In 2023, the population share with a migrant background in the wider sense was almost 30 percent. According to the source, a person is considered to have a migrant background when they or at least one parent do not have German citizenship by law. This definition includes the following:1. Immigrated and non-immigrated foreigners.2. Immigrated and non-immigrated naturalized citizens.3. Late emigrants.4. Descendants born with German citizenship within the three groups named above.

In 2023, around 1.93 million people immigrated to Germany. Numbers fluctuated during the time period covered in the graph at hand, peaking in 2015 during the high point of Europe’s refugee crisis. Significantly lower figures in 2020 may be attributed to the first year of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and subsequent restrictions implemented by the German government on entering the country, in order to control the spread of the disease. Immigration to Germany “Immigrant” is a term used from the point of view of the receiving country, or the country being migrated to by a person. While reasons for and circumstances leading to an immigrant entering a foreign country may vary, they often include love, include seeking residence, employment, family reunions, or applying for asylum. Various countries are represented among foreigners living in Germany, though currently the leading three by numbers are Turkey, Ukraine, and Syria. Around 5.2 million immigrants living in Germany do not need a residence permit due to having EU citizenship, and therefore being allowed freedom of movement based on EU law. Another 2.64 million immigrants were granted an unlimited permit to stay in Germany. The near future Germany remains a popular choice for immigrants, even in currently challenging economic and political times. Welfare benefits, healthcare, and various support initiatives for those moving to or arriving in the country are on the list of selling points, though in practice, difficulties may be encountered depending on individual situations and laws in different German federal states. While the unemployment rate among foreigners living in Germany had gone up in 2020, it dropped again in the following years, but increased once more in 2023 and 2024 to over 16 percent. The country is Europe’s largest economy, housing many global players in various industries, which continues to attract jobseekers, despite these very industries facing struggles of their own brought on both by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and geopolitical events in Europe.

Germany immigration statistics for 2015 was 12,005,690, a 3.45% increase from 2010.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Germany immigration statistics for 2010 was <strong>11,605,690</strong>, a <strong>12.69% increase</strong> from 2005.</li>
<li>Germany immigration statistics for 2005 was <strong>10,299,160</strong>, a <strong>14.53% increase</strong> from 2000.</li>
<li>Germany immigration statistics for 2000 was <strong>8,992,631</strong>, a <strong>20.47% increase</strong> from 1995.</li>
</ul>International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.

Germany DE: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data was reported at 14.879 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 14.429 % for 2010. Germany DE: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 11.828 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.879 % in 2015 and a record low of 7.518 % in 1990. Germany DE: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.;United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2008 Revision.;Weighted average;

Germany DE: Net Migration data was reported at 36,954.000 Person in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 609,553.000 Person for 2023. Germany DE: Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging 212,822.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2024, with 65 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,175,283.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of -754,469.000 Person in 1998. Germany DE: Net Migration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Sum;

Germany - Foreign-born population was 16881323.00 in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Germany - Foreign-born population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, Germany - Foreign-born population reached a record high of 16881323.00 in December of 2024 and a record low of 8935603.00 in December of 2011.

Sources: Scientific Publications; official Statistics:

Max Broesike (1904), Rückblick auf die Entwicklung der preußischen Bevölkerung von 1875 bis 1900, Preußische Statistik 188, S. 12-14.

Elsner/Lehmann (1988): Ausländische Arbeiter unter dem deutschen Imperialismus, 1900 bis 1985. Berlin: Dietz Verlag.

Hubert, Michel (1998): Deutschland im Wandel. Geschichte der deutschen Bevölkerung seit 1815. Stuttgart: Steiner.

Köbler, Gerhard (2007): Historisches Lexikon der deutschen Länder. Die deutschen Territorien vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart. München: Beck.

Königlich Preußisches Statistisches Landesamt: Statistisches Jahrbuch für den Preußischen Staat, 13. Jahrgang, Berlin 1916 und 16. Jahrgang, Berlin 1920.

Königlich Statistisches Bureau in Berlin: Preußische Statistik (Amtliches Quellenwerk), Heft 139. Die Sterblichkeit nach Todesursachen und Altersklassen der Gestorbenen sowie die Selbstmorde und die tödlichen Verunglückungen im preußischen Staate während des Jahres 1894. Berlin, 1896.

Königlich Statistisches Bureau in Berlin: Preußische Statistik, Heft 188: Rückblick auf die Entwicklung der preußischen Bevölkerung von 1875 bis 1900. Berlin, 1904, S. 105.

Oltmer, Jochen (2005): Migration und Politik in der Weimarer Republik. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck&Ruprecht.

Preußisches Statistisches Landesamt: Statistisches Jahrbuch für den Freistaat Preußen, Statistisches Jahrbuch für den Freistaat Preußen, 17. Band, 1921 und 29. Band, 1933.

Stat. Bundesamt (Hrsg.): Bevölkerung und Erwerbstätigkeit. Fachserie 1, Reihe 2. Ausländische Bevölkerung. Ausgabe 2013, S. 26, Tabelle 1.

Stat. Reichsamt (Hrsg.): Statistisches Jahrbuch für das Deutsche Reich, verschiedene Jahrgänge: Jg. 1880 bis Jg. 1941/42.

Stat. Reichsamt (Hrsg.): Statistik des Deutschen Reichs: Band 360, Band 393, Band 441.

