Study: Moroccan Immigrants Among Largest Foreign-Born Groups in France

Published on Thursday, May 22, this study on immigrants and foreigners in France provides information on their origin, number, and level of integration, based on the latest population census figures that take into account both people in irregular and legal situations on French territory. According to the study, 7.3 million immigrants lived in France in 2023 and represented 10.7% of the total population. Among them, 2.5 million, or 34%, have acquired French nationality. The study also indicates that France has 5.6 million foreigners, representing 8.2% of the total population.

In 2023, nearly half of the immigrants (47.7%) in France were from Africa, notably from Algeria (12.2%), Morocco (11.7%), Portugal (7.9%), Tunisia (4.8%), and Italy (3.9%). In 2022, out of the 331,000 immigrants who entered France, 12.2% came from Ukraine, due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, 6.4% from Algeria, and 6.2% from Morocco, the study highlights.

The majority of immigrants in France prefer to live in Île-de-France, notes Insee in its study. Specifically, 37% of them reside in the Paris region, particularly in Seine Saint-Denis where they represent a third of the population. Immigrants are also concentrated in Rhône and Bouches-du-Rhône, Pyrénées-Orientales, Haute-Garonne on the Spanish border, Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin on the German border, Ain and Haute-Savoie on the Swiss border, and Alpes-Maritimes on the Italian border. On the other hand, the immigrant population is less present in the northwest and center of France, notes the study.

In terms of integration, 71% of immigrants aged 15 to 64 were employed in 2023. The employment rate for immigrant women was 55%. In France, 11% of male immigrants and 12% of female immigrants are unemployed, reveals the study.