How Has Europe’s Migrant Population Changed Since 2000?
Key Takeaways:
- Europe’s resident migrant population grew by 40.8 million, or 67%, between 2000 and 2024.
- The UK added the most migrants in absolute terms (7.1 million), followed by Spain (6.8 million) and Germany (6.4 million).
- Malta recorded the largest percentage increase (827%), while Bosnia and Herzegovina saw the steepest decline (-59%).
Europe’s migrant population has expanded significantly since 2000, reshaping labor markets and demographics across the continent.
This visualization uses United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) estimates to compare resident migrant populations between July 2000 and July 2024. Depending on country-level definitions, the estimates may include refugees, asylum seekers, and naturalized residents.
The figures measure changes in the number of migrants living in each country, rather than cumulative arrivals or net migration flows.
Which European Countries Added the Most Migrants?
The following table ranks European countries by the absolute increase in their resident migrant populations:
| Rank | Country | Migrant Population | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2024 | Growth | ||
| 1 | UK | 4,747,902 | 11,845,479 | 7,097,577 |
| 2 | Spain | 2,023,886 | 8,870,527 | 6,846,641 |
| 3 | Germany | 10,397,459 | 16,750,084 | 6,352,625 |
| 4 | Türkiye | 1,279,019 | 7,083,501 | 5,804,482 |
| 5 | Italy | 2,143,259 | 6,553,671 | 4,410,412 |
| 6 | France | 6,141,350 | 9,186,757 | 3,045,407 |
| 7 | Austria | 920,045 | 2,327,064 | 1,407,019 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 1,584,638 | 2,956,518 | 1,371,880 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 1,484,514 | 2,773,840 | 1,289,326 |
| 10 | Belgium | 1,076,676 | 2,349,032 | 1,272,356 |
| 11 | Sweden | 1,022,156 | 2,272,158 | 1,250,002 |
| 12 | Poland | 822,627 | 1,739,901 | 917,274 |
| 13 | Ireland | 376,321 | 1,216,237 | 839,916 |
| 14 | Norway | 292,440 | 1,012,404 | 719,964 |
| 15 | Romania | 134,204 | 655,579 | 521,375 |
| 16 | Portugal | 651,472 | 1,127,184 | 475,712 |
| 17 | Denmark | 372,128 | 847,475 | 475,347 |
| 18 | Hungary | 296,957 | 689,565 | 392,608 |
| 19 | Czechia | 639,018 | 1,025,199 | 386,181 |
| 20 | Finland | 136,203 | 514,432 | 378,229 |
| 21 | Greece | 1,111,665 | 1,423,964 | 312,299 |
| 22 | Bulgaria | 43,360 | 299,100 | 255,740 |
| 23 | Slovakia | 116,376 | 323,991 | 207,615 |
| 24 | Luxembourg | 139,750 | 344,309 | 204,559 |
| 25 | Malta | 21,521 | 199,466 | 177,945 |
| 26 | Cyprus | 80,076 | 202,062 | 121,986 |
| 27 | Slovenia | 214,508 | 315,122 | 100,614 |
| 28 | Iceland | 15,892 | 98,818 | 82,926 |
| 29 | North Macedonia | 125,665 | 150,902 | 25,237 |
| 30 | Montenegro | 73,743 | 92,237 | 18,494 |
| 31 | Liechtenstein | 15,483 | 27,669 | 12,186 |
| 32 | Monaco | 21,787 | 27,106 | 5,319 |
| 33 | Albania | 76,695 | 46,377 | -30,318 |
| 34 | Lithuania | 214,311 | 175,194 | -39,117 |
| 35 | Estonia | 249,512 | 203,046 | -46,466 |
| 36 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 82,952 | 34,120 | -48,832 |
| 37 | Croatia | 585,298 | 527,831 | -57,467 |
| 38 | Moldova | 250,134 | 188,207 | -61,927 |
| 39 | Belarus | 1,123,586 | 1,054,604 | -68,982 |
| 40 | Latvia | 430,178 | 220,471 | -209,707 |
| 41 | Ukraine | 5,527,087 | 5,064,173 | -462,914 |
| 42 | Serbia | 1,419,951 | 712,550 | -707,401 |
| 43 | Russia | 11,900,297 | 7,605,774 | -4,294,523 |
Together, the UK, Spain, and Germany accounted for nearly half of Europe’s total increase, adding approximately 20.4 million migrants.
