EU Migration Surges in 2025 as 2.1 Million More Arrive
EU Migration Reaches Record 64.2 Million in 2025, with Germany Hosting the Largest Share
The number of migrants living in EU countries hit a record high of 64.2 million in 2025, an increase of roughly 2.1 million from the previous year, according to a report by the Berlin office of the Danish nonprofit Rockwool Foundation. Germany remains the bloc's top destination, home to nearly 18 million foreign nationals.
The findings, based on data from Eurostat and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), show that while migration grew by about 2.1 million in 2025, the pace slowed compared to the 2023–2024 period, when the increase was 2.6 million.
Germany hosts the largest migrant population in the EU—nearly 18 million, with about 72% of working age—followed by France (9.6 million). Spain saw a sharp rise, with its migrant population growing by roughly 700,000 over the year to reach 9.5 million. Italy, meanwhile, had 6.9 million migrants by the end of 2025.
The report highlights uneven distribution across the EU, with Luxembourg (52% of its population), Malta (32%), and Cyprus (28%) recording the highest shares of migrants relative to total population.
Spain, Italy, France, and Germany bore the brunt of asylum applications, processing nearly three-quarters of all requests. Germany accepted the most refugees in 2025—around 2.7 million—followed by France (approximately 751,000), Spain (471,000), and the Czech Republic (381,000).
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