EU migrant population reaches record 64.2 million in 2025, driven by Germany and Spain
EU migrant population rose to 64.2 million in 2025, up 2.1 million from 2024. Germany and Spain drove the rise, Eurostat and UNHCR-based report finds.
The EU migrant population climbed to an unprecedented 64.2 million residents in 2025, according to a report by the Migration Research and Analysis Centre affiliated with Rockwool Berlin. The report, which draws on Eurostat and UNHCR data, says the total represents an increase of about 2.1 million people compared with 2024 and a sizable rise from roughly 40 million in 2010. Policymakers and service providers across the bloc are facing renewed pressure to adapt to changing demographic patterns and migration flows.
Record increase confirmed by EU and UN data
The Migration Research and Analysis Centre’s report synthesises national statistics and international datasets to arrive at the 64.2 million figure. The analysis explicitly references Eurostat population statistics and refugee figures from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The rise reflects both long-term migration trends and more recent shifts in asylum and labour movements across member states.
The report highlights that the increase is not uniform across the union, with some countries absorbing large absolute numbers while others show higher shares relative to their population. It also underscores that the composition of migrant populations—by age, employment status and legal status—varies substantially between states, affecting integration needs and public services.
Germany remains the main destination by numbers and workforce share
Germany continues to host the largest number of residents born abroad, with the report estimating about 18 million foreign-born people living there in 2025. Around 72 percent of those born abroad in Germany are of working age, according to the study, a factor that shapes labour market and social policy debates. Observers say Germany’s size, labour demand and established migrant communities continue to make it a primary destination within the EU.
The scale of Germany’s foreign-born population also contributes to the overall EU total and influences asylum reception and integration programmes. The report notes that Germany hosts the largest number of refugees in absolute terms, with about 2.7 million people registered as refugees across the country.
Spain posts the fastest recent growth among large states
Spain recorded the fastest recent increase in foreign-born residents among major EU countries, adding roughly 700,000 people to reach about 9.5 million foreign-born inhabitants. The report attributes Spain’s growth to a combination of returning migrants, new labour migration and rising asylum-seeking activity. This expansion has implications for regional labour markets and public service planning, especially in urban and coastal areas that have absorbed much of the growth.
Analysts cited in the study indicate that Spain’s recent policy shifts and economic recovery have made it a more attractive destination for both EU and non-EU migrants. The rapid rise has prompted calls for updated local integration strategies to address housing, education and employment needs.
Asylum requests concentrated in four member states
Asylum applications remain concentrated in a handful of countries, with Spain, Italy, France and Germany together receiving nearly three quarters of total requests reported in the study. The concentration of asylum claims is linked to geography, transit routes and national reception capacities, the report says. This imbalance places particular strain on frontline states that manage initial reception, registration and processing of applicants.
The study points to the need for better burden-sharing mechanisms across the union and for faster, more predictable procedures to manage flows. It also highlights differences in acceptance rates and legal frameworks that shape where asylum seekers ultimately apply and remain.
Smaller states show the highest migrant shares relative to population
While large states account for most of the absolute increase in migrant numbers, smaller EU countries such as Luxembourg, Malta and Cyprus register the highest proportions of foreign-born residents compared with their populations. These smaller states often have specialised labour markets or historic patterns of migration that result in higher per-capita migrant shares. The report suggests that such concentration can lead to distinct policy challenges, including managing seasonal labour, housing availability and multilingual education.
The varied distribution of migrants across member states underscores that a single EU-wide policy cannot address all local realities. The report calls for targeted measures that reflect demographic size, labour market needs and public service capacity in each country.
Economic and social implications
The demographic shift documented in the report has immediate implications for labour markets, public services and long-term demographic balance in the EU. A larger working-age migrant population can help address skill shortages and support ageing societies, but it also requires investments in training, language acquisition and credential recognition. Public services in education, health and housing will need scaling and adaptation where migrant numbers have risen quickly.
The report recommends coordinated EU support for integration and fairer distribution of asylum responsibilities, while stressing that national and local authorities will play a central role in implementation. It also notes that migration policy must be linked to labour, housing and social policy to manage the transition effectively.
The continued rise in the EU migrant population to 64.2 million in 2025 reflects complex and evolving movements within and into the union, highlighting both opportunities and operational challenges for governments and communities.