Corsica population born outside the island 2023 INSEE study, Digi Mart USA News: In 2023, Corsica had 355,500 inhabitants, of whom 160,300 were born outside the island, or 45% of the island’s population, according to the study.
Between 2015 and 2025, Corsica gained 32,900 inhabitants, an increase of 1% per year, a pace three times higher than the national rate observed across France, INSEE adds.
This population growth is essentially driven by arrivals to the island, as the natural balance is negative, meaning there are more deaths than births, INSEE specifies.
The Mediterranean island ranks among the most attractive territories in France, with PACA (48%), Occitanie (45%) and Île-de-France (44%) also showing high shares of residents born elsewhere. Conversely, in the Hauts-de-France and Grand Est regions, fewer than one resident in five was born outside the region.
Those arriving on the island are mainly working-age adults, with 50% aged between 30 and 59, and often hold higher qualifications: 34% have a higher education diploma, 8 points more than people born in Corsica. Among these arrivals, 16% hold management positions.
In detail, seven out of ten non-natives in Corsica were born elsewhere in France, including 20% from PACA and 16% from Île-de-France. The 30% of Corsican residents born abroad, or 48,000 people, come mainly from Morocco and Portugal, a figure that has declined from 34% in 2013.
Conversely, 21% of people born in Corsica have moved away from the island, or 52,100 people, most of whom are found in PACA (35%) and Île-de-France.
Finally, of all people arriving on the island each year, 11.5% are natives of Corsica, often students returning after their studies.
