EU orders more returns of non-EU citizens in late 2024, marking 24% year-on-year increase

The European Union saw a marked increase in the number of non-EU citizens returned to third countries in the final quarter of 2024, according to the latest data released by Eurostat.

Between October and December 2024, a total of 124,935 non-EU citizens were ordered to leave EU territory. Of these, 28,630 individuals were returned to third countries following an official return order. This represents an 11.5% rise in orders to leave compared to the previous quarter and a 3.3% increase in actual returns. Year-on-year, the figures are even more striking, with the number of returns up by 24.3% and the number of orders to leave rising by 16.3%.

Algerian citizens accounted for the highest number of return orders in the fourth quarter, with 11,362 cases. They were followed by citizens of Syria (8,674) and Morocco (8,561). In terms of those actually returned to third countries, the largest groups were from Georgia (3,351), Türkiye (2,492), and Albania (1,982).

France issued the most return orders among EU member states, with 31,880 non-EU citizens instructed to leave. Spain followed with 18,645 orders, while Germany issued 15,135. When it came to actual returns, Germany topped the list with 6,170 individuals returned, ahead of France (3,705) and Sweden (2,600).

The figures reflect ongoing efforts by EU countries to manage migration flows and enforce return decisions more effectively, amid broader debates on migration policy across the bloc.

Source: Eurostat