France's national statistics agency INSEE reported Tuesday that foreigners make up just 8.8% of the country's population, about 6 million people, in 2024, a lower share than the European Union average and less alarming than some claims have suggested.
Among these foreigners, around 900,000, mainly minors, were born in France, while the majority, 5.1 million, were born abroad.
This proportion remains below the European average of 9.6%, as well as below the figures recorded in Italy (8.9%), Spain (13.4%), Belgium (13.8%), and Germany (14.5%), INSEE noted, citing data from the European statistical agency Eurostat.
France also has a smaller share of non-European foreigners, 2.3% of its total population, compared to 2.4% in Italy, 5.3% in Germany and 8.4% in Belgium, according to the same source.
"The nationalities of foreigners living in France have diversified over time," the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies observed.
