The French Ministry of the Interior published immigration statistics for 2021
Among the 67.2 million French population, 5.1 million are foreigners, the Ministry of the Interior recalls the data of the last census in its statistical report on migration in the country in 2021. As reported by RFI, the report was published on June 20.
4.3 million people are foreigners born outside the country, another 800 thousand people are foreigners born on French territory. 2.5 million French citizens are former foreigners born abroad who received a French passport. Thus, according to the national statistics institute INSEE, the total number of foreigners and French citizens of foreign origin living in France is 6.8 million people.
270,925 people received their first residence permit in 2021. This number does not include citizens of Great Britain, who after the country's exit from the EU also need to apply for visas. The number of those who received a residence permit for the first time increased by 21.4% compared to 2020, with the largest numbers being people who came under family reunification procedures or to study at higher education institutions.
An analysis of issued residence permits shows that, compared to the previous year, in 2021 the number of people who came to France for family reunification increased by almost 13%, for economic reasons by more than 36%, and humanitarian and student visas were received by 20% more foreigners.
Last year, 104,381 people applied for asylum, which is 7% more compared to the previous year. At the same time, 139,510 cases were considered. This means that French officials managed to respond to requests sent back in 2020. Among the applicants, 35,919 people received a positive response (an increase of 72%). If we add to this the positive decisions of the Court of Asylum, a total of 54,379 people received it, which is 63.8% more compared to 2020.
130,385 people acquired French citizenship, which is 53.6% more than in the previous year. The countries from which the largest number of immigrants arrived in 2021 are Morocco (350,192 people), Algeria (25,753) and Tunisia (17,368), followed by Côte d'Ivoire and China.