We have the pleasure to inform you that the Prague Process has introduced the regular update of the country factsheets, now featuring the latest migration-related trends and policy developments in Austria, France and Kosovo*.
Here are a couple of highlights that offer a glimpse into recent developments. Explore the full version of the factsheets to review the detailed analysis and data.
Austria: Migration redefines workforce
- In January 2025, around 20.2% (some 1,855 million) of Austria’s population were foreign citizens, with largest groups coming from Germany, Romania, Türkiye, Serbia and Hungary.
- Austria’s foreign workforce shows a polarised qualification structure, with many having either very high or very low levels of formal education. In 2024, the share of employees with only primary education was significantly higher among foreigners (18%) compared to Austrians (7%).
- Austria has also experienced a notable rise in the number of foreign students. Over the past three decades, their number has more than tripled, rising from around 27,000 in the mid-1990s to over 87,300 in 2023/2024.
France: Migration drives population growth
- Migration has become the main driver of demographic growth, with the immigrant population totalling 7,3 million (10.7% of the population). In 2023, 47.7% of immigrants in France were born in an African country, with 28.7% originating from the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia).
- The largest communities of French nationals are found in Switzerland (171,884), the United States (159,357), the United Kingdom (141,065), Belgium (123,226), and Canada (118,772), together representing 40.5 % of all French abroad.
- In 2024, France detailed 147,156 foreigners nationals for irregular stay, an 18.9% increase compared to 2023. Sharp rises were observed among nationals of Sudan (+108.1%), Eritrea (+73.4%), and Mali (+74.1%) reflecting changing irregular migration flows from the Horn of Africa and West Africa.
Kosovo*: Worker shortages as migration abroad surges
- The Republic of Kosovo*, with a population of 1,585,590 in 2024, is characterized by a predominantly young demographic and high emigration rates. National estimates from 2023 indicate that 359,244 Kosovars – about 22.6% of the population – lived abroad.
- Asylum applications of Kosovars in the EU have climbed from 1,515 first time applications in 2020 to a peak of 5,635 applications in 2024, with more than half of them in France and 30% in Germany. The 143.9% surge from 2023 to 2024 may be linked to visa liberalisation introduced in January 2024.
- Labour shortages caused by the large-scale emigration of Kosovars have driven growing demand for foreign workers, particularly in the construction sector. While Turkish nationals remained the largest group of foreign workers in 2023, holding over 1,000 temporary work permits, labour migration from Bangladesh has surged dramatically – from as few as four permits in 2021 to over 700 permits in 2023 – making Bangladeshis the second-largest group of temporary workers after Turks.
All the factsheets can be accessed through the interactive map here.
The factsheets offer concise and valuable insights in the migration landscape of these countries, providing data from both national and international sources. They also highlight key developments in migration policies and legislation. While the national data is updated by the Secretariat and ICMPD colleagues as well as external experts, the data from international sources is refreshed automatically as it becomes available.
Our Repository contains the latest publications of the Migration Observatory and Training Academy of the Prague Process.
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*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
