Why do we emigrate to France? In 2023, in a country where 7.3 million immigrants live, or 10.7% of the population, the majority say that they have been pushed by family reasons to leave their country. This is according to a series of studies published by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), on Thursday 29 August, based on the statements of immigrants aged between 18 and 59 who arrived in France at the age of 16 or older. However, the reasons for migration tend to diversify, favouring economic or student reasons.
Thus, immigrants from the African continent, who represent almost one in two immigrants in 2023 (48%), say that almost half of them (46%) have come to France to accompany or join a member of their family. This is even more true for immigrants from the Maghreb, 53% of whom cite family reasons.
This predominance of family motive is found among 43% of immigrants from Asia, which is the third continent of origin of immigrants in France, with 14% of the total, behind immigrants from the European continent (32% of the total).
“Renewal”
Europeans, on the other hand, 34%, say they have emigrated for family reasons, but the majority (37%) have left their country to look for work or improve their professional situation. “This is explained, in particular, by the fact that intra-EU migrants can work more easily in France.”says Pierre Tanneau, head of the INSEE immigration statistics and studies unit.
If we look more closely at Portuguese immigrants, who are the largest group after Algerians (890,000), with around 580,000 immigrants, 65% of them cite economic reasons, while this is the case for 44% of Italians and Spaniards. “Immigration from Southern Europe experienced a resurgence in the 2010s in a context of economic crisis”analyzes Pierre Tanneau.
Between 2009 and 2012, the number of immigrants from Spain or Portugal almost doubled, INSEE points out. If we look at the jobs held by Portuguese, who are the most numerous, it seems that they are overrepresented in certain professions. According to a study by the Department of Animation, Research, Studies and Statistics of the Ministry of Labour in 2021, 14% of domestic workers were born in Portugal; this is also the case for around 8% of construction workers or even 4.9% of guards and security agents.
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