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.

The largest number of immigrants in Germany were from Ukraine, as of 2023. The top three origin countries were rounded up by Romania and Turkey. Immigrants are defined as having left a country, which may be their home country, to permanently reside in another. Upon arriving, immigrants do not hold the citizenship of the country they move to. Immigration in the EU All three aforementioned countries are members of the European Union, which means their citizens have freedom of movement between EU member states. In practice, this means that citizens of any EU member country may relocate between them to live and work there. Unrestricted by visas or residence permits, the search for university courses, jobs, retirement options, and places to live seems to be defined by an enormous amount of choice. However, even in this freedom of movement scheme, immigration may be hampered by bureaucratic hurdles or financial challenges. Prosperity with a question mark While Germany continues to be an attractive destination for foreigners both in and outside the European Union, as well as asylum applicants, it remains to be seen how current events might influence these patterns, whether the number of immigrants arriving from certain countries will shift. Europe’s largest economy is suffering. Climbing inflation levels in the last few months, as well as remaining difficulties from the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are affecting global economic development. Ultimately, future immigrants may face the fact of moving from one struggling economy to another.

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: 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 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 - 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.

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.

This statistic shows the number of foreigners in Germany according to the Central Register of Foreign Nationals in 2023, by state. In 2023, North-Rhine-Westphalia had the most foreign nationals at over 3.2 million, followed by Bavaria with almost 2.4 million and Baden-Württemberg with around 2.2 million. Foreigners are those who are not German based on Article 116, Paragraph 1 of the German constitution. These include stateless persons and those with unclear citizenship as well as the population group with a migration background. Individuals with a migration background can either have immigrated into Germany or been born in the country to at least one parent who was born a foreigner.

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, 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 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.

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.

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

Germany Immigration: America data was reported at 75,131.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 71,252.000 Person for 2022. Germany Immigration: America data is updated yearly, averaging 49,202.000 Person from Dec 1964 (Median) to 2023, with 60 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83,164.000 Person in 2006 and a record low of 32,711.000 Person in 1976. Germany Immigration: America data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G005: Migration.

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.

The main objective of the ENTRA (Recent Immigration Processes and Early Integration Trajectories in Germany) Survey was to collect data on new immigrants in Germany that capture immigration and settlement dynamics as well as integration trajectories. The study consists of a two-wave panel survey of four different immigrant groups: Italians, Poles, Syrians, and Turks. In the first wave, new immigrants were interviewed in the first years of their stay in Germany. About a year and a half later, they were interviewed a second time to track their early integration progress. During the survey period from 10.05.2019 to 31.10.2019 (Wave 1) und 20.11.2020 to 21.04.2021 (Wave 2), immigrants from Italy, Poland, Syria, and Turkey between the ages of 18 and 40 were surveyed in online interviews (CAWI), telephone interviews (CATI), and in-person interviews (CAPI) about various aspects of immigrant integration, including language skills and use, ethnic and national identities, ethnic boundaries, political participation, religious affiliation and practices, social contacts and networks, educational attainment, labor market participation, and health. Respondents were selected through a two-stage sampling procedure. In the first step, the five cities with the largest immigration flows were selected for each group based on data from migration statistics and the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR). In the second step, again separately for each immigrant group, a random sample of target individuals was drawn from the cities´ population registers. The panel study was designed as a multimodal survey conducted in the national language of each immigrant group. A total of 4,448 immigrants and refugees participated in the first wave of the survey, and longitudinal data from both panel waves are available for 3,366 cases. The additional COVID-19 survey was conducted in May/June 2020. Only a small sample of questions from the main survey was included in the questionnaire, while several questions about the COVID-19 situation were added. Unlike the first and second waves, the COVID-19 survey was conducted as an online survey only.

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.

This statistic shows the number of in- and outward migration movements to and from Germany between 1993 and 2023. In 2023, the number of movements from Germany amounted to roughly 1.27 million. On the other side, around 1.9 million people immigrated to Germany.

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.

Romania Number of Immigrants: by Country of Origin: Germany data was reported at 682.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 596.000 Person for 2016. Romania Number of Immigrants: by Country of Origin: Germany data is updated yearly, averaging 343.500 Person from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2017, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 739.000 Person in 1995 and a record low of 207.000 Person in 2001. Romania Number of Immigrants: by Country of Origin: Germany data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.G004: Number of Immigrants and Emigrants.