Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus has the highest share of refugees relative to its population among European Union member states, according to a report by the Rockwool Foundation published on Wednesday. The report says the EU’s foreign-born population is expected to reach about 64 million in 2025.
EU migration levels and concentration of arrivals
The report states that the EU is home to a record number of foreign-born residents, reaching approximately 64 million in 2025. It adds that the migration influx in absolute numbers is concentrated in Germany and Spain, which together accounted for nearly half of new arrivals in 2024.
Smaller states’ migration exposure
According to the report, smaller member states including Cyprus, Malta and Luxembourg record the highest overall migration exposure in relation to their population. Malta is reported to have the highest share of migrants at 57 per 1,000 people, followed by Cyprus at 39 per 1,000 inhabitants and Luxembourg at 36 per 1,000 people.
Refugee share and relative burden
The report says that while Malta has more migrants per 1,000 inhabitants than Cyprus, Cyprus has a higher refugee share per 1,000, at 4.8 per cent. This is higher than Germany’s 3.2 per cent, which the report describes as leading in absolute terms.
Immigrant share and policy implications
The report compares this with the total share of immigrants in the population, placing Cyprus at 28 per cent, Malta at 32 per cent, and Luxembourg at about 52 per cent. It describes the situation as a “cross-country asymmetry,” saying these differences translate into varying administrative burdens, political dynamics and policy constraints, and that refugee distribution reinforces these asymmetries.
EU responsibility-sharing debate
The report concludes that countries such as Cyprus carry a heavier burden relative to their population and says this imbalance is central to ongoing debates over responsibility-sharing within the EU.
How should EU responsibility-sharing be adjusted to reflect differences in relative migration and refugee burdens across member states?
