So far in 2025, The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees recorded 86,916 asylum applications. Extrapolated to the entire year (without accounting for seasonal variations), approximately 173,832 applications can be expected; this would mark a significant decline for the second consecutive year and bring the number to its lowest level since 2020.

Germany DE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum data was reported at 2,593,007.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,075,445.000 Person for 2022. Germany DE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum data is updated yearly, averaging 580,792.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,593,007.000 Person in 2023 and a record low of 83,500.000 Person in 1978. Germany DE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum 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. Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of asylum is the country where an asylum claim was filed and granted.;United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNRWA through UNHCR's Refugee Data Finder at https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/.;Sum;

The “Refugees in Germany” survey is part of a research project commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) under the title of “Accompanying evaluation of labor market programs to integrate refugees”. Aim and Conceptualisation The aim of the research project was to analyze how effective and efficient the central labor market programs in the legal areas of SGB II and SGB III are with regard to the labor market integration and social participation of refugees who arrived in Germany since 2015. A central component of this project was a survey of refugees (“Refugees in Germany”), which is conceptually related to the (IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees), that has been running since 2016. In contrast to the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees, however, it is not a household survey, but an individual survey that is not representative of the refugee population in Germany. It is based on a gross sample of refugees who arrived in Germany in 2015 or later, and had started or could have started one of five different types of labor market integration programs between August 1, 2017 and September 11, 2018. The focus is on the following five programs: activation measures (employer-based or with training company), occupational choice and apprenticeship measures (pre-entry support and qualifications or accompanying training support), measures for further vocational training, employment subsidies, and job creation schemes. The gross sample of program participants and non-participants, on which the survey is based, was obtained from administrative data held by the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). The sample included in the survey basically consists of two main groups: a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group (participants) is divided into five sub-populations to represent participants in the five program types to be evaluated. The control group includes people who, at least in principle, have a sufficient probability of participating in the program, but who actually did not participate at the time the address was selected. The group of these non-participants is divided into two subpopulations and contains either people who are assigned to exactly one of the program types or who are eligible for two of the program types. Contents The main survey topics comprise the background of the interviewed refugees (way to Germany, education and work experience abroad); length of stay in Germany; labor market and educational experiences in Germany (employment, vocational training, internships, attending general schools and studying); help for integration (language courses, vocational orientation, competence assessment and activation, support related to vocational training, aids accompanying the internship); economic situation (finances, housing); and social participation (current language skills, social contacts, normal everyday life, health and well-being, labor market orientation and labor market knowledge, identification with Germany, personality traits and culture).

Germany DE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data was reported at 209.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 162.000 Person for 2022. Germany DE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data is updated yearly, averaging 162.000 Person from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2023, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,297.000 Person in 1999 and a record low of 5.000 Person in 1992. Germany DE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin 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. Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of origin generally refers to the nationality or country of citizenship of a claimant.;United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Refugee Data Finder at https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/.;Sum;

Graph and download economic data for Refugee Population by Country or Territory of Asylum for Germany (SMPOPREFGDEU) from 1960 to 2023 about refugee, Germany, World, and population.

Germany has long been involved with international asylum applications, especially in recent years. The most applications came from Syrian asylum seekers. These was followed by applications from Afghanistan and Turkey. Germany as a refuge choice Statistics on the number of asylum applicants in Germany are recorded by the BAMF, or the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge). The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has decreased refugee numbers in Europe, with travel bans across modes of transport and borders being closed. As the restrictions begin to lift, migration is beginning again. 2023 saw the highest number of applications for asylum since 2016. However, in 2024, numbers have decreased significanly again. Support for refugees remains a present issue, fraught with tension, legal complications and surrounded by constant debate with many believing that not enough is done to support them. Asylum decisions Not all asylum applications in Germany get accepted, due to various circumstances. Besides rejection, decisions regarding asylum may involve granting a legal status as a refugee, a grant of subsidiary protection or determining a deportation ban.

In 2025, around 65.9 percent of asylum applicants in Germany aged 25 to 29 years were males, while around 34.1 percent were females in the same age group. The largest gender difference was in the age group of 16 to 17-years-olds, with 80 percent being male and only around 20 percent being female.

The average for 2023 based on 27 countries was 272670 refugees. The highest value was in Germany: 2593007 refugees and the lowest value was in Slovenia: 10525 refugees. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2025 thus far, the highest number of asylum applications were recorded in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia at 13,435. Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg were among the leading three German states recording the largest asylum application numbers. The number of pending asylum applications had increased compared to the pandemic years, though numbers were not as high as in 2015 and 2016.

This do-file contains the syntax required to replicate the analyses presented in the following article: Endtricht, R. & Kleinschnittger, J. (2025). Refugee Policy Preferences in Germany: The Influence of Threat Perceptions and Personal Circumstