France Sends Home the Most Non-EU Citizens in 2024

Charlie News & Events 22 April 2025 | Updated On April 24, 2025 | 0

France has once again topped the list of European countries ordering non-EU nationals to leave its territory, according to the latest figures from Eurostat, the EU’s statistics agency.

In 2024, a total of 453,920 people were told to leave EU countries, a 4% increase compared to 2023. In the final three months of the year alone, 124,935 people received such orders, up 16% from the same period the year before.

France issued 128,250 orders to non-EU citizens in 2024. While it’s the highest number in the EU, it’s slightly lower than the 137,880 orders it gave in 2023.

Following France:

Germany gave 57,080 orders (up 27% from 2023)
Spain gave 51,030 orders — a huge jump from just 10,645 the year before

These three countries were responsible for over half of all the leave orders in the EU last year.

Other countries included:

Italy: 27,975
Belgium: 26,075
Netherlands: 19,075
Sweden: 17,015
Denmark: 2,170

Outside the EU:

Norway expelled 3,640 people (down from 4,035 in 2023)
Switzerland expelled 8,465 (up from 3,920)

British Citizens In the EU After Brexit

The number of British citizens ordered to leave remained steady at 1,075, mostly in:

Netherlands (275)
Sweden (190)
Norway (190)

In the last quarter of 2024, the most common nationalities told to leave were from:

Algeria
Syria
Morocco
Afghanistan
Türkiye

In the final three months of 2024, 28,630 people were actually returned to non-EU countries — up 24% from the same period in 2023. Most returns happened in Germany, France, and Sweden.

The largest groups returned were from:

Georgia
Türkiye
Albania

Over half of the returns (57%) were voluntary, while 43% were forced. In Italy and Romania, all returns were forced. In Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, over 90% of returns were voluntary.

As migration remains a key issue across Europe, the latest figures from Eurostat highlight growing enforcement efforts by EU countries. With France, Germany, and Spain leading in removal orders, the data also sheds light on shifting migration patterns and enforcement practices. As policies evolve, so too will the challenges around managing migration across the continent.

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