Immigration Figures: Why the Invasion of France Isn’t a Fantasy
28th January 2026
The 2025 immigration figures for France have just been published, and, unsurprisingly, they paint a catastrophic picture, with a constant and sustained increase in arrivals on French territory. However, these figures only cover legal immigration: if we add estimates of illegal arrivals, it becomes clear that the feeling of being overwhelmed by an invasion experienced by many French people is not just a figment of their imagination.
France issued 384,230 first residence permits—valid for up to 12 months—last year, an increase of 11.2% over the previous year. This figure is essential because it is the ultimate indicator for measuring legal immigration, as Nicolas Pouvreau-Monti, director of the Observatory of Immigration and Demography, points out in an interview for Atlantico. It does not include renewals of residence permits, European foreigners, or minors, which means that it is actually a low estimate of the number of arrivals.
The increase, which is substantial over one year, is even more impressive from a long-term perspective. The number of residence permits granted in 2025 is about three times higher than the number of new residence permits granted 30 years ago.
Emmanuel Macron is not solely responsible for this situation. The increase in immigration began well before he came to power. However, there has been a clear acceleration since he took office.