However, the percentage rankings tell a different story. Smaller countries recorded some of the largest proportional gains, led by Malta (+827%), Bulgaria (+590%), and Iceland (+522%).
| Rank | Country | Growth in resident migrant population %(2000-2024) | Change (people) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malta | 826.8 | 177,945 |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 589.8 | 255,740 |
| 3 | Iceland | 521.8 | 82,926 |
| 4 | Türkiye | 453.8 | 5,804,482 |
| 5 | Romania | 388.5 | 521,375 |
| 6 | Spain | 338.3 | 6,846,641 |
| 7 | Finland | 277.7 | 378,229 |
| 8 | Norway | 246.2 | 719,964 |
| 9 | Ireland | 223.2 | 839,916 |
| 10 | Italy | 205.8 | 4,410,412 |
| 11 | Slovakia | 178.4 | 207,615 |
| 12 | Austria | 152.9 | 1,407,019 |
| 13 | Cyprus | 152.3 | 121,986 |
| 14 | UK | 149.5 | 7,097,577 |
| 15 | Luxembourg | 146.4 | 204,559 |
| 16 | Hungary | 132.2 | 392,608 |
| 17 | Denmark | 127.7 | 475,347 |
| 18 | Sweden | 122.3 | 1,250,002 |
| 19 | Belgium | 118.2 | 1,272,356 |
| 20 | Poland | 111.5 | 917,274 |
| 21 | Switzerland | 86.9 | 1,289,326 |
| 22 | Netherlands | 86.6 | 1,371,880 |
| 23 | Liechtenstein | 78.7 | 12,186 |
| 24 | Portugal | 73 | 475,712 |
| 25 | Germany | 61.1 | 6,352,625 |
| 26 | Czechia | 60.4 | 386,181 |
| 27 | France | 49.6 | 3,045,407 |
| 28 | Slovenia | 46.9 | 100,614 |
| 29 | Greece | 28.1 | 312,299 |
| 30 | Montenegro | 25.1 | 18,494 |
| 31 | Monaco | 24.4 | 5,319 |
| 32 | North Macedonia | 20.1 | 25,237 |
| 33 | Belarus | -6.1 | -68,982 |
| 34 | Ukraine | -8.4 | -462,914 |
| 35 | Croatia | -9.8 | -57,467 |
| 36 | Lithuania | -18.3 | -39,117 |
| 37 | Estonia | -18.6 | -46,466 |
| 38 | Moldova | -24.8 | -61,927 |
| 39 | Russia | -36.1 | -4,294,523 |
| 40 | Albania | -39.5 | -30,318 |
| 41 | Latvia | -48.7 | -209,707 |
| 42 | Serbia | -49.8 | -707,401 |
| 43 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | -58.9 | -48,832 |
Spain’s migrant population more than quadrupled, partly reflecting its early-2000s construction boom and a 2005 regularization program that attracted nearly 700,000 applications.
Meanwhile, the UK’s migrant population rose 149% over the period. More recently, however, migration trends have shifted. According to the Office for National Statistics, annual net migration fell to 171,000 in 2025, following tighter visa rules.
Not every country experienced growth. Russia recorded the largest absolute decline, with its resident migrant population falling by approximately 4.3 million. Serbia, Ukraine, and several other Eastern European countries also recorded decreases.
Why Has Europe Become a Migration Hub?
Economic opportunities, EU freedom of movement, family reunification, and humanitarian protection have all contributed to Europe’s growing migrant population.
An aging workforce has also increased demand for foreign workers in healthcare, construction, and hospitality. These pressures help explain broader immigration trends across developed economies.
Conflicts have also reshaped migration patterns, particularly the Syrian refugee crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
What Does Rising Immigration Mean for Europe?
Immigration can ease labor shortages, expand the tax base, and help offset demographic decline. However, rapid population growth can also strain housing, schools, and public services, especially when infrastructure fails to keep pace.
Policies governing work permits, housing, language training, and recognition of foreign qualifications help determine how successfully newcomers integrate. These challenges are particularly relevant as some countries also experience heightened emigration among their native-born populations.
Ultimately, Europe’s migration story is not simply about attracting more people, but about how effectively countries accommodate and integrate them.
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To explore migration beyond Europe, see The Top 15 Sources of U.S. Immigrants on Voronoi, which highlights the countries shaping America’s immigrant population.