSUM:l33020&rid=7|access-date=2022-01-17|website=eur-lex.europa.eu}} and has resulted in serious political tensions between Italy and Romania, since Italy has expressed{{when|date=April 2021}} the intention of restricting free movement of EU nationals (contrary to Treaty obligations and the clear jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice).{{Cite journal|last=McMahon|first=Simon|date=2012-06-01|title=Assessing the Impact of European Union Citizenship: The Status and Rights of Romanian Nationals in Italy|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/14782804.2012.685391|journal=Journal of Contemporary European Studies|volume=20|issue=2|pages=199–214|doi=10.1080/14782804.2012.685391|s2cid=154016102|issn=1478-2804}}{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Another migration trend has been that of Northern Europeans moving toward Southern Europe. Citizens from the European Union make up a growing proportion of immigrants in Portugal, Spain, South of France, Italy and Greece {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/europe.stm|title=BBC NEWS - Special Reports - Brits Abroad|website=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-date=15 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215044739/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/europe.stm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm|title=BBC NEWS - UK - Brits Abroad: Country-by-country|website=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 May 2016|date=2006-12-11|archive-date=2013-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408081743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,,1830838,00.html|title=Spain attracts record levels of immigrants seeking jobs and sun|author=Giles Tremlett|newspaper=the Guardian|access-date=13 May 2016|date=2006-07-26|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184450/https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,,1830838,00.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.byebyeblighty.com/1/british-immigrants-swamping-spanish-villages/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223102348/http://www.byebyeblighty.com/1/british-immigrants-swamping-spanish-villages/|url-status=dead|title=Bye Bye Blighty article: British Immigrants Swamping Spanish Villages?|archive-date=December 23, 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,,1588156,00.html|title=An Englishman's home is his casa as thousands go south|author=Jason Burke|newspaper=the Guardian|access-date=13 May 2016|date=2005-10-09|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184453/https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,,1588156,00.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6210358.stm|title=BBC NEWS - UK - 5.5m Britons 'opt to live abroad'|website=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 May 2016|date=2006-12-11|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6210358.stm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5237236.stm|title=BBC NEWS - UK - More Britons consider move abroad|website=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 May 2016|date=2006-08-02|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184455/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5237236.stm|url-status=live}}

In 2023 and 2024, 3 new countries entered the Schengen area, including Romania and Bulgaria.

{{See also|European migrant crisis}}

{{cleanup rewrite|reason=this should give a coherent picture of immigration to Europe since 1980, it shouldn't degenerate into a "one section per country" dump. There can be standalone articles by country, but there is no need to rehash their content here, a link is enough|date=November 2014}}

While most immigrant populations in European countries are dominated by other Europeans, many immigrants and their descendants have ancestral origins outside the continent. For the former colonial powers France, Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal, most immigrants, and their descendants have ties to former colonies in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. In addition, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium recruited Turkish and Moroccan guest workers beginning in the 1960s, and many current immigrants in those countries today have ties to such recruitment programs.{{Cite journal|last=MARTIN|first=PHILIP L.|date=1981|title=Germany's Guestworkers|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40719975|journal=Challenge|volume=24|issue=3|pages=34–42|doi=10.1080/05775132.1981.11470699|jstor=40719975|issn=0577-5132|access-date=2022-01-18|archive-date=2021-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104222442/https://www.jstor.org/stable/40719975|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=OECD Observer, Volume 2000 Issue 2-3|url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-observer/volume-2000/issue-2_observer-v2000-2-en|access-date=2022-01-18|website=www.oecd-ilibrary.org|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182802/https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-observer/volume-2000/issue-2_observer-v2000-2-en|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Immigration in Europe: Trends, Policies and Empirical Evidence|url=https://ftp.iza.org/dp7778.pdf|access-date=2022-01-18|archive-date=2022-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409020613/https://ftp.iza.org/dp7778.pdf|url-status=live}}

Moroccan immigrants also began migrating substantially to Spain and Italy for work opportunities in the 1980s.{{cite web|last=Haas|first=Hein de|date=2005-10-01|title=Morocco: From Emigration Country to Africa's Migration Passage to Europe|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/morocco-emigration-country-africas-migration-passage-europe|access-date=2022-01-26|website=migrationpolicy.org|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126120317/https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/morocco-emigration-country-africas-migration-passage-europe|url-status=live}} In the Nordic countries of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, the bulk of non-Western immigrants are refugees and asylum seekers from the Middle East, East Africa, and other regions of the world arriving since the 1980s and 1990s.{{quantify|date=April 2021}} Increasing globalization has brought a population of students, professionals, and workers from all over the world into major European cities, most notably London, Paris, and Frankfurt. The introduction of the EU Blue Card in May 2009 has further increased the number of skilled professional immigrants from outside of the continent.{{cite web|title=COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2009/50/EC of 25 May 2009 on the conditions of entry and residence of third -country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:155:0017:0029:EN:PDF|access-date=2022-01-26|archive-date=2022-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126121903/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:155:0017:0029:EN:PDF|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=OUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2009/50/EC of 25 May 2009 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2009/50/2020-01-31/data.xht?view=snippet&wrap=true|access-date=2022-01-26|archive-date=2022-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126122123/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2009/50/2020-01-31/data.xht?view=snippet&wrap=true|url-status=live}}

Illegal immigration and asylum-seeking in Europe from outside the continent have been occurring since at least the 1990s. While the number of migrants was relatively small for years, it began to rise in 2013. In 2015, the number of asylum seekers arriving from outside Europe increased substantially during the European migrant crisis (see timeline). However, the EU-Turkey deal enacted in March 2016 dramatically reduced this number, and anti-immigrant measures starting in 2017 by the Italian government further cut illegal immigration from the Mediterranean route.

File:Rally for refugees, Brussels, 11 Sept 2015.jpg, Belgium, 11 September 2015]]

Some scholars claim that the increase in immigration flows from the 1980s is due to global inequalities between poor and rich countries.Calefato (1994) pp.80-1 quote: {{blockquote|La presenza di questi immigrati in Europa non e' semplicemente finalizzata alla ricerca di un lavoro, (per lo piu' come camerieri, venditori ambulanti, braccianti stagionali, ecc.). Le migrazioni del nostro tempo pongono con forza una "domanda di accoglienza" (v. Ponzio 1993), cioe' una domanda non contenibile nel mercato e nell'"integrazione", che evidenzia, anche inconsapevolmente, le divaricazioni crescenti sul nostro pianeta tra poverta' e ricchezza.}} In 2017, approximately 825,000 persons acquired citizenship of a member state of the European Union, down from 995,000 in 2016.{{cite web |title=Acquisition of citizenship in the EU |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STAT-19-1550_en.htm |website=www.europa.eu |publisher=European Commission |access-date=2019-05-04 |archive-date=2019-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320113041/http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STAT-19-1550_en.htm |url-status=live }} The largest groups were nationals of Morocco, Albania, India, Turkey and Pakistan.{{cite web |title=Acquisition of citizenship statistics |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Acquisition_of_citizenship_statistics |website=www.ec.europa.eu |publisher=Eurostat |access-date=2019-05-04 |archive-date=2019-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428164703/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Acquisition_of_citizenship_statistics |url-status=live }} 2.4 million non-EU migrants entered the EU in 2017.{{cite news |title=Migration and migrant population statistics |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Migration_and_migrant_population_statistics |publisher=Eurostat |date=March 2019 |access-date=2019-06-14 |archive-date=2020-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207075447/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Migration_and_migrant_population_statistics |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Migration and migrant population statistics |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/1275.pdf |publisher=Eurostat |date=March 2019 |access-date=2019-06-14 |archive-date=2020-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120142716/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/1275.pdf |url-status=live }} In addition, cheaper transportation and more advanced technology have further aided migration.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the EU Asylum and Migration Pact as a "huge achievement for Europe".{{cite news |title=EU countries not enforcing migration pact could face legal action, says Johansson |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/04/11/eu-countries-not-enforcing-migration-pact-could-face-legal-action-says-johansson |work=Euronews |date=11 April 2024}} The provisions of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact apply to migrants caught illegally crossing an external EU border, such as those reaching the shores of Greece, Italy or Spain via the Mediterranean Sea or Atlantic Ocean on boats provided by smugglers; estimated at around 300,000 migrants in 2023.{{cite web | last=Cook | first=Lorne | title=EU agrees on a new migration pact. Mainstream parties hope it will deprive the far right of votes | website=AP News | date=2024-05-14 | url=https://apnews.com/article/eu-migration-pact-asylum-borders-elections-44abb9c1fa1f2c7a8385167770bb5379 | access-date=2024-09-28}} Provisions do not apply to legal migrants to the EU (~3.5 million in 2023) and migrants who arrived legally but overstayed their visas (~700,000 in 2023).

The Nordic countries have differed in their approach to immigration. While Norway and Sweden used to have generous immigration policies, Denmark and Finland had more restricted immigration. Although both Denmark and Finland have experienced a significant increase in their immigrant populations between 2000 and 2020 (6.8% points in Denmark and 5.0% in Finland), Norway (11.9%) and Sweden (11.0%) have seen far greater relative increases.

The table below shows the percentage of the total population in the Nordic countries that are either (1) immigrants or (2) children of two immigrant parents:

{{Main|Immigration to Denmark}}

For decades, Danish immigration and integration policy were built upon the assumption that with the right kind of help, immigrants and their descendants will eventually tend to the same levels of education and employment as Danes. This assumption was proven by a 2019 study by the Danish Immigration Service and the Ministry of Education, while the second generation non-Western immigrants do better than the first generation, the third generation of immigrants with non-Western background do even better education and employment wise than the second generation. {{citation needed|date=September 2023}} One of the reasons was that second-generation immigrants from non-Western countries{{quantify|date=April 2021}} marry someone from their country of origin and so Danish is not spoken at home which disadvantages children in school. Thereby the process of integration has to start from the beginning for each generation.{{cite web|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/content/item/1329273|title=Opråb fra ministre: Problemer med integration af børn af ikkevestlige indvandrere|date=2018-12-16|website=Berlingske.dk|language=da|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-date=2024-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224084503/https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/opraab-fra-ministre-problemer-med-integration-af-boern-af-ikkevestlige|url-status=live}}

{{main|Immigration to Norway}}

In January 2015 the "immigrant population" in Norway consisted of approximately 805,000 people, including 669,000 foreign-born and 136,000 born in Norway to two immigrant parents. This corresponds to 15.6% of the total population.{{cite web|title=Key figures|url=http://www.ssb.no/en/innvandring-og-innvandrere/nokkeltall|access-date=11 January 2018|website=Ssb.no|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101083817/http://www.ssb.no/en/innvandring-og-innvandrere/nokkeltall|url-status=live}} The cities with the highest share of immigrants are Oslo (32%) and Drammen (27%).{{Cite journal|last=Nikielska-Sekuła|first=Karolina|date=2016|title=Selected Aspects of Norwegian Immigration Policy Towards Children|url=http://www.ceemr.uw.edu.pl/vol-5-no-1-2016/research-reports/selected-aspects-norwegian-immigration-policy-towards-children|journal=Central and Eastern European Migration Review|language=en|volume=5|issue=1|pages=129–144|issn=2300-1682|access-date=2022-01-31|archive-date=2022-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131132749/http://www.ceemr.uw.edu.pl/vol-5-no-1-2016/research-reports/selected-aspects-norwegian-immigration-policy-towards-children|url-status=live}} The six largest immigrant groups in Norway are Poles, Swedes, Somalis, Lithuanians, Pakistanis and Iraqis.

