Europe | Immigration Trends in the EU

Summary

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, immigration has become a key factor in Europe, but its impact has been uneven across countries. This report analyzes recent trends in immigration to the EU, its main features, and differences in its contribution to economic growth and employment.

Key points

• Key points:
• Europe is experiencing one of the largest post-Covid immigration surges. The migrant stock has increased by 11 million (+13%) since 2020, with annual inflows to the EU-27 reaching exceptionally high levels—around 6.2 million in 2022–24, 2.5 million above the pre-pandemic average.
• The increase is broad-based but highly concentrated. Spain and Germany account for half of the rise in inflows in 2022–24, driven by Latin America and Ukraine, respectively. Portugal and the Netherlands have also recorded strong inflows, while Italy and France have seen more modest gains.
• Immigration is supporting economic growth and offsetting demographic pressures. The increase in the foreign-born working-age population has more than compensated for the decline among natives, accounting for around 40% of EU GDP growth in recent years. Without immigration, labour forces would have declined in most countries.
• Migrants are also increasingly central to job creation. Their rising labour market participation accounts for 67% of total employment growth in the EU between 2022 and 2025, with a particularly strong impact in countries such as Germany and Portugal. By contrast, employment growth in France and Italy is driven mainly by natives, while Spain remains broadly in line with the EU average.
• Working-age immigrants are younger than natives, though gradually ageing, and increasingly skilled. In the EU, 47% are aged 25–49 (compared with 30% of natives), and the share of highly educated workers exceeds 30%, although with significant differences across countries.

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