Corsica's population includes many born elsewhere

One out of every two residents of Corsica was born outside the island, according to a study by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee). The study, published on Tuesday, is based on data from the 2023 population census, compared with 2013, and focuses on the residents of Corsica and their place of birth.

45% of Corsica's residents were born outside the island

The study shows that 45% of residents were born outside the island. This situation, according to Insee, can be explained by the attractiveness of Corsica. "Corsica is not an isolated case," says Rachel Massiani, a study officer.

Other French regions and areas also have high non-native populations

The proportion of non-natives is also significant in the PACA region (48%), Occitanie (45%) and Île-de-France (44%), which are attractive territories, and where, in fact, the proportion of non-natives is relatively high. Conversely, less than one in five people living in Hauts-de-France or Grand Est are non-native to the region.

Most non-natives in Corsica come from other French regions

In detail, 70% of non-natives in Corsica were born in another French region, such as the PACA region (31,700 people), Île-de-France (25,000 people), the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (9,800 people) and Occitanie (7,500 people). "These four regions account for 50% of the non-natives living in Corsica," specifies the Insee study officer.

Some non-natives in Corsica were born abroad

On the other hand, 30% of non-natives in Corsica were born abroad, mainly in Morocco and Portugal. "If the proportion of non-natives in Corsica and born in another region is fairly similar between Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud, there is still a small distinction in the proportion of people born abroad between Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud," details Rachel Massiani.

Moroccans and Portuguese differ in their presence in Corsica

"Moroccans are thus more present in Haute-Corse than in Corse-du-Sud (30% versus 22%), and conversely, Portuguese are more present in Corse-du-Sud than in Haute-Corse (21% versus 13%)." The study also shows that non-natives are more often of working age and their arrivals are often linked to employment.

Non-natives in Corsica are more likely to be working age

Thus, 55% of native Corsican residents are of working age, compared to 66% of non-natives. These workers, according to Insee, are mainly employed: 69% coming from another region and 62% born abroad.

Non-natives have higher education levels in Corsica

"Non-natives from another French region also have higher educational qualifications. 34% of them have a higher education degree, eight points more than natives. 16% are managers, and 27% hold intermediate professions." Conversely, natives of Corsica are more represented among employees and farmers.

Non-natives from abroad are more likely to be workers

People born abroad, on the other hand, more often occupy worker jobs (41%), compared to 15% of native Corsicans. Finally, the Insee study also looked at native Corsicans living in another French region, representing 52,100 people.

Some native Corsicans live elsewhere in France

Most of them live in the PACA region (18,400 people) or Île-de-France (9,600 people). In addition, out of the 7,300 arrivals in 2023, 11.5% were born on the island, many of them young people aged between 20 and 29 years "who completed their studies and their first experiences outside the island and who are returning to live in Corsica."