The Maghreb helps France avoid population decline

The figures from the Ined are clear: without a positive migration balance of 152,000 people, the demographic curve would be close to stagnation. Immigration is now the main bulwark against the aging of the population. According to Insee, France has 7.7 million immigrants, one third of whom have acquired French nationality. While the Maghreb and Southern Europe still dominate the origins - with Algeria and Morocco in the lead, followed by Portugal, Tunisia and Italy - their relative weight is gradually diminishing in favor of increased diversification.

This evolution is largely explained by international current events. The new arrivals, numbering 347,000 in 2023, reflect global geopolitical crises, as illustrated by the peaks in entries linked to the war in Ukraine or the situation in Afghanistan. Another underlying trend noted by statisticians is the changing sociological profile of these new entrants, with a constantly rising level of qualification and degree.