Mapped: Europe’s Surging Migrant Population (2000–2024)

How Has Europe’s Migrant Population Changed Since 2000?

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.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

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.