All valid permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship on 31 December of each year by country
Countries reporting
41
Highest
5.94 million Person
Germany
Lowest
6,535 Person
Liechtenstein
Median
244,320 Person
Years covered
18
2008–2025
Data points
713
What the numbers show
All valid permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship on 31 December of each year is currently reported for 41 countries. The highest value is 5.94 million Person in Germany; the lowest is 6,535 Person in Liechtenstein.
The median across all reporting countries is 244,320 Person, and the mean is 851,981 Person.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 908.
Over the past decade 34 countries rose and 7 fell. The largest increase was in Malta (up 607.1%), and the largest decrease in Latvia (down 25.9%).
All valid permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship on 31: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 5.94 million Person | 2025 | up 57.8% | rising |
| 2 | France | 4.42 million Person | 2025 | up 67.8% | rising |
| 3 | Spain | 4.30 million Person | 2025 | up 66.2% | rising |
| 4 | Italy | 4.26 million Person | 2025 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 1.58 million Person | 2018 | down 3.2% | flat |
| 5 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 1.58 million Person | 2018 | down 3.2% | flat |
| 7 | Portugal | 1.12 million Person | 2025 | up 295.8% | volatile |
| 8 | Poland | 1.06 million Person | 2025 | up 110.6% | volatile |
| 8 | Poland | 1.06 million Person | 2025 | up 110.6% | volatile |
| 10 | Netherlands | 831,413 Person | 2025 | up 72.4% | rising |
| 10 | Netherlands | 831,413 Person | 2025 | up 72.4% | rising |
| 12 | Switzerland | 813,792 Person | 2025 | up 27.0% | rising |
| 13 | Greece | 713,407 Person | 2025 | up 25.7% | rising |
| 14 | Austria | 596,239 Person | 2025 | up 31.6% | rising |
| 15 | Belgium | 535,538 Person | 2025 | up 46.0% | rising |
| 16 | Czechia | 486,518 Person | 2025 | up 68.7% | rising |
| 17 | Sweden | 429,685 Person | 2025 | down 2.7% | rising |
| 18 | Denmark | 396,091 Person | 2025 | up 59.2% | rising |
| 19 | Ireland | 331,623 Person | 2025 | up 191.1% | rising |
| 20 | Finland | 274,966 Person | 2025 | up 150.8% | rising |
| 21 | Latvia | 244,320 Person | 2025 | down 25.9% | falling |
| 21 | Latvia | 244,320 Person | 2025 | down 25.9% | falling |
| 23 | Slovenia | 228,390 Person | 2025 | up 124.8% | rising |
| 23 | Slovenia | 228,390 Person | 2025 | up 124.8% | rising |
| 25 | Romania | 223,782 Person | 2025 | up 264.4% | volatile |
| 26 | Hungary | 211,288 Person | 2025 | up 364.7% | volatile |
| 27 | Cyprus | 200,652 Person | 2025 | up 324.3% | rising |
| 28 | Estonia | 187,350 Person | 2025 | down 3.0% | falling |
| 28 | Estonia | 187,350 Person | 2025 | down 3.0% | falling |
| 30 | Norway | 170,640 Person | 2025 | up 81.9% | rising |
| 31 | Slovakia | 161,007 Person | 2025 | up 372.0% | volatile |
| 31 | Slovakia | 161,007 Person | 2025 | up 372.0% | volatile |
| 33 | Lithuania | 158,277 Person | 2025 | up 343.6% | volatile |
| 33 | Lithuania | 158,277 Person | 2025 | up 343.6% | volatile |
| 35 | Croatia | 135,075 Person | 2025 | up 463.2% | volatile |
| 35 | Croatia | 135,075 Person | 2025 | up 463.2% | volatile |
| 37 | Bulgaria | 135,041 Person | 2025 | up 198.4% | volatile |
| 38 | Malta | 132,067 Person | 2025 | up 607.1% | volatile |
| 39 | Luxembourg | 68,865 Person | 2025 | up 100.6% | rising |
| 40 | Iceland | 15,502 Person | 2024 | up 339.5% | volatile |
| 41 | Liechtenstein | 6,535 Person | 2025 | up 4.3% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 26.55 million Person
- European Union - 28 countries (2013-2020) 21.45 million Person