Returns to third countries up by 13% in Q4 2025

In the fourth quarter of 2025, 117 545 non-EU citizens were ordered to leave an EU country, and 33 860 people were returned to third countries following an order to leave.

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, the number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave went down by 6.1%, while the number of people returned to third countries increased by 13.0%.

In comparison with the previous quarter, the number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave decreased by 4.4%, while the number of people returned to third countries declined by 0.9%.

Source datasets: migr_eiord1 and migr_eirtn1

Among non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country in the fourth quarter of 2025, most were citizens of Algeria (12 455), followed by Morocco (7 385) and Türkiye (5 225). Regarding those returned to third countries, most were citizens of Türkiye (3 155), followed by Georgia (2 390) and Syria (2 105).

Among EU countries, the highest numbers of non-EU citizens ordered to leave were recorded in France (34 040), Spain (12 380) and Germany (10 720).

Additionally, Germany (7 690), France (3 800) and Sweden (2 870) recorded the highest numbers of people returned to third countries.

Source datasets: migr_eiord1 and migr_eirtn1