In the years since 1970, the largest increase in the immigrant population has come from countries in Asia (including Turkey), Africa and South America, increasing from about 3500 in 1970 to about 300,000 in 2011. In the same period, the immigrant population from other Nordic countries and Western Europe has increased modestly from around 42,000 to around 130,000.{{cite web|title=Jobs for Immigrants Labour Market Integration In Norway|url=https://www.oecd.org/els/mig/43247521.pdf|access-date=2022-01-31|archive-date=2022-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121064702/https://www.oecd.org/els/mig/43247521.pdf|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Immigration to Sweden}}

File:Invandrare utvandrare Sverige 1850-2007.svg

In 2014 the "immigrant population" in Sweden consisted of approximately 2.09 million people, including 1.60 million foreign-born and 489,000 born in Sweden to two immigrant parents. This corresponds to 21.5% of the total population.{{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/en_/Finding-statistics/Statistics-by-subject-area/Population/Population-composition/Population-statistics/Aktuell-Pong/25795/Yearly-statistics--The-whole-country/26040/ |title= Summary of Population Statistics 1960-2014|website=www.scb.se |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607062031/http://www.scb.se/en_/Finding-statistics/Statistics-by-subject-area/Population/Population-composition/Population-statistics/Aktuell-Pong/25795/Yearly-statistics--The-whole-country/26040/ |archive-date=2015-06-07}}

Of the major cities Malmö has the largest immigrant population, estimated to be 41.7% in 2014.{{cite web|title=Andel personer med utländsk bakgrund, 2015 jämfört med 2014|url=http://www.scb.se/sv_/Hitta-statistik/Statistik-efter-amne/Befolkning/Befolkningens-sammansattning/Befolkningsstatistik/25788/25795/Topplistor-kommuner/290738/|access-date=13 May 2016|work=Statistiska Centralbyrån|archive-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512021044/http://www.scb.se/sv_/Hitta-statistik/Statistik-efter-amne/Befolkning/Befolkningens-sammansattning/Befolkningsstatistik/25788/25795/Topplistor-kommuner/290738/|url-status=live}} However, the smaller municipalities Botkyrka (56.2%), Haparanda (55.5%) and Södertälje (49.4%) all have a higher share of immigrants. In the Swedish capital Stockholm 31.1% (in 2014) of the population are either foreign-born or born in Sweden by two foreign-born parents.{{cite web|title=Folkmängd den 31 december 2016|url=http://statistikomstockholm.se/omradesfakta/pdf/SDO14_SVE.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630193656/http://statistikomstockholm.se/omradesfakta/pdf/SDO14_SVE.pdf|archive-date=30 June 2015|access-date=11 January 2018|website=Statistikomstockholm.se|df=dmy-all}}

In 2014 127,000 people immigrated to Sweden, while 51,000 left the country. Net immigration was 76,000.{{cite web|title=Preliminary Population Statistics 2016|url=http://www.scb.se/en_/Finding-statistics/Statistics-by-subject-area/Population/Population-composition/Population-statistics/Aktuell-Pong/25795/Monthly-statistics--The-whole-country/25890/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604213011/http://www.scb.se/en_/Finding-statistics/Statistics-by-subject-area/Population/Population-composition/Population-statistics/Aktuell-Pong/25795/Monthly-statistics--The-whole-country/25890/|archive-date=2016-06-04|access-date=13 May 2016|work=Statistiska Centralbyrån}}

Sweden has been transformed from a nation of emigration ending after World War I to a nation of immigration from World War II onwards. In 2009, Sweden had the fourth largest number of asylum applications in the EU and the largest number per capita after Cyprus and Malta.{{cite web|author=Allied Newspapers Ltd|title=Malta has highest per capita rate of asylum applications|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100504/local/malta-has-highest-per-capita-rate-of-asylum-applications|access-date=13 May 2016|work=Times of Malta|date=4 May 2010 |archive-date=7 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507103244/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100504/local/malta-has-highest-per-capita-rate-of-asylum-applications|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____26046.aspx |title= Befolkningsutveckling; födda, döda, in- och utvandring, gifta, skilda 1749 - 2012 - Statistiska centralbyrån|website=www.scb.se |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023101214/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____26046.aspx |archive-date=2013-10-23}} Immigrants in Sweden are mostly concentrated in the urban areas of Svealand and Götaland and the five largest foreign born populations in Sweden come from Finland, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Poland and Iran.{{cite web|title=Visa detaljerad information|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/PublishingCalendarViewInfo____259923.aspx?PublObjId=11400|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812141807/http://www.scb.se/Pages/PublishingCalendarViewInfo____259923.aspx?PublObjId=11400|archive-date=12 August 2011|access-date=13 May 2016|work=Statistiska Centralbyrån}}

{{Main|Immigration to Finland}}

File:Stop the genocide, Free Palestine 023 Mielenosoitus palestiinalaisten tueksi (53275394783).jpg in Helsinki, Finland was attended by people of immigrant background, 21 October 2023]]

Immigration has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of Finland.{{cite book|last1=Mayo-Smith|first1=Richmond|url=https://archive.org/details/emigrationimmigr00mayo|title=Emigration and Immigration: A Study in Social Science|date=1890|publisher=C. Scribner's sons|pages=[https://archive.org/details/emigrationimmigr00mayo/page/157 157]–162}} The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants, settlement patterns, impact on upward social mobility, crime, and voting behavior.

At the end of 2017, there were 372,802 foreign born people residing in Finland,{{cite web|title=International Migration 2017–2018 – Report for Finland|url=https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/161174/25_2018_International_Migration_2017-2018.pdf?sequence=4|access-date=2022-02-01|archive-date=2022-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201113817/https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/161174/25_2018_International_Migration_2017-2018.pdf?sequence=4|url-status=live}} which corresponds to 6.8% of the population, while there are 384,123 people with a foreign background, corresponding to 7.0% of the population.{{cite web|title=Immigrants in the population|url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa_en.html|access-date=29 September 2018|website=stat.fi|language=fi|archive-date=29 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929160054/http://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa_en.html|url-status=live}} Proportionally speaking, Finland has had one of the fastest increases in its foreign-born population between 2000 and 2010 in all of Europe. The majority of immigrants in Finland settle in the Helsinki area, although Tampere, Turku, and Kuopio have had their share of immigrants in recent years.

{{main|Immigration to France}}

As of 2008, the French national institute of statistics (INSEE) estimated that 5.3 million foreign-born immigrants and 6.5 million direct descendants of immigrants (born in France with at least one immigrant parent) lived in France. This represents a total of 11.8 million, or 19% of the population. In terms of origin, about 5.5 million are European, four million Maghrebi, one million Sub-Saharan African, and 400,000 Turkish. Among the 5.3 million foreign-born immigrants, 38% are from Europe, 30% from Maghreb, 12.5% from Sub-Saharan Africa, 14.2% from Asia and 5.3% from America and Oceania[http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/document.asp?reg_id=0&ref_id=ip1287 Être né en France d’un parent immigré] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203052501/http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/document.asp?reg_id=0&ref_id=ip1287 |date=2012-02-03 }}, Insee Première, n°1287, mars 2010, Catherine Borrel et Bertrand Lhommeau, Insee{{cite web|url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/tableau.asp?reg_id=0&ref_id=immigrespaysnais|title=Résultats de la recherche - Insee|website=Insee.fr|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=26 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026174732/http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/tableau.asp?reg_id=0&ref_id=immigrespaysnais|url-status=live}} The most significant countries of origin as of 2008 were Algeria (713,000), Morocco (653,000), Portugal (580,000), Italy (317,000), Spain (257,000), Turkey (238,000) and Tunisia (234,000). However, immigration from Asia (especially China, as well as the former French colonies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos), and from Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal, Mali and others), is gaining in importance.

File:Grande mosquée de Saint-Denis-4.jpg, Paris, 2019]]

The region with the largest proportion of immigrants is the Île-de-France (Greater Paris), where 40% of immigrants live. Other important regions are Rhône-Alpes (Lyon) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Marseille).{{cite web|title=Trajectories and Origins Survey on Population Diversity in France|url=https://www.ined.fr/fichier/s_rubrique/19558/working_paper_2010_168_population.diversity.france.en.pdf|access-date=2022-02-01|archive-date=2022-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201114738/https://www.ined.fr/fichier/s_rubrique/19558/working_paper_2010_168_population.diversity.france.en.pdf|url-status=live}}

Among the 802,000 newborns in metropolitan France in 2010, 27.3% had at least one foreign-born parent and about one quarter (23.9%) had at least one parent born outside Europe.[http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/detail.asp?ref_id=ir-sd20101 Naissances selon le pays de naissance des parents 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927161644/http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/detail.asp?ref_id=ir-sd20101 |date=2013-09-27 }}, Insee, September 2011Parents born in overseas territories are considered to have been born in France. Including grandparents; almost 40% of newborns in France between 2006 and 2008 had at least one foreign-born grandparent. (11% were born in another European country, 16% in Maghreb, and 12% in another region of the world.)[http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/docs_ffc/ref/FPORSOC11d_VE22Immig.pdf Les immigrés, les descendants d'immigrés et leurs enfants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708005009/http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/docs_ffc/ref/FPORSOC11d_VE22Immig.pdf |date=2012-07-08 }}, Pascale Breuil-Genier, Catherine Borrel, Bertrand Lhommeau, Insee 2011

In 2022, the total number of new foreigners coming to France rose above 320,000 for the first time, with nearly a majority coming from Africa. A significant increase in students, family reunification and labor migration occurred under the presidency of Emmanuel Macron.{{Cite news |date=2023-01-27 |title=Immigration rose in France in 2022, driven by labor needs and foreign students |language=en |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/01/27/immigration-rose-in-france-in-2022-driven-by-labor-needs-and-foreign-students_6013360_7.html |access-date=2023-07-13 |archive-date=2023-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713024531/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/01/27/immigration-rose-in-france-in-2022-driven-by-labor-needs-and-foreign-students_6013360_7.html |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Immigration to Germany}}

File:Immigranten beim Grenzübergang Wegscheid (23116193575).jpg]]

Nearly 1.1 million refugees and migrants registered in Germany in 2015, mostly people fleeing wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.{{cite news |title=Germany Saw 1.1 Million Migrants in 2015 as Debate Intensifies |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-06/germany-says-about-1-1-million-asylum-seekers-arrived-in-2015 |work=Bloomberg |date=6 January 2016}}

In 2019, 21.2 million people with a migration background lived in Germany, which corresponded to a population share of around 26%.{{Cite web |date=12 February 2020 |title=Migrationsberichte/migrationsbericht-2019 |url=https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/EN/Forschung/Migrationsberichte/migrationsbericht-2019.html |website=Federal Office for Migration and Refugees}}

In December 2021, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised to reduce barriers to immigration and make it easier for immigrants to obtain German citizenship.{{cite news |title=Chancellor Scholz briefs parliament for first time |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-new-chancellor-olaf-scholz-briefs-bundestag-for-the-first-time/a-60124735 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=15 December 2024}} 352,000 people applied for asylum in Germany in 2023, the highest number since 2016, when 722,370 people applied for asylum. People from Ukraine are not included among asylum seekers. Most asylum seekers in 2023 were from Turkey, Syria and Afghanistan.{{cite news |title=Germany: Asylum applications rose sharply in 2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-asylum-applications-rose-sharply-in-2023/a-67928269 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=9 January 2024}}

In 2023, 1,933,000 people immigrated to Germany, including 276,000 from Ukraine and 126,000 from Turkey, while 1,270,000 people emigrated. Net immigration to Germany was 663,000 in 2023, down from a record 1,462,000 in 2022.{{cite news |title=Germany: Net immigration sinks sharply in 2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-net-immigration-sinks-sharply-in-2023/a-69489487 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=27 June 2024}}

On 14 September 2024, Scholz and Kenyan President William Ruto signed an agreement that opened the German labor market to up to 250,000 skilled and semi-skilled migrant workers from Kenya.{{cite news |title=Germany opens its doors to Kenyan workers in controlled migration deal |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/14/europe/germany-kenyan-workers-migration-deal-intl/index.html |work=CNN |date=14 September 2024}} Scholz's government has already signed migration partnerships with several other countries,{{cite news |title=Germany begins recruiting 250,000 bus drivers, computer repairers from Kenya |url=https://gazettengr.com/germany-begins-recruiting-250000-bus-drivers-computer-repairers-from-kenya/ |work=Peoples Gazette |date=13 September 2024}} including Morocco, Nigeria and India.{{cite news |title=How is Germany handling its migration partnerships? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/how-is-germany-handling-its-migration-partnerships/a-68206296 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=2 September 2024}}

{{Main|Modern immigration to the United Kingdom}}

File:Ridley road market dalston 1.jpg has become multiethnic as a result of immigration."[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4bd95562-4379-11e2-a48c-00144feabdc0.html Ethnic English people a minority in London] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703155848/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4bd95562-4379-11e2-a48c-00144feabdc0.html |date=2015-07-03 }}". Financial Times. December 11, 2012.]]

