France’s share of foreigners lower than in most EU countries

Foreigners legally residing in France but not holding French nationality count for 6 million, according to Insee. © AP - Aurelien Morissard

Six million foreigners live legally in France, new statistics show. Foreign residents made up just under 9 percent of the French population in 2024 – a proportion that remains below the European Union average.

Most of France's documented foreign residents are immigrants, with 5.1 million born abroad and 900,000, mainly minors, born to foreign parents in France.