Trevisiol, O.: Die Einbürgerungspraxis im Deutschen Reich 1871-1945. Diss. 2004. Tab. 1, S. 20 und Tab. 4, S. 24. KOPS – Das institutionelle Repositorium der Universität Konstanz, Suche im Bestand ‘Geschichte und Soziologie‘, WEB: http://d-nb.info/974206237/34

Further literature

Bade, Klaus J. (2002): Europa in Bewegung. Migration vom späten 18. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart. München: Beck.

Gosewinkel, Dieter (2001): Einbürgern und Ausschließen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

Oltmer, Jochen (2012): Globale Migration. Geschichte und Gegenwart. München: Beck.

Oltmer, Jochen (2013): Migration im 19. Und 20. Jahrhundert. München: Oldenbourg.

wikipedia.org

In 2023, **** percent of Berlin's population were foreigners. Therefore, among all German federal states, Berlin had the highest foreigner share, followed by Bremen and Hamburg. On the other side of the spectrum, only ***** percent of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were non-Germans.

Germany: Migrant population, percent of total population: The latest value from 2015 is 15 percent, an increase from 14 percent in 2010. In comparison, the world average is 10 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Germany from 1990 to 2015 is 12 percent. The minimum value, 8 percent, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 15 percent was recorded in 2015.

In 2023, almost 2.1 million people with a migration background aged 30 to 34 were living in Germany. According to the source, a person is considered as having a migration background when they or at least one parent do not have German citizenship by law. This definition includes the following:1. Immigrated and non-immigrated foreigners.2. Immigrated and non-immigrated naturalized citizens.3. Late emigrants.4. Descendants born with German citizenship within the three groups named above.

Germany FSO Projection: Population: High Life Expectancy & Immigration Trend data was reported at 74,753.000 Person th in 2060. This records a decrease from the previous number of 75,011.000 Person th for 2059. Germany FSO Projection: Population: High Life Expectancy & Immigration Trend data is updated yearly, averaging 80,273.000 Person th from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2060, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82,039.000 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 74,753.000 Person th in 2060. Germany FSO Projection: Population: High Life Expectancy & Immigration Trend data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Statistics Office Germany. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G003: Population: Projection: Federal Statistics Office Germany.

(also referred to as external migration balance per 1000 German inhabitants)

Difference between German non-urban residents (main residence) of the corresponding category and those who moved away (main residence) of the corresponding category per 1 000 German main residents (middle German main residence population in the calendar year) of the corresponding category.

Only extra-urban (beyond the city limits of Munich) immigrants and emigrants are taken into account.

Please refer to Data descriptions (PDF file).

Information on the indicator atlas

Germany DE: International Migrant Stock: Total data was reported at 12,005,690.000 Person in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 11,605,690.000 Person for 2010. Germany DE: International Migrant Stock: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 9,645,895.500 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12,005,690.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 5,936,181.000 Person in 1990. Germany DE: International Migrant Stock: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.;United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2012 Revision.;Sum;

Germany Registered Unemployment Rate: Foreigners data was reported at 15.400 % in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.600 % for Mar 2025. Germany Registered Unemployment Rate: Foreigners data is updated monthly, averaging 14.800 % from May 2007 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 216 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.800 % in May 2007 and a record low of 11.500 % in May 2022. Germany Registered Unemployment Rate: Foreigners data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Employment Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G021: Registered Unemployment Rate.

Graph and download economic data for Percentage of Foreign Bank Assets Among Total Bank Assets for Germany (DDOI14DEA156NWDB) from 2005 to 2013 about foreign, Germany, percent, assets, banks, and depository institutions.

Norway Immigration: Europe: Germany data was reported at 1,403.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,534.000 Person for 2016. Norway Immigration: Europe: Germany data is updated yearly, averaging 897.000 Person from Dec 1967 (Median) to 2017, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,580.000 Person in 2008 and a record low of 580.000 Person in 1979. Norway Immigration: Europe: Germany data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Norway. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.G006: Immigration: by Country.

In 2023, there were around 12 million employed people with a migration background living in Germany. According to the source, a person is considered as having a migration background when they or at least one parent do not have German citizenship by law. This definition includes the following:1. Immigrated and non-immigrated foreigners.2. Immigrated and non-immigrated naturalized citizens.3. Late emigrants.4. Descendants born with German citizenship within the three groups named above.

Germany FSO Projection: Population: Higher Immigration Based Trend data was reported at 73,079.000 Person th in 2060. This records a decrease from the previous number of 73,364.000 Person th for 2059. Germany FSO Projection: Population: Higher Immigration Based Trend data is updated yearly, averaging 79,592.000 Person th from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2060, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 81,953.000 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 73,079.000 Person th in 2060. Germany FSO Projection: Population: Higher Immigration Based Trend data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Statistics Office Germany. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G002: Population: Projection: Federal Statistics Office Germany.

Historical dataset showing Germany immigration statistics by year from 1990 to 2015.

Germany FSO Projection: Population: Lower Immigration Based Trend data was reported at 67,563.000 Person th in 2060. This records a decrease from the previous number of 67,979.000 Person th for 2059. Germany FSO Projection: Population: Lower Immigration Based Trend data is updated yearly, averaging 77,026.000 Person th from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2060, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 81,573.000 Person th in 2018 and a record low of 67,563.000 Person th in 2060. Germany FSO Projection: Population: Lower Immigration Based Trend data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Statistics Office Germany. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G002: Population: Projection: Federal Statistics Office Germany.