In 2014, the number of people who became naturalised British citizens rose to a record 140,795 - a 12% increase from the previous year, and a dramatic increase since 2009. Most new citizens came from Asia (40%) or Africa (32%); the largest three countries of origin were India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4706862.stm|title=Thousands in UK citizenship queue|work=BBC News|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-date=11 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111214614/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4706862.stm|url-status=live}} with Indians making the largest group.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} In 2005, an estimated 565,000 migrants arrived to live in the United Kingdom for at least a year, primarily from Asia and Africa,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/02/uimmigrants5005.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011210038/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/02/uimmigrants5005.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-10-11|title=News|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=13 May 2016|date=2016-03-15}} while 380,000 people emigrated from the country for a year or more, chiefly to Australia, Canada and the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.aol.in/news/story/2007042004189012000001/index.html|title=Home Page - Welcome to WWW.AOL.IN|work=AOL.IN|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718144625/http://www.aol.in/news/story/2007042004189012000001/index.html|url-status=live}}

In 2014 the net increase was 318,000: immigration was 641,000, up from 526,000 in 2013, while the number of people emigrating (for more than 12 months) was 323,000.{{cite web |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/migration-statistics-quarterly-report/may-2015/stb-msqr-may-2015.html |title=Migration Statistics Quarterly Report May 2015 |date=21 May 2015 |work=Office for National Statistics |access-date=25 October 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924122601/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/migration-statistics-quarterly-report/may-2015/stb-msqr-may-2015.html |url-status=live }}

In 2021, the government launched a scheme for Hongkongers, with more than 200,000 Hong Kong residents immigrating to the UK.{{cite web |title=Safe and Legal (Humanitarian) routes to the UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-march-2024/safe-and-legal-humanitarian-routes-to-the-uk#british-national-overseas-bno-route |publisher=Home Office |access-date=23 May 2024}}

The number of African students increases rapidly for Example only Nigerians studying in the United Kingdom has risen to a high of 44,195 in the 2021/2022 academic year, the latest official data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show. According to the UK agency’s data, the number of students enrolment in higher education institutions increased by 107.4 percent in the 2021/2022 academic year from 21,305 in the previous year.{{cite web|title=Number of Nigerians studying in UK hits 8-year high |url=https://businessday.ng/education/article/number-of-nigerians-studying-in-uk-hits-8-year-high/ |language=bg |publisher=24 Chasa |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104221451/https://businessday.ng/education/article/number-of-nigerians-studying-in-uk-hits-8-year-high/ |archive-date=2024-01-04 }}

Long-term net migration (the number of people immigrating minus the number emigrating) reached a record high of 764,000 in 2022,{{cite news |title=Migration: How many people come to the UK and how are the salary rules changing? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48785695 |work=BBC News |date=23 May 2024}} with immigration at 1.26 million and emigration at 493,000.{{cite news |title=Net migration drops to 685,000 after hitting record levels, as even more arrived in UK last year than previously thought |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/net-migration-drops-to-685-000/ |date=23 May 2024 |work=LBC}} Of the 1,218,000 immigrants who came to the United Kingdom in 2023, only 126,000 were EU nationals. Around 250,000 people came from India, 141,000 from Nigeria, 90,000 from China and 83,000 from Pakistan.

{{Main|Immigration to Italy}}

File:Italy, foreign residents as a percentage of the total population, 2011.svg

In 2021, Istat estimated that 5,171,894 foreign citizens lived in Italy, representing about 8.7% of the total population. These figures include naturalized foreign-born residents (about 1,620,000 foreigners acquired Italian citizenship from 1999 to 2020, of whom 130,000 did so in 2020{{Cite web |title=Acquisition of citizenship by age group, sex and former citizenship |url=https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121154457/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/eurostat/web/main/help/faq/data-services |url-status=live }}) as well as illegal immigrants, the so-called clandestini, whose numbers, difficult to determine, are thought to be at least 670,000.Elisabeth Rosenthal, "[http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2008/05/16/italy_cracks_down_on_illegal_immigration/ Italy cracks down on illegal immigration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821061114/http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2008/05/16/italy_cracks_down_on_illegal_immigration/ |date=21 August 2013 }}". The Boston Globe. 16 May 2008.

In 2021, around 6,260,000 people residing in Italy have an immigration background (around the 10.6% of the total Italian population).{{Cite web |title=Population on 1 January by sex, country of birth and broad group of citizenship |url=https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121154457/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/eurostat/web/main/help/faq/data-services |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://demo.istat.it/str2014/index.html|title=Cittadini Stranieri. Popolazione residente e bilancio demografico al 31 dicembre 2014|publisher=ISTAT|date=15 June 2015|access-date=16 June 2015|archive-date=26 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026080159/http://demo.istat.it/str2014/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/162251|title=Bilancio demografico nazionale|publisher=ISTAT|date=15 June 2015|access-date=16 June 2015|archive-date=23 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223131321/https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/162251|url-status=live}}

Starting from the early 1980s, until then a linguistically and culturally homogeneous society, Italy began to attract substantial flows of foreign immigrants.{{Cite web |title=Resident foreigners on 1st January - Citizenship |url=http://dati.istat.it/Index.aspx?QueryId=19675&lang=en |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=dati.istat.it |archive-date=28 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128055552/http://dati.istat.it/Index.aspx?QueryId=19675&lang=en |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Beverly |title=Revisioning Italy national identity and global culture |url=https://archive.org/details/revisioningitaly00beve|url-access=registration |date=1997 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis |isbn=978-0-8166-2727-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/revisioningitaly00beve/page/169 169]}} After the fall of the Berlin Wall and, more recently, the 2004 and 2007 enlargements of the European Union, large waves of migration originated from the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe (especially Romania, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova and Poland). Another source of immigration is neighbouring North Africa (in particular, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia), with soaring arrivals as a consequence of the Arab Spring. Furthermore, in recent years, growing migration fluxes from Asia-Pacific (notably China,"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6550725.stm Milan police in Chinatown clash] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010205822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6550725.stm |date=10 October 2017 }}". BBC News. 13 April 2007. South Asia, and the Philippines) and Latin America have been recorded.

Since the expansion of the European Union, the most recent wave of migration has been from surrounding European states, particularly Eastern Europe, and increasingly Asia,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6550725.stm|title=Milan police in Chinatown clash|last=Willey|first=David|date=13 April 2007|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=28 August 2013|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010205822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6550725.stm|url-status=live}} replacing North Africa as the major immigration area.

Romanians made up the largest foreign community in the country (1,077,876; around 10% of them being ethnic Romani people"[http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42404 EUROPE: Home to Roma, And No Place for Them]". IPS ipsnews.net. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305064429/http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42404 |date=5 March 2012 }}) followed by Albanians (433,130) and Moroccans (428,940).{{cite web|url=https://openmigration.org/en/analyses/from-morocco-to-romania-marocco-how-immigration-to-italy-changed-in-10-years/|title=From Morocco to Romania: how immigration to Italy has changed over 10 years|work=Open Migration|author=Lanni, Alessandro|date=27 December 2015|access-date=10 March 2016|archive-date=16 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316180007/http://openmigration.org/en/analyses/from-morocco-to-romania-marocco-how-immigration-to-italy-changed-in-10-years/|url-status=live}} The fourth largest, but the fastest growing, community of foreign residents in Italy was represented by the Chinese; as of 2021 there were 330,495 foreigners holding Chinese citizenship.{{Cite web |title=Cinesi in Italia |url=https://www.tuttitalia.it/statistiche/cittadini-stranieri/repubblica-popolare-cinese/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109125706/https://www.tuttitalia.it/statistiche/cittadini-stranieri/repubblica-popolare-cinese/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Società Stranieri in Italia, 5,2 milioni i residenti regolari. Romania e Cina le provenienze con i maggiori incrementi negli ultimi 8 anni |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2019/09/20/stranieri-in-italia-52-milioni-i-residenti-regolari-romania-e-cina-le-provenienze-con-i-maggiori-incrementi-negli-ultimi-8-anni/5465956/ |access-date=15 May 2021 |agency=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=20 September 2019 |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515222011/https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2019/09/20/stranieri-in-italia-52-milioni-i-residenti-regolari-romania-e-cina-le-provenienze-con-i-maggiori-incrementi-negli-ultimi-8-anni/5465956/ |url-status=live }} The majority of Chinese living in Italy are from the city of Wenzhou in the province of Zhejiang.{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264706975|title=20th Century Chinese Migration to Italy: The Chinese Diaspora Presence within European International Migration|work=ResearchGate|author=Chang, Angela|date=24 February 2012|access-date=11 March 2015}} As of 2021, foreign citizens' origins were subdivided as follows: Europe (47,6%), Africa (22.25%), Asia (22.64%), The Americas (7.49%), and Oceania (0.04%).{{cite web|author=|title=Tuttitalia|url=https://www.tuttitalia.it/statistiche/cittadini-stranieri-2021/|access-date=14 February 2022|archive-date=14 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214132231/https://www.tuttitalia.it/statistiche/cittadini-stranieri-2021/|url-status=live}}

The distribution of foreigners is largely uneven in Italy: in 2020, 61.2% of foreign citizens lived in Northern Italy (in particular 36.1% in Northwestern Italy and 25.1% in Northeastern Italy), 24.2% in Central Italy, 10.8% in Southern Italy and 3.9% in Insular Italy.{{cite web |title=XXIX Rapporto Immigrazione 2020 |url=https://www.migrantes.it/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2020/10/RICM_2020_DEF.pdf |access-date=31 December 2021 |language=it |archive-date=31 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231222417/https://www.migrantes.it/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2020/10/RICM_2020_DEF.pdf |url-status=live }}

The children born in Italy to foreign mothers were 102,000 in 2012, 99,000 in 2013 and 97,000 in 2014.{{cite news |last1=Programma |first1=Integra |date=12 February 2015 |title=Istat: nel 2014 oltre 90mila i nuovi nati stranieri |url=http://www.programmaintegra.it/wp/2015/02/istat-nel-2014-oltre-90mila-i-nuovi-nati-stranieri/ |access-date=25 March 2016 |archive-date=6 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406004656/http://www.programmaintegra.it/wp/2015/02/istat-nel-2014-oltre-90mila-i-nuovi-nati-stranieri/ |url-status=dead }}

{{Main|Immigration to Spain}}

File:Break the barriers rally.jpg]]

Since 2000, Spain has received around six million immigrants, adding 12% to the population in the country. The total immigrant population in the country now exceeds 5,730,677 (12.2% of the total population). According to residence permit data for 2011, more than 981,823{{Cite web | url=https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=/t20/e245/p04/provi/l0/&file=0ccaa005.px#!tabs-tabla | title=Población por comunidades y provincias, país de nacimiento, edad (Grupos quinquenales) y sexo | access-date=2020-07-01 | archive-date=2021-01-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130000255/https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp04%2Fprovi%2Fl0%2F&file=0ccaa005.px#!tabs-tabla | url-status=live }} were Moroccan (The first nationality of Immigrants in Spain.), another 410,000 were Ecuadorian, 300,000 were Colombian, 230,000 were Bolivian and 150,000 were Chinese; from the EU around 535,935 were Romanian, 297,229{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=/t20/e245/p04/provi/l0/&file=00000010.px|title=TablaPx|website=www.ine.es|access-date=22 May 2017|archive-date=25 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525083953/http://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp04%2Fprovi%2Fl0%2F&file=00000010.px|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10781350/End-to-Mediterranean-dream-for-90000-Britons-who-left-Spain-last-year.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10781350/End-to-Mediterranean-dream-for-90000-Britons-who-left-Spain-last-year.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=End to Mediterranean dream for 90,000 Britons who left Spain last year|date=22 April 2014|work=Telegraph.co.uk|last1=Govan|first1=Fiona}}{{cbignore}} were British,{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6161705.stm | work=BBC News | title=Brits Abroad: Country-by-country | date=11 December 2006 | access-date=1 September 2011 | archive-date=9 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109002713/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6161705.stm | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jul/26/spain.gilestremlett | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Giles | last=Tremlett | title=Spain attracts record levels of immigrants seeking jobs and sun | date=26 July 2006 | access-date=14 December 2016 | archive-date=4 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184450/https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,,1830838,00.html | url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.byebyeblighty.com/1/british-immigrants-swamping-spanish-villages/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223102348/http://www.byebyeblighty.com/1/british-immigrants-swamping-spanish-villages/|url-status=dead|title=British Immigrants Swamping Spanish Villages?|archive-date=December 23, 2010}}{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/09/spain.spain | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Jason | last=Burke | title=An Englishman's home is his casa as thousands go south | date=9 October 2005 | access-date=14 December 2016 | archive-date=4 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184453/https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,,1588156,00.html | url-status=live }} 190,000 were German, 170,000 were Italian and 160,000 were Bulgarian. A 2005 regularisation programme increased the legal immigrant population by 700,000 people that year.[http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf Instituto Nacional de Estadística: Avance del Padrón Municipal a 1 de enero de 2006. Datos provisionales] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726044741/http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf |date=2008-07-26 }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/hispanic/world_international/pns_immigration_shift_1204.asp|title=IMDiversity - Careers, Opportunities, and Diversity Connect|website=Imdiversity.com|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-date=26 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051226222148/http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/hispanic/world_international/pns_immigration_shift_1204.asp|url-status=dead}}[http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm Spain: Immigrants Welcome] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006223656/https://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm |date=2008-10-06 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14628564/site/newsweek/page/0/|title=Immigrants Fuel Europe's Civilization Clash|website=Msnbc.msn.com|access-date=11 January 2018}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/|title=Breaking News, World News & Multimedia|website=The New York Times|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531023755/https://www.nytimes.com/|url-status=live}} By world regions, in 2006 there were around 2,300,000 from the EU-27, 1,600,000 from South America, 1,000,000 from Africa, 300,000 from Asia, 200,000 from Central America & Caribbean, 200,000 from the rest of Europe, while 50,000 from North America and 3,000 from the rest of the world.[http://www.ine.es/prensa/np551.pdf 5,598,691 foreign population in Spain (2009)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611185410/http://www.ine.es/prensa/np551.pdf |date=2009-06-11 }}[https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ine.es%2Fprensa%2Fnp551.pdf&embedded=true&chrome=false&dov=1 Spanish National Statistic Institute press report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524133211/https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ine.es%2Fprensa%2Fnp551.pdf&embedded=true&chrome=false&dov=1 |date=2020-05-24 }}, INE (Spain). June 3, 2009. (Spanish)

Another migratory trend has been that of northern Europeans heading towards southern Europe. (The first group of immigrants in Spain are Moroccans) European Union citizens constitute a growing proportion of immigrants, in Spain, they came mainly from the United Kingdom and Germany, On the contrary, since 2014 many Britons have left Spain and because of Brexit Many Britons leave Spain.{{cite news|url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4843481/0/los-jubilados-britanicos-abandonan-la-costa-del-sol-en-masa-por-las-reglas-de-inmigracion-que-impone-el-brexit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109024357/https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4843481/0/los-jubilados-britanicos-abandonan-la-costa-del-sol-en-masa-por-las-reglas-de-inmigracion-que-impone-el-brexit/ |archive-date=9 January 2024|url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=British retirees leave the Costa del Sol "en masse" due to the immigration rules imposed by Brexit|date=22 April 2014|work=20minutos.es|last1=Govan|first1=Fiona}}{{cbignore}}

The Sánchez government planned to legalize around 900,000 undocumented migrants by 2027.{{cite news |title=Spain to grant residency and work permits to around 300,000 undocumented migrants per year |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/04/11/eu-countries-not-enforcing-migration-pact-could-face-legal-action-says-johansson |work=Euronews |date=4 November 2024}}

{{Main|Immigration to Portugal}}

Portugal, long a country of emigration,{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/portugal/48.htm|title=Portugal - Emigration|website=Countrystudies.us|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629081956/http://countrystudies.us/portugal/48.htm|url-status=live}} has now become a country of net immigration, from both its former colonies and other sources. As of 2022, legal immigrants represented about 7% of the population, and the largest communities were from Brazil, the United Kingdom, Cape Verde, India, Italy, Angola, France, and Ukraine.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-06-23 |title=Quase 800 mil estrangeiros vivem em Portugal e 30% são brasileiros |url=https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/quase-800-mil-estrangeiros-vivem-em-portugal-e-30-sao-brasileiros-16577792.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=www.dn.pt |language=pt-PT |archive-date=2023-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705130422/https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/quase-800-mil-estrangeiros-vivem-em-portugal-e-30-sao-brasileiros-16577792.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Statistics Portugal - Web Portal |url=https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpgid=ine_main&xpid=INE |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=www.ine.pt |archive-date=2017-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109182931/https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpgid=ine_main&xpid=INE |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Immigration to the Netherlands}}

{{See|Integration law for new immigrants to the Netherlands}}

File:Grote drukte zomercarnaval Rotterdam.jpg almost half the population has an immigrant background.]]

According to Eurostat, in 2010 there were 1.8 million foreign-born residents in the Netherlands, corresponding to 11.1% of the total population. Of these, 1.4 million (8.5%) were born outside the EU and 0.43 million (2.6%) were born in another EU Member State.Vasileva, Katya (2011) [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-11-034/EN/KS-SF-11-034-EN.PDF 6.5% of the EU population are foreigners and 9.4% are born abroad] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128101046/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-11-034/EN/KS-SF-11-034-EN.PDF |date=28 January 2012}}, Eurostat, Statistics in focus vol. 34. In 2022, there were 4.4 million residents in the Netherlands with at least one foreign-born parent.{{cite web |title=Immigration, emigration, and migration balance in the Netherlands from 1995 to 2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/525434/netherlands-total-immigration-total-emigration-and-migration-balance/ |publisher=Statista Research Department}} Over half the young people in Amsterdam and Rotterdam have a non-western background.{{cite web |title=Half of young big-city dwellers have non-western background |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2006/31/half-of-young-big-city-dwellers-have-non-western-background |publisher=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS)}} In 2022, 403,100 persons immigrated to the Netherlands,{{cite news |title=State of Migration: global migration influx in 2022 |url=https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/10/06/state-of-migration-global-migration-influx-in-2022 |work=Government.nl |date=6 October 2023}} up from 252,528 in 2021.

On 1 January 2011 there were almost 229,000 people (11.1%) living in Slovenia with foreign country of birth. At the end of March 2002 when data on the country of birth for total population were for the first and last time collected by a conventional (field) census, the number was almost 170,000 (8.6%).

Immigration from abroad, mostly from republics of former Yugoslavia, was the deciding factor for demographic and socioeconomic development of Slovenia in the last fifty years. Also after independence of Slovenia the direction of migration flows between Slovenia and abroad did not change significantly. Migration topics remain closely connected with the territory of former Yugoslavia. Slovenia was and still is the destination country for numerous people from the territory of former Yugoslavia. The share of residents of Slovenia with countries of birth from the territory of former Yugoslavia among all foreign-born residents was 88.9% at the 2002 Census and on 1 January 2011 despite new migration flows from EU Member States and from non-European countries still 86.7%.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4430 |title=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia - Migration, Slovenia, 1 January 2011 – final data |access-date=2014-05-31 |archive-date=2014-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117045228/http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4430 |url-status=dead }}

File:Slovenska vojska pri reševanju migrantske situacije z več zmogljivostmi 01.jpg, 22 October 2015.]]

• Immigration to Austria
• Immigration to Belgium
• Immigration to Bulgaria
• Immigration to Denmark
• Immigration to Germany
• Immigration to Greece
• Immigration to Iceland
• Immigration to Romania
• Immigration to Switzerland

{{main|Opposition to immigration}}

{{further|Überfremdung|Immigrant criminality}}

File:2015-09-22 EU JHA Council majority vote to relocate 120,000 refugees.svg Justice and Home Affairs Council majority vote to relocate 120,000 refugees from Greece and Italy to other EU countries according to proportional quotas:

{{legend|#8cd19d|Yes}}

{{legend|#ff9000|Opt-out}}

{{legend|#5cacc4|Abstention}}

{{legend|#fa3d3f|No}}

{{legend|#D6D6D6|Non-EU state}}

• Malta not seen/marked on map]]

Since the years 1970s–1980s, the European continent has been increasingly targeted by waves of unauthorized immigrants from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and other regions of the world, primarily affecting the countries of Southern Europe (such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Malta).{{cite journal |last1=McAdam |first1=Mark |last2=Otto |first2=Laura |date=May 2022 |title=Interests Under Construction: Views on Migration from the European Union's Southern External Border |journal=Political Studies |publisher=SAGE Publications on behalf of the Political Studies Association |volume=70 |issue=2 |pages=348–366 |doi=10.1177/0032321720966464 |doi-access=free |issn=1467-9248 |lccn=2008233815 |oclc=1641383 |s2cid=229449181}} Among the member states of the European Union, "migration constitutes the greatest concern to EU citizens".

According to a Yougov poll in 2018, majorities in all seven polled countries were opposed to accepting more migrants: Germany (72%), Denmark (65%), Finland (64%), Sweden (60%), United Kingdom (58%), France (58%), and Norway (52%).{{cite web|url=https://yougov.co.uk/news/2018/07/17/eurotrack-uk-denmark-finland-and-norway-not-pullin/|title=YouGov {{!}} Eurotrack: UK, Denmark, Finland and Norway not pulling their weight on migrants|website=YouGov: What the world thinks|access-date=2018-09-28|archive-date=2018-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928083142/https://yougov.co.uk/news/2018/07/17/eurotrack-uk-denmark-finland-and-norway-not-pullin/|url-status=live}}

A February 2017 poll of 10,000 people in 10 European countries by Chatham House found on average a majority (55%) were opposed to further Muslim immigration, with opposition especially pronounced in a number of countries: Poland (71%), Austria (65%), Hungary (64%), Belgium (64%), and France (61%). Except for Poland, all of those had recently suffered jihadist terror attacks or been at the centre of a refugee crisis. Of those opposed to further Muslim immigration, 3/4 classify themselves as on the right of the political spectrum. Of those self-classifying as on the left of the political spectrum, 1/3 supported a halt.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/what-do-europeans-think-about-muslim-immigration|title=What Do Europeans Think About Muslim Immigration?|work=Chatham House|access-date=2018-09-28|language=en|archive-date=2018-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310181445/https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/what-do-europeans-think-about-muslim-immigration|url-status=live}}

In Denmark, the parliamentary party most strongly associated with anti-immigration policies is the Danish People's Party.

According to a Gallup poll in 2017, two out of three (64%) wished for limiting immigration from Muslim countries which was an increase from 2015 (54%).{{cite web|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/content/item/421956|title=To ud af tre vil begrænse muslimsk indvandring|date=2017-03-14|website=Berlingske.dk|language=da|access-date=2019-05-25|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184514/https://www.berlingske.dk/content/item/421956|url-status=live}}

According to a 2018 Yougov poll, 65% of Danes opposed accepting more migrants into the country.{{cite web|url=https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2018/07/17/eurotrack-uk-denmark-finland-and-norway-not-pullin|title=Eurotrack: UK, Denmark, Finland and Norway not pulling their weight on migrants {{!}} YouGov|website=yougov.co.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-05-25|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184516/https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2018/07/17/eurotrack-uk-denmark-finland-and-norway-not-pullin|url-status=live}}

On August 14, 2020, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration in Denmark revealed that it denied 83 people Danish citizenship in the past two years because they have committed serious crimes.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20200814/danish-citizenship-refused-to-83-people-with-criminal-records|title=Danish citizenship refused to 83 people with criminal records|access-date=14 August 2020|website=The Local|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419134107/https://www.thelocal.dk/20200814/danish-citizenship-refused-to-83-people-with-criminal-records|url-status=live}}

According to a 2018 Yougov poll, 64% of Finns opposed accepting more migrants into the country.

In November 2020, Swedish crime trends were used as an example not to follow by the Finns Party who claimed both Sweden and Finland's problem with youth crime were the result of failed immigration policies.{{cite news|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|title=Svensk brottslighet används som skräckexempel i Finland - Nyheter (Ekot)|url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/7602575|access-date=2020-11-21|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=18 November 2020 |language=sv}}

In France, the National Front seeks to limit immigration. Major media, political parties, and a large share of the public believe that anti-immigration sentiment has increased since the country's riots of 2005.

According to a 2018 Yougov poll, 58% of the French opposed accepting more migrants into the country.

In Germany, the conservative CDU,{{cite news |title=Germany's CDU redefines stance on Islam in new manifesto |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-cdu-redefines-stance-on-islam-in-new-manifesto/a-67702793 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=12 December 2023}} the left-wing populist BSW,{{cite web |url=https://nordot.app/1203259216182722642 |title=Head of German state of Saxony says deal with populist BSW 'possible' |date=2 September 2024 |website=Deutsche Presse-Agentur }} the far-right{{cite book|author-link=Cas Mudde|last=Mudde|first=Cas|date=2016|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uiklDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6|chapter=Introduction to the populist radical right|editor-last=Mudde|editor-first=Cas|title=The Populist Radical Right: A Reader|pages=1–10|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-315-51456-7|access-date=2023-10-04|archive-date=2024-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224084320/https://books.google.com/books?id=uiklDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} and the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany and the neo-Nazi{{cite book|first=Christina|last=Schori Liang|chapter='Nationalism Ensures Peaces': the Foreign and Security Policy of the German Populist Radical Left After Reunification|editor=Christina Schori Liang|title=Europe for the Europeans: The Foreign and Security Policy of the Populist Radical Right|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7I_pDb1O2EQC&pg=PA139|year=2013|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-1-4094-9825-4|page=139|access-date=17 March 2016|archive-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515165049/https://books.google.com/books?id=7I_pDb1O2EQC&pg=PA139|url-status=live}} National Democratic Party oppose immigration.

In 2018, a poll by Pew Research found that a majority (58%) wanted fewer immigrants to be allowed into the country, 30% wanted to keep the current level and 10% wanted to increase immigration.{{cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/12/10/many-worldwide-oppose-more-migration-both-into-and-out-of-their-countries/|title=Many worldwide oppose more migration – both into and out of their countries|last1=Connor|first1=Phillip|last2=Krogstad|first2=Jens Manuel|website=Pew Research Center|date=10 December 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-date=2018-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210165415/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/12/10/many-worldwide-oppose-more-migration-both-into-and-out-of-their-countries/|url-status=live}}

According to a 2018 Yougov poll, 72% of Germans opposed accepting more migrants into the country.

The 2015–16 New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne ended the atmosphere of euphoria earlier in the year when hundreds of thousands of migrants had arrived in Germany.{{cite news |title=2,000 men 'sexually assaulted 1,200 women' at Cologne New Year's Eve party |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cologne-new-year-s-eve-mass-sex-attacks-leaked-document-a7130476.html |work=The Independent |date=11 July 2016}} Four violent crimes committed during the week of 18 July 2016, three of them by asylum seekers, created significant political pressure for changes in the Angela Merkel administration policy of welcoming refugees.{{cite news|title=German Refugee Policy Under Fire After a Week of Bloodshed|url=http://www.nytimes.com:80/aponline/2016/07/25/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-merkels-migrant-troubles.html?_r=0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729232222/http://www.nytimes.com:80/aponline/2016/07/25/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-merkels-migrant-troubles.html?_r=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 July 2016|access-date=25 July 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=The New York Times|date=25 July 2016}} The Siegaue rape case as well as the murders of Mia Valentin and Susanna Feldmann intensified the discussion about admitting migrants.{{cite news|last1=Benhold|first1=Katrin|title=A Girl's Killing Puts Germany's Migration Policy on Trial|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/17/world/europe/germany-teen-murder-migrant.html?_r=0|access-date=18 January 2018|work=The New York Times|date=17 January 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/germany-politicians-seek-answers-after-teenagers-murder-suspects-flight/a-44121158|title=Germany: Politicians seek answers after teenager's murder suspect's flight|website=DW.COM|language=en|access-date=9 June 2018}} The 2024 Solingen stabbing has reignited debates over migration policies in Germany ahead of upcoming regional elections.{{Cite news |last1=McGuinness|first1=Damien |date=26 August 2024 |title=Scholz vows to speed up deportations after Solingen stabbings |newspaper=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj081mrlm7eo|access-date=26 August 2024}}

In February 2020, more than 10,000 individuals attempted to cross the border between Greece and Turkey after Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opened its border to Europe, but they were blocked by Greek army and police forces. Hundreds of Greek soldiers and armed police resisted the trespassers and fired tear gas at them. Among those who attempted to cross were individuals from Africa, Iran and Afghanistan. Greece responded by refusing to accept asylum applications for a month.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/greece-migrants-struggle-cross-eu-turkey-162105944.html|title='Are we in Greece?': Migrants seize their chance in Europe quest|website=news.yahoo.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-03|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184520/https://news.yahoo.com/greece-migrants-struggle-cross-eu-turkey-162105944.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200301-greece-blocks-thousands-of-migrants-trying-to-enter-from-turkey|title=Greece blocks thousands of migrants trying to enter from Turkey|date=2020-03-01|website=France 24|language=en|access-date=2020-03-03|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184521/https://www.france24.com/en/20200301-greece-blocks-thousands-of-migrants-trying-to-enter-from-turkey|url-status=live}}

In March 2020, migrants set fires and threw Molotov cocktail firebombs over to the Greek side in order to break down the border fence. Greek and European forces responded with tear gas and by trying to keep the fence intact. By 11 March, 348 people had been arrested and 44,353 cases of unlawful entry had been prevented.{{cite web|url=https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/03/11/new-clashes-erupt-in-evros-migrants-throw-petrol-bombs-over-to-greek-side/|title=New Clashes Erupt in Evros; Migrants Throw Petrol Bombs Over to Greek Side {{!}} GreekReporter.com|last=Kampouris|first=Nick|date=11 March 2020|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-13|archive-date=2020-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404184522/https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/03/11/new-clashes-erupt-in-evros-migrants-throw-petrol-bombs-over-to-greek-side/|url-status=live}}

Public anti-immigrant discourse started in Italy in 1985 by the Bettino Craxi government, which in a public speech drew a direct link between the high number of clandestine immigrants and some terrorist incidents.Guild and Minderhoud (2006) p.173Dal Lago p.122Ministero degli Interni (1985) Relazione al Parlamento sull'attività delle Forze di Polizia e sullo stato dell'ordine e della sicurezza pubblíca nel territorio nazionalePalidda, S. (1996) Verso il fascismo democratico? Note su emigrazione, immigrazione e società dominanti', Aut Aut 275: 143–68 Public discourse by the media hold that the phenomenon of immigration is uncontrollable and of undefined proportions.Marazziti and Riccardi (2005) pp.40-1 quote: {{blockquote|La "vulgata" difunde la idea de que el fenomeno es de dimensiones incontrolables e indefinibles, y se llega a formular la afirmacion comun de que hay tantos, o mas, extranjeros clandestinos como extranjeros visibles y regulares.

[...] la inmigracion [...] ha entrado en el imaginario de los miedos o de las extrañezas. Progresivamente, el lenguaje que se utilizara sera el de orden publico, de las varias "tolerancia cero".

[...] Se evocan banalmente los choques de civilizaciones para dar dignidad al prejuicio. El mecanismo es antiguo, pero la sociedades no estan vacunadas contra ellos.}}

According to poll published by Corriere della Sera, one of two respondents (51%) approved closing Italy's ports to further boat migrants arriving via the Mediterranean, while 19% welcomed further boat migrants.{{cite web|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/19_gennaio_11/colpe-dell-emergenza-migranti-salvini-conte-dimaio-dacb3282-15e0-11e9-9cd3-6f68d3bb44a0.shtml|title=Le colpe dell'emergenza migranti? Il 60% punta il dito contro l'Europa|last=Pagnoncelli|first=Nando|date=2019-11-01|website=Corriere della Sera|language=it|access-date=2019-01-12|archive-date=2019-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112212927/https://www.corriere.it/politica/19_gennaio_11/colpe-dell-emergenza-migranti-salvini-conte-dimaio-dacb3282-15e0-11e9-9cd3-6f68d3bb44a0.shtml|url-status=live}}

In 2018, a poll by Pew Research found that a majority (71%) wanted fewer immigrants to be allowed into the country, 18% wanted to keep the current level and 5% wanted to increase immigration.

In Norway, the only parliamentary party that seeks to limit immigration is the Progress Party. Minor Norwegian parties seeking to limit immigration are the Democrats in Norway, the Christian Unity Party, the Pensioners' Party and the Coastal Party.

According to a 2018 Yougov poll, 52% of Norwegians opposed accepting more migrants into the country.

A 2015 opinion poll conducted by the Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) found that 14% thought that Poland should let asylum-seekers enter and settle in Poland, 58% thought Poland should let asylum-seekers stay in Poland until they can return to their home country, and 21% thought Poland should not accept asylum-seekers at all. Furthermore, 53% thought Poland should not accept asylum-seekers from the Middle East and North Africa, with only 33% thinking Poland should accept them.{{cite web |url=http://cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2015/K_081_15.PDF |title=POLACY WOBEC PROBLEMU UCHODŹSTWA |date=June 2015 |access-date=23 July 2015 |website=Cbos.pl |author=Katarzyna Kowalczuk |language=pl |archive-date=23 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723173039/http://cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2015/K_081_15.PDF |url-status=live }}

Another opinion poll conducted by the same organisation found that 86% of Poles think that Poland does not need more immigrants, with only 7% thinking Poland needs more immigrants.{{cite web |url=http://fakty.interia.pl/polska/news-sondaz-cbos-polacy-nie-potrzebuja-imigrantow,nId,1844092 |title=Sondaż CBOS: Polacy nie potrzebują imigrantów |date=30 June 2015 |access-date=23 July 2015 |website=Interia.pl |language=pl |archive-date=23 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723180704/http://fakty.interia.pl/polska/news-sondaz-cbos-polacy-nie-potrzebuja-imigrantow,nId,1844092 |url-status=live }}

Despite Polish public sentiment, 683,000 immigrants from outside of the EU arrived in Poland in 2017, with 87.4% of them immigrating for work. This was the highest number of residence permits granted by an EU member state that year.

{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Residence_permits_statistics#First_residence_permits:_an_overview |title=Residence permits statistics - Statistics Explained |access-date=2019-03-21 |archive-date=2019-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320012717/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Residence_permits_statistics#First_residence_permits:_an_overview |url-status=dead }}

{{excerpt|Opposition to immigration|Portugal}}

{{excerpt|Opposition to immigration|Spain}}

According to an October 2024 survey for the El País newspaper and Cadena SER radio station, 57% of Spaniards believe there is "too much" immigration to Spain.{{cite news |title=Spain to legalise about 300,000 undocumented immigrants per year |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spain-regularise-about-300000-undocumented-migrants-per-year-2024-11-19/ |work=Reuters |date=19 November 2024}}

In response to the high immigration of 2015, the anti-immigration party Sweden Democrats rose to 19.9% in the Statistics Sweden poll.{{cite web|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/sweden-democrats-far-right-anti-immigration-party-surging-2015-12?r=US&IR=T|title=Sweden Democrats far-right anti-immigration party surging|date=1 December 2015|website=Businessinsider.com|language=en|access-date=5 December 2015|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208152231/http://uk.businessinsider.com/sweden-democrats-far-right-anti-immigration-party-surging-2015-12?r=US&IR=T|url-status=dead}}

In late 2015, Sweden introduced temporary border checks on the Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden and public transport operators were instructed to only let people with residence in Sweden board trains or buses. The measures reduced the number of asylum seekers from 163 000 in 2015 to 29 000 in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.bpb.de/gesellschaft/migration/laenderprofile/248840/fluechtlingspolitik-seit-ende-2015|title=Der schwedische Umschwung in der Flüchtlingspolitik {{!}} bpb|last=Parusel|first=Bernd|website=bpb.de|date=June 2017 |language=de|access-date=2019-09-26|archive-date=2017-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615222855/http://www.bpb.de/gesellschaft/migration/laenderprofile/248840/fluechtlingspolitik-seit-ende-2015|url-status=live}}

In 2018, a poll by Pew Research found that a small majority (52%) wanted fewer immigrants to be allowed into the country, 33% wanted to keep the current level and 14% wanted to increase immigration.{{cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/12/10/many-worldwide-oppose-more-migration-both-into-and-out-of-their-countries/|title=Many worldwide oppose more migration – both into and out of their countries|last1=Connor|first1=Phillip|last2=Krogstad|first2=Jens Manuel|website=Pew Research Center|date=10 December 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-24|archive-date=2018-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210165415/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/12/10/many-worldwide-oppose-more-migration-both-into-and-out-of-their-countries/|url-status=live}}

According to a 2018 Yougov poll, 60% of Swedes opposed accepting more migrants into the country.

In February 2020 finance minister Magdalena Andersson encouraged migrants to head for other countries than Sweden. Andersson stated in an interview that integration of immigrants in Sweden wasn't working since neither before nor after 2015 and that Sweden cannot accept more immigration than it is able to integrate.{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/5V6xz1|title=Magdalena Andersson: Sök er till annat land|website=Aftonbladet|date=21 December 2017 |language=sv|access-date=2020-03-06|archive-date=2018-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316020733/https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/5V6xz1|url-status=live}}

After the 2022 general election, the Swedish government saw a surge in support for right-wing parties, notably bolstered by the rise of anti-immigration sentiments.{{Cite web |last=Niklas Pollard |first=Johan Ahlander |date=September 12, 2022 |title=Swedish election puts anti-immigration Sweden Democrats centre stage |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/swedish-voters-hand-anti-immigration-sweden-democrats-influential-role-2022-09-12/ |website=Reuters}}

During the 1990s under Christoph Blocher, the Swiss People's Party started to develop an increasingly eurosceptic and anti-immigration agenda.{{cite web|title=History of social security-Swiss People's Party|url=https://www.historyofsocialsecurity.ch/stakeholders/political-parties/swiss-peoples-party|access-date=2022-02-01|website=www.historyofsocialsecurity.ch|archive-date=2022-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201115138/https://www.historyofsocialsecurity.ch/stakeholders/political-parties/swiss-peoples-party|url-status=live}} In 2014, they launched a popular initiative titled "Against mass immigration" that was narrowly accepted. They are currently the largest party in the National Council with 53 seats.

Anti-immigration sentiment in the United Kingdom has historically focused on non-indigenous African, Afro-Caribbean and especially South Asian migrants, all of whom began to arrive from the Commonwealth of Nations in greater numbers following World War II. Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the enlargement of the European Union, the increased movement of people out of countries such as Poland, Romania and Lithuania has shifted much of this attention towards migrants from Eastern Europe. While working-class migrants tend to be the focus of anti-immigration sentiment, there is also some discontent about Russian, Chinese, Singaporean and Gulf Arab multimillionaires resident in the UK, particularly in London and South East England. These residents often invest in property and business, and are perceived as living extravagant "jet-set" lifestyles marked by conspicuous consumption while simultaneously taking advantage of tax loopholes connected to non-dom status.

Policies of reduced immigration, particularly from the European Union, are central to the manifestos of parties such as the UK Independence Party. Such policies have also been discussed by some members of the largest parties in Parliament, most significantly the Conservatives.

File:Eurostat EU-27 immigration and emigration 2013-2018.png

This is a list of European countries by immigrant population, based on the United Nations report Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2013 Revision.

In 2010, 47.3 million people lived in the EU, who were born outside their resident country. This corresponds to 9.4% of the total EU population. Of these, 31.4 million (6.3%) were born outside the EU and 16.0 million (3.2%) were born in another EU member state. The largest absolute numbers of people born outside the EU were in Germany (6.4 million), France (5.1 million), the United Kingdom (4.7 million), Spain (4.1 million), Italy (3.2 million), and The Netherlands (1.4 million).[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-11-034/EN/KS-SF-11-034-EN.PDF 6.5% of the EU population are foreigners and 9.4% are born abroad] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128101046/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-11-034/EN/KS-SF-11-034-EN.PDF |date=January 28, 2012 }}

, Eurostat, Katya VASILEVA, 34/2011.[http://www.artiszelmenis.lv/moveeurope/ MoveEurope - immigration to Europe process research team] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113220407/http://www.artiszelmenis.lv/moveeurope/ |date=2014-01-13 }}, Artis Zelmenis, 2/2014.

According to the United Nations report World Population Policies 2005,{{cite web |url=https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/570888 |title=World population policies, 2005 |date=2006-03-02 |access-date=2022-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228090416/https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/570888 |archive-date=2022-02-28 |url-status=live |publisher=United Nations |language=en |at=Download WPP2005_full.pdf| quote=p215: France Number of migrants (thousands) 6,471}} European countries that have the highest net foreign populations are:

The European countries with the highest proportion or percentage of non-native residents are small nations or microstates. Andorra is the country in Europe with the highest percentage of immigrants, 77% of the country's 82,000 inhabitants. Monaco is the second with the highest percentage of immigrants, they make up 70% of the total population of 32,000; and Luxembourg is the third, immigrants are 37% of the total of 480,000; in Liechtenstein they are 35% of the 34,000 people; and in San Marino they comprise 32% of the country's population of 29,000.

Countries in which immigrants form between 25% and 10% of the population are: Switzerland (23%), Latvia (19%), Estonia (15%), Austria (15%), Croatia (15%), Ukraine (14.7%), Cyprus (14.3%), Ireland (14%), Moldova (13%), Germany (12.3%), Sweden (12.3%), Belarus (12%), Slovenia (11.1%), Spain (10.8%, 12.2% in 2010), France (10.2%), and the Netherlands (10%).UN statistics as of 2005, see list of countries by immigrant population.

The United Kingdom (9%), Greece (8.6%), Russia (8.5%), Finland (8.1%), Iceland (7.6%), Norway (7.4%), Portugal (7.2%), Denmark (7.1%), Belgium (6.9%) and the Czech Republic (6.7%),{{cite web |url=http://vdb.czso.cz/sldbvo/#!stranka=podle-tematu&tu=30716&th=&v=&vo=H4sIAAAAAAAAAFvzloG1uIhBMCuxLFGvtCQzR88jsTjDN7GAlf3WwcNiCReZGZjcGLhy8hNT3BKTS_KLPBk4SzKKUosz8nNSKgrsHRhAgKecA0gKADF3CQNnaLBrUIBjkKNvcSFDHQMDhhqGCqCiYA__cLCiEgZGvxIGdg9_Fz__EMeCEgY2b38XZ89gIIvLxTHEP8wx2NEFJM4ZHOIY5u_t7-MJ1OIP5IdEBkT5OwU5RgH5IUB9fo4ePq4uIDtZSxhYw1yDolzhXstJzEvX88wrSU1PLRJ6tGDJ98Z2CyYGRk8G1rLEnNLUiiIGAYQ6v9LcpNSitjVTZbmnPOhmAjq44D8QlDDwAK10C_KF2coe4ugU6uPtWMLA4eni6hcSEAZ0FntwgHOQoal5BQAw_bN1WwEAAA..&vseuzemi=null&void= |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128061415/http://vdb.czso.cz/sldbvo/#!stranka=podle-tematu&tu=30716&th=&v=&vo=H4sIAAAAAAAAAFvzloG1uIhBMCuxLFGvtCQzR88jsTjDN7GAlf3WwcNiCReZGZjcGLhy8hNT3BKTS_KLPBk4SzKKUosz8nNSKgrsHRhAgKecA0gKADF3CQNnaLBrUIBjkKNvcSFDHQMDhhqGCqCiYA__cLCiEgZGvxIGdg9_Fz__EMeCEgY2b38XZ89gIIvLxTHEP8wx2NEFJM4ZHOIY5u_t7-MJ1OIP5IdEBkT5OwU5RgH5IUB9fo4ePq4uIDtZSxhYw1yDolzhXstJzEvX88wrSU1PLRJ6tGDJ98Z2CyYGRk8G1rLEnNLUiiIGAYQ6v9LcpNSitjVTZbmnPOhmAjq44D8QlDDwAK10C_KF2coe4ugU6uPtWMLA4eni6hcSEAZ0FntwgHOQoal5BQAw_bN1WwEAAA..&vseuzemi=null&void= |archive-date=2013-01-28 |url-status=dead }} each have a proportion of immigrants between 10% and 5% of the total population.

Eurostat data[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006_MONTH_05/3-19052006-EN-AP.PDF Eurostat News Release on Immigration in EU] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307012202/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006_MONTH_05/3-19052006-EN-AP.PDF |date=2008-03-07 }}

reported in 2006 that some EU member states as receiving "large-scale"{{Request quotation|date=April 2011}} immigration. The EU in 2005 had an overall net gain from international migration of 1.8 million people, which accounted for almost 85% of Europe's total population growth that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=402 |title=Europe: Population and Migration in 2005 |work=migrationpolicy.org |access-date=13 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609075438/http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=402 |archive-date=9 June 2008 |date=June 2006 }} In 2004, a total of 140,033 people immigrated to France. Of them, 90,250 were from Africa and 13,710 from elsewhere in Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/datahub/countrydata/data.cfm|title=Migration Data Hub|work=migrationpolicy.org|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823222738/http://www.migrationinformation.org/datahub/countrydata/data.cfm|url-status=live}} In 2005, the total number of immigrants fell slightly, to 135,890.{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/France_Elections050307.pdf|title=Immigration and the 2007 French Presidential Elections|website=Migrationpolicy.org|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011040626/https://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/France_Elections050307.pdf|url-status=live}}

In the European Union, in 2019, 706 400 persons acquired citizenship, the main nation of origin for citizenship grant were by decreasing number: Morocco, Albania, the United Kingdom, Syria and Turkey.{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Acquisition_of_citizenship_statistics |title=Acquisition of citizenship statistics - Statistics Explained |publisher=Ec.europa.eu |date= |accessdate=2022-03-27 |archive-date=2019-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428164703/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Acquisition_of_citizenship_statistics |url-status=live }}

{{blockquote|the largest groups were Moroccans (66 800, or 9.5 %), followed by Albanians (41 700, or 5.9 %), Britons (29 800, or 4.2 %), Syrian (29 100, or 4.1 %) and Turks (28 600, or 4.0 %). The majority of Moroccans acquired citizenship of Spain (37 %), Italy (24 %) or France (24 %), while the majority of Albanians received Italian citizenship (62 %). Almost half of the Britons received German citizenship (46 %) and more than half of the Syrians received Swedish citizenship (69 %). The majority of Turks acquired German citizenship (57 %)|eurostat{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Acquisition_of_citizenship_statistics#EU-27_Member_States_granted_citizenship_to_706.C2.A0400_persons_in_2019 |title=Acquisition of citizenship statistics - Statistics Explained |publisher=Ec.europa.eu |date= |accessdate=2022-03-27 |archive-date=2019-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428164703/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Acquisition_of_citizenship_statistics#EU-27_Member_States_granted_citizenship_to_706.C2.A0400_persons_in_2019 |url-status=live }}}}

This is a breakdown by major area of origin of the 72.4 million migrants residing in Europe (out of a population of 742 million) at mid-2013, based on the United Nations report Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2013 Revision.{{cite web|title=International migrant stock: By destination and origin|url=https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimatesorigin.shtml|publisher=United Nations|access-date=2017-06-28|archive-date=2015-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101151230/https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimatesorigin.shtml|url-status=live}}

Approximate populations of non-European origin in Europe (about 20 - 30+ millions, or 3 - 4% (depending on the definition of non-European origin), out of a total population of {{abbr|approx.|approximately}} 831 million):

• Black Africans (including Afro-Caribbeans and others by descent): approx. 9 to 10 million in the European Union and around 12.5 in Europe as a whole.{{cite web |last1=Small |first1=Stephen |title=The African Diaspora in Europe Today |url=https://www.aaihs.org/the-african-diaspora-in-europe-today/ |website=AAIHS |accessdate=22 September 2020 |date=15 June 2018 |quote="For example, in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Italy, the majority of Black people arrived only since the 1990s, they did not speak the national language, they arrived as refugees, and are primarily Muslims. In the UK, France, Netherlands, as well as in Belgium and Portugal, large numbers of Black people arrived in the 1950s–1970s, speaking the national language, as citizens and mainly Christians." |archive-date=23 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923231103/https://www.aaihs.org/the-african-diaspora-in-europe-today/ |url-status=live }} Between 5 and 6 million Sub-Saharan and Afro-Caribbeans live in France {{citation|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1887106,00.html|first=Bruce|last=Crumley|title=Should France Count Its Minority Population?|magazine=Time|date=24 March 2009|accessdate=11 October 2014|archive-date=8 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808014355/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1887106,00.html|url-status=live}} but also 2.5 million in the United Kingdom,{{cite United Kingdom census |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-and-quick-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-the-united-kingdom---part-1/rft-ks201uk.xls |table=Table KS201UK – Ethnic group, local authorities in the United Kingdom|publisher=Office for National Statistics |year=2011|access-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021150149/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-and-quick-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-the-united-kingdom---part-1/rft-ks201uk.xls|archive-date=21 October 2013|url-status=live}} Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal. (in Spain and Portugal Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin American are included in Latin Americans){{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/frances-blacks-stand-up-to-be-counted/article17990408/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906162149/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070205.wxfrance05/BNStory/International/home|url-status=dead|title=France's blacks stand up to be counted|website=The Globe and Mail|archive-date=September 6, 2008}}
• Turks (including Turks from Turkey and Northern Cyprus): approx. 9 million (this estimate does not include the 10 million Turks within the European portion of Turkey);{{citation |last=Cole|first=Jeffrey|author-link=Jeffrey Cole|year=2011|title=Ethnic Groups of Europe: An Encyclopedia|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-302-6|page=367}} of whom 3{{cite book |last1=Orvis|first1=Stephen|last2=Drogus|first2=Carol Ann|year=2018|title=Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context |publisher=CQ Press|quote=Today, nearly three million ethnic Turks live in Germany, and many have raised children there.|isbn=978-1-5443-7444-4|page=305|language=en}} to over 7{{citation|last=Fuller, Graham E.|year=2020|title=Is Turkey Out of Control?|url=https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2020/12/04/is-turkey-out-of-control/|publisher=Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft|quote=Europe has always been reluctant to accept Turkey into the EU–partly due to a cultural bias against Muslims–despite the some seven million Turks living in Germany today.|access-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218021721/https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2020/12/04/is-turkey-out-of-control/|archive-date=18 December 2020}}{{citation|last1=Zestos|first1=George K.|last2=Cooke|first2=Rachel N.|year=2020|title=Challenges for the EU as Germany Approaches Recession|publisher=Levy Economics Institute|page=22|url=http://www.levyinstitute.org/pubs/wp_948.pdf|quote=Presently (2020) more than seven million Turks live in Germany.|access-date=2021-11-22|archive-date=2021-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121102248/http://www.levyinstitute.org/pubs/wp_948.pdf|url-status=live}} million in Germany but also the rest in France and the Netherlands with over 2 million Turks in France{{cite web|last=Bedir|first=Akif|year=2020|title=Kirli hesaplar|url=https://www.haber7.com/yazarlar/akif-bedir/3009653-kirli-hesaplar|publisher=Haber7|quote=Fransa’da yaşayan 2 milyon dokuz yüz bin Türk...|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=26 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626182610/https://www.haber7.com/yazarlar/akif-bedir/3009653-kirli-hesaplar|url-status=live}} and Turks in the Netherlands,{{citation|year=2021|title=Opportunity arises to renew Turkey, EU dialogue: FM Çavuşoğlu|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/eu-affairs/opportunity-arises-to-renew-turkey-eu-dialogue-fm-cavusoglu|quote=Turks are the second-largest ethnic group in the Netherlands... with a population of about 2 million|publisher=Daily Sabah|access-date=17 February 2021|archive-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203233353/https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/eu-affairs/opportunity-arises-to-renew-turkey-eu-dialogue-fm-cavusoglu|url-status=live}}{{citation|year=2020|title=Trots Fortuna Sittard gaat talenten scouten voor Besiktas|url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/trots-fortuna-sittard-gaat-talenten-scouten-voor-besiktas|publisher=Voetbal International|access-date=27 December 2020|archive-date=4 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204071137/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/trots-fortuna-sittard-gaat-talenten-scouten-voor-besiktas|url-status=live}}{{citation|year=2021|title=Dutch child care subsidies scandal exposes country's systematic xenophobia, Turkophobia|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/news-analysis/dutch-child-care-subsidies-scandal-exposes-countrys-systematic-xenophobia-turkophobia|quote=Turks are the second-largest ethnic group in the Netherlands following the Dutch, with a population of about 2 million|publisher=Daily Sabah|access-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214150409/https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/news-analysis/dutch-child-care-subsidies-scandal-exposes-countrys-systematic-xenophobia-turkophobia|archive-date=14 February 2021}} Austria, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Finland, Serbia and Norway. (see Turks in Europe)
• Arabs (including North African and Middle Eastern Arabs): approx. 6 to 7 million Arabs live in France but also 1.2 million Arabs in Germany,{{cite web|url=https://www.destatis.de/DE/Publikationen/Thematisch/Bevoelkerung/MigrationIntegration/AuslaendBevoelkerung2010200177004.pdf?__blob=publicationFile|title=Bevölkerung und Erwerbstätigkeit|work=Statistisches Bundesamt|language=de|date=12 April 2018|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718111012/https://www.destatis.de/DE/Publikationen/Thematisch/Bevoelkerung/MigrationIntegration/AuslaendBevoelkerung2010200177004.pdf?__blob=publicationFile|url-status=live}} the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Greece, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, Finland and Russia (see Arabs in Europe).
• Indians: approx. 2.5 million; 1.9 million mostly in the United Kingdom but also 473,520 in France including the overseas territories, 240,000 in the Netherlands,{{cite web|url=http://mea.gov.in/images/attach/NRIs-and-PIOs_1.pdf|title=Population of Overseas Indians|publisher=Ministry of External Affairs (India)|date=31 December 2018|access-date=18 April 2019|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225053337/http://mea.gov.in/error.htm?aspxerrorpath=/images/attach/NRIs-and-PIOs_1.pdf|url-status=live}} 203,052 in Italy, 185,085 in Germany, Ireland and Portugal.
• Pakistanis: approx. 1.1 million in the United Kingdom, but also 120,000 in France,{{cite web |url = http://callsarzameen.ophrd.gov.pk/web/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Year-Book-2017-18.pdf |title = Statement showing number of Overseas Pakistanis living, working and studying in different regions/countries of the world, as on 31st December, 2017 - Region-Wise distribution |publisher = Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development |date = 31 December 2018 |access-date = 29 August 2019 |archive-date = 29 August 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190829202243/http://callsarzameen.ophrd.gov.pk/web/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Year-Book-2017-18.pdf |url-status = dead }} 118,181 in Italy,{{cite web |title=Non-EU Citizens. Years 2016-2017 |url=https://www.istat.it/it/files//2017/10/Infographic-Non-EU-citizens-in-Italy.-Years-2016-2017.pdf |publisher=Italian National Institute of Statistics |access-date=2021-11-22 |archive-date=2018-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115070458/https://www.istat.it/it/files//2017/10/Infographic-Non-EU-citizens-in-Italy.-Years-2016-2017.pdf |url-status=live }} Spain, and Norway.
• Bengali: approx. 600,000 mostly in United Kingdom, but also 85,000 in Italy, 35,000 in France, Spain, Sweden, Finland and Greece.
• Latin Americans (includes Afro-Latin Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Native Americans, White Latin Americans, Latin American Mestizos and other mixed-race peoples, etc.): approx. 5.0 million; mostly in Spain{{Cite web |title=Población por comunidades y provincias, país de nacimiento, edad (grupos quinquenales) y sexo |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=/t20/e245/p04/provi/l0/&file=0ccaa005.px |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=INE |language=es |archive-date=2021-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130000255/https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp04%2Fprovi%2Fl0%2F&file=0ccaa005.px |url-status=live }} (c. 2.9 million) but also 1.3 million in France,{{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3682672|title=Population des régions et taux d'évolution de la population|access-date=5 July 2021|archive-date=6 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206035205/https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3682672|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=List of countries in Latin America|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-countries-in-Latin-America-2061416|website=Encyclopaedia Britannica|publisher=The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica|access-date=31 August 2021|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831221457/https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-countries-in-Latin-America-2061416|url-status=live}} 354,180 in Italy,{{cite web |url=http://www.migrantitorino.it/?p=25726 |title=E' latinoamericano il 7,7% della popolazione straniera in Italia. In testa il Perù | Ufficio Pastorale Migranti - Arcidiocesi di Torino |publisher=Migrantitorino.it |date= |accessdate=2022-03-27 |archive-date=2022-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409020733/http://www.migrantitorino.it/?p=25726 |url-status=live }} +100,000 in Portugal,[http://www.sef.pt/documentos/56/DADOS_2007.pdf POPULAÇÃO ESTRANGEIRA EM TERRITÓRIO NACIONAL, SERVIÇO DE ESTRANGEIROS E FRONTEIRAS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232834/http://www.sef.pt/documentos/56/DADOS_2007.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }} 2008; 245,000 in the United Kingdom{{ONSCoB2018|accessdate=15 August 2019}} and some in Germany.{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=609|title=Latin American Immigration to Southern Europe|work=migrationpolicy.org|access-date=13 May 2016|date=2007-06-28|archive-date=2014-02-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215082217/http://migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=609|url-status=live}}
• Armenians: approx. 2 million; mostly in Russia but also 800,000 in France,{{cite web |url=http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/population.html |title= Armenian Diaspora|accessdate=2013-05-02|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511084353/http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/population.html |archivedate=2013-05-11}} Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria, Spain, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and Belgium.
• Berbers: approx. 2 million live in France[https://web.archive.org/web/20140929080724/http://www.dglflf.culture.gouv.fr/lgfrance/lgfrance_presentation.htm Les langues de France: un patrimoine méconnu, une réalité vivante] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929080724/http://www.dglflf.culture.gouv.fr/lgfrance/lgfrance_presentation.htm|date=2014-09-29}}, originally published by CultureComm unication.gouv.fr. but also Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.
• Kurds: approx. 2 million; mostly in Germany, France, Sweden, Russia, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
• Chinese: approx. 1 million; 600,000-700,000 of them live in France,{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/26/what-you-hear-about-chinese-people-in-france-feeling-scared-its-true |title= Coming out of the shadows: what it means to be French and Chinese |website= TheGuardian.com |date= 26 November 2019 |access-date= 15 November 2021 |archive-date= 24 November 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211124190950/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/26/what-you-hear-about-chinese-people-in-france-feeling-scared-its-true |url-status= live }} 433,000 live in the United Kingdom,{{cite United Kingdom census |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |table=Table KS201EW - Ethnic group |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=11 April 2021|year=2011 }} Russia, Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.
• Vietnamese: approx. 800,000; mostly in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia.
• Filipinos: approx. 600,000; mostly in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria and Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://www.cfo.gov.ph/images/stories/pdf/StockEstimate2013.pdf|title=Commission on Filipinos Overseas : STOCK ESTIMATE OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS|date=December 2013|website=Cfo.gov.ph|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=23 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623000052/https://cfo.gov.ph/images/stories/pdf/StockEstimate2013.pdf|url-status=live}}
• Iranians: approx. 250,000; mostly in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Russia, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Norway, Spain and Denmark.
• Somalis: approx. 200,000;{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/20/nstab120.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210214917/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/20/nstab120.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-02-10|title=News|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=13 May 2016|date=2016-03-15}} mostly in the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Finland, Denmark and Italy.
• Assyrians: approx. 200,000; mostly in Sweden, Germany, Russia, France and The Netherlands.
• Japanese: approx. 100,000; mostly in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

File:Distribution by migration status of persons aged 15–74 years.png

In the EU people living in private households can be categorised in terms of their migration status.{{Cite web |title=Foreign-born people and their descendants - main characteristics |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Foreign-born_people_and_their_descendants_-_main_characteristics |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=ec.europa.eu |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125091210/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Foreign-born_people_and_their_descendants_-_main_characteristics |url-status=live }} In 2021, the EU's population in private households aged 15–74 years was composed as follows:

• Eight out of ten (79.8%) were native-born with two native-born parents.
• one-fifth (20.2%) were native-born persons with at least one foreign-born parent or were themselves foreign-born:
• 7.1 % were native-born descendants of foreign-born parents, of which:
• 4.2 % had one foreign-born parent.
• 2.9 % had two foreign-born parents.
• 13.1 % were foreign-born.

Among the EU Member States, the share of foreign-born persons among people aged 15–74 years ranged from less than 1.0% to nearly 60% in 2021. The share was lowest in Romania (0.2%), Bulgaria (0.3%) and Poland (0.5%) while by far the highest share was observed in Luxembourg, where nearly three-fifths (58.2%) of persons aged 15–74 years were foreign-born.

The combined share of foreign-born persons and all native-born persons with at least one foreign-born parent ranged from less than 3.0% to nearly 75% in 2021. Poland again recorded the lowest share (2.3%) among the EU Member States, just below that of Slovakia (2.5%, low reliability). Shares below one-tenth were observed in a further four EU Member States (Hungary, Czechia, Lithuania and Greece) and between 10.0% and 15.0% in another four (Finland, Portugal, Denmark and Italy). Croatia and Spain recorded shares of around one-fifth. Most other EU Member States (nine in total) recorded shares between one-quarter and one-third. Belgium, Sweden and Latvia recorded slightly higher shares. Luxembourg again recorded by far the highest share, close to three-quarters (73.4%).

File:Imigrantes salvos no Mar Mediterrâneo - SALVAMAR 2015 (52149723177).jpg, 5 September 2015]]

The EU Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) uses the terms "illegal" and "irregular" border crossings for crossings of an EU external border but not at an official border-crossing point.{{cite web|date=March 2016|title=Risk Analysis for 2016|url=https://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/Annual_Risk_Analysis_2016.pdf#page=24|publisher=Frontex|page=22|access-date=2021-07-30|archive-date=2021-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308194249/https://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/Annual_Risk_Analysis_2016.pdf#page=24|url-status=live}} These include people rescued at sea.{{cite web|date=March 2016|title=Risk Analysis for 2016|url=https://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/Annual_Risk_Analysis_2016.pdf#page=22|publisher=Frontex|page=20|access-date=2021-07-30|archive-date=2021-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308194249/https://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/Annual_Risk_Analysis_2016.pdf#page=22|url-status=live}} Because many immigrants cross more than one external EU border (for instance when traveling through the Balkans from Greece to Hungary), the total number of illegal EU external border crossings is often higher than the number of illegal immigrants arriving in the EU in a year. News media sometimes misrepresent these figures as given by Frontex.{{cite news|date=15 April 2015|title=Migrant boat capsizes off Libya, 400 feared dead|publisher=Fox News Channel|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/migrant-boat-capsizes-off-libya-400-feared-dead/|url-status=live|access-date=19 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930071234/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/04/15/migrant-boat-capsizes-off-libya-400-feared-dead/|archive-date=30 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}

Frontex tracks and publishes data on numbers of crossings along the main six routes twice a year. The following table summarises the number of "irregular crossings" of the European Union's various external borders. Note that the figures do not add up to the total number of people coming into the EU illegally in a given year, since many immigrants are counted twice (for instance, once when entering Greece and a second time upon entering Hungary).

{{Seealso|Mediterranean Sea migrant smuggling}}Since 2013, over 700,000 undocumented migrants have arrived in Italy via the Mediterranean Sea,{{cite web |title=What will Italy's new government mean for migrants? |url=https://www.thelocal.it/20180521/what-will-italys-new-government-mean-for-migrants |website=The Local |date=21 May 2018 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401231010/https://www.thelocal.it/20180521/what-will-italys-new-government-mean-for-migrants |url-status=live }} mostly from sub-Saharan Africa.{{cite news |title=African migrants fear for future as Italy struggles with surge in arrivals |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-migrants-africa/african-migrants-fear-for-future-as-italy-struggles-with-surge-in-arrivals-idUSKBN1A30QD |work=Reuters |date=18 July 2017 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402002627/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-migrants-africa/african-migrants-fear-for-future-as-italy-struggles-with-surge-in-arrivals-idUSKBN1A30QD |url-status=live }} In September 2023, boats carrying approximately 7,000 migrants arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa within 24 hours{{Cite web |date=2023-09-15 |title=What's behind the surge in migrant arrivals to Italy? |url=https://apnews.com/article/migration-italy-lampedusa-3b47cdacb91c2d72f99b11aa396a6d59 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=AP News |language=en}} In 2023, 155,754 migrants arrived in Italy illegally, compared to 103,846 in 2022.{{cite news |title=Italy Witnesses 50% Surge in Migrant Arrivals in 2023 |url=https://etias.com/articles/italy-migrant-surge-2023 |work=ETIAS.com |date=8 January 2024}}

A record number of 46,843 migrants, mostly from Senegal, Mali and Morocco, arrived illegally in Spain's Canary Islands in 2024, up from 39,910 in 2023.{{cite news |title=Spain's Canary Islands received record 46,843 migrants in 2024: ministry |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250102-spain-s-canary-islands-received-record-46-843-migrants-in-2024-ministry |work=France 24 |date=2 January 2025}}

{{Seealso|Belarus–European Union border crisis}}

In August 2021, the government of Belarus began sponsoring an influx of migrants, mostly from the Middle East and North Africa, to the borders of Lithuania, Poland and Latvia.{{Cite journal |last=Forti |first=Mirko |date=2023-07-11 |title=Belarus-sponsored Migration Movements and the Response by Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland: A Critical Appraisal |url=https://www.europeanpapers.eu/europeanforum/belarus-sponsored-migration-movements-and-response-by-lithuania-latvia-and-poland |journal=European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration |volume=2023 8 |issue=1 |pages=22–238 |doi=10.15166/2499-8249/648 |issn=2499-8249}} Although Belarus denied involvement, both the European Union and independent observers viewed it as hybrid warfare undertaken in response to the deterioration in Belarus–European Union relations following the 2020 Belarusian presidential election and the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests.{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Why Poland says Russia and Belarus are weaponizing migration to benefit Europe's far-right |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/poland-russia-belarus-weaponizing-migration-benefit-europes-110805968 |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{cite news |date=8 November 2021 |title=Hundreds Of Migrants Gather At Belarusian-Polish Border |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-migrants-poland-border-incident/31551118.html |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}} Between August and December 2021, tens of thousands of unauthorized border crossing attempts were recorded, peaking in October.{{Cite web |title=Poland: attempts of illegal crossing of the Polish-Belarusian border 2024 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1271292/poland-attempts-of-illegal-crossing-of-the-polish-belarusian-border/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Statista |language=en}}{{cite web |date=7 August 2021 |title=Neteisėtos migracijos stebėsena (nuo 2021-01-01) |trans-title=Monitoring of illegal migration (from 01.01.2021) |url=https://ls-osp-sdg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/9b0a008b1fff41a88c5efcc61a876be2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730233525/https://ls-osp-sdg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/9b0a008b1fff41a88c5efcc61a876be2 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |access-date=7 August 2021 |website=Department of Statistics, Lithuania |language=Lithuanian}} Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia each declared states of emergency and announced their intentions to build border walls.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=Poland completes Belarus border wall to keep migrants out |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-africa-poland-forests-middle-east-443c8068ea7b5d1d8f6980da6e3879af |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}} The EU sent supporting officers and patrol cars to Lithuania,{{cite web |last= |first= |title=EU border agency Frontex vows additional support for Lithuania amid migrant crisis |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eu-border-agency-frontex-vows-additional-support-for-lithuania-amid-migrant-crisis/a-58227983 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115030311/https://www.dw.com/en/eu-border-agency-frontex-vows-additional-support-for-lithuania-amid-migrant-crisis/a-58227983 |archive-date=15 November 2021 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en-GB}} and 12 EU governments stated their support for a physical barrier along the border.{{Cite news |last1=Pancevski |first1=Bojan |last2=Hinshaw |first2=Drew |date=2021-11-11 |title=Europe Weighs Border Walls as Migrants Mass in Belarus at Poland's Frontier |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-weighs-border-walls-as-migrants-mass-in-belarus-at-polands-frontier-11636649364 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115030315/https://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-weighs-border-walls-as-migrants-mass-in-belarus-at-polands-frontier-11636649364 |archive-date=15 November 2021 |access-date=2021-11-15 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}} After the EU refused to finance protective structures on the external borders, Poland and Lithuania completed their barriers on the border with Belarus on their own.{{cite web |date=29 August 2022 |title=Lithuania Finishes Building Wall On Belarusian Border To Stem Flow Of Illegal Migrants |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/lithuania-wall-belarus-border-illegal-migrants/32009541.html |access-date=20 April 2023 |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}{{cite web |date=24 March 2023 |title=Lithuania-Belarus border now 100-percent surveilled – ministry |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1946371/lithuania-belarus-border-now-100-percent-surveilled-ministry |access-date=20 April 2023 |website=LRT}} In 2024, there was a 192 percent increase in illegal crossings from Belarus into the EU.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-05-12 |title=Estonia sends police unit to Latvia-Belarus border after rise in migrant crossings |url=https://news.err.ee/1609691276/estonia-sends-police-unit-to-latvia-belarus-border-after-rise-in-migrant-crossings |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=ERR |language=en}} In May 2025, Lithuania filed a case against Belarus at the International Court of Justice for "orchestrating a migrant crisis that endangered lives and violated international law".{{Cite web |date=2025-05-20 |title=Lithuania takes Belarus to The Hague for weaponizing migration |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/belarus-lithuania-the-hague-smuggling-migrants-borders/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}} File:Non-EU citizens found to be illegally present in the EU-28 and EFTA, Eurostat 2015.png

Gallup has published a study estimating potential migrants in 2010.

Neli Esipova, Julie Ray, and Rajesh Srinivasan, The World’s Potential Migrants, Gallup, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.imi.ox.ac.uk/pdfs/the-worlds-potential-migrants |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-09-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910194152/http://www.imi.ox.ac.uk/pdfs/the-worlds-potential-migrants |archive-date=2014-09-10 }}

The study estimated that 700 million adults worldwide would prefer to migrate to another country. Potential migrants were asked for their country of preference if they were given free choice.

The total number of potential migrants to the European Union is estimated at 200 million, comparable to the number for North America (USA and Canada). In addition, an estimated 40 million potential migrants within the EU desire to move to another country within the EU, giving the EU the highest intra-regional potential migration rate.Esipova, Ray and Srinivasan (2010), p. 8.

The study estimates that from 2015 to 2017, there were about 750 million potential migrants. One in five potential migrants (21%), or about 158 million adults worldwide name the U.S. as their desired future residence. Canada, Germany, France, Australia and the United Kingdom each appeal to more than 30 million adults. Apart from the United States, the top desired target countries were: Canada (47 million), Germany (42 million), France (36 million), Australia (36 million) and the United Kingdom (34 million).{{cite web|url= https://news.gallup.com/poll/245255/750-million-worldwide-migrate.aspx|title= More Than 750 Million Worldwide Would Migrate If They Could|date= 10 December 2018|access-date= 22 November 2021|archive-date= 23 November 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211123145050/https://news.gallup.com/poll/245255/750-million-worldwide-migrate.aspx|url-status= live}}

The study also compared the number of potential migrants to their desired destination's population, resulting in a Net Migration Index expressing potential population growth.

This list is headed by Singapore, which would experience population growth by +219%.

Among European countries, Switzerland would experience the highest growth, by +150%, followed by Sweden (+78%), Spain (+74%), Ireland (+66%), the United Kingdom (+62%) and France (+60%). The European countries with highest potential population loss are Kosovo and North Macedonia, with -28% each.Esipova, Ray and Srinivasan (2010), Appendix A, pp. 21–22.

• Demographics of Europe
• Emigration from Europe
• Free movement protocol
• Immigration to the Western world
• European migrant crisis
• List of sovereign states and dependent territories by immigrant population
• List of sovereign states and dependent territories by fertility rate
• Migration from Latin America to Europe
• Threats facing illegal immigrants
• Remigration

{{reflist}}

• [http://pcalefato.xoom.it/pcalefato/libri_vari.htm Calefato, Patrizia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616013245/http://pcalefato.xoom.it/pcalefato/libri_vari.htm |date=2015-06-16 }} (1994) [https://books.google.com/books?id=484imbeZVhcC Europa fenicia: identità linguistica, comunità, linguaggio come pratica sociale]
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{{Commons category}}

• [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Migration_and_migrant_population_statistics Eurostat - Migration and migrant population statistics]
• [http://www.wix.com/btrcameron/migrationmalta Migration in the Mediterranean Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406130026/http://www.wix.com/btrcameron/migrationmalta |date=2011-04-06 }}
• [http://www.lg2g.info/entry Legal Guide to Germany] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615212836/http://www.lg2g.info/entry |date=2015-06-15 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130326141600/http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/pages/the_asylum_process_made_simple.html Applying for Asylum in the UK - Overview]
• [http://www.w2eu.info/asylum.en.html How to Ask for Asylum in the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and elsewhere in Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611104512/http://w2eu.info/asylum.en.html |date=2015-06-11 }}
• [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Migration_and_migrant_population_statistics Eurostat - Statistics Explained: Migration and migrant population statistics] (data October 2011)
• [https://tunacionalidadespañola.es Legal Guide to Spain] (data March 2021)
• {{cite web|last=Claros|first=Eulalia|title=Migration in the EU|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/stspotlight/2013/130572/LDM_STS(2013)130572_REV1_EN.pdf|work=Library statistical spotlight|publisher=Library of the European Parliament|access-date=14 June 2013|ref=none}}

{{Immigration to Europe}}

{{European migrant crisis}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Immigration To Europe}}

Category:Demographics of Europe

Category:History of Europe

Category:Belarus–European Union relations

Category:Belarus–Poland border

Category:Belarus–Lithuania border

Category:Belarus–Latvia border

Category:Illegal immigration to Europe