Pakistanis in France

Pakistanis in France
Total population
	21,000 - 120,000 (estimate); in Overseas DOM-TOM Réunion, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique
Regions with significant populations
	DOM-TOM
Religion
	Islam
Related ethnic groups
	Overseas Pakistanis

Pakistanis in France, primarily of Punjabi origin from Punjab and Azad Kashmir. Large-scale Pakistani migration to France began in the 1970s; they clustered around the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, where many set up grocery stores and restaurants.^[3]

Quick Facts Total population, Regions with significant populations ...

According to the latest figures published by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, there were an estimated 104,000 Pakistanis living in France as of the year 2017.^[4]

According to the latest official statistics published by the French government, there were 24,305 Pakistani-born people living in the country in the year 2015,^[5] also there were 19,646 Pakistani nationals living in France in 2015.^[6]

Air France previously served Karachi airport until the mid-1990s and there is now demand for a return, especially given the comparable cities in North Africa more continuously served by this premium carrier.

Most Pakistanis in France are concentrated in the major cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, and Toulouse. They have settled in France for various reasons, including education, work opportunities, family reunification, and political asylum.^[7]

Education is a significant reason for Pakistani immigration to France. Many Pakistani students come to France to pursue higher education in fields like engineering, computer science, medicine, and business. They often enroll in prestigious French universities and institutions like the École Polytechnique, Sciences Po, and HEC Paris.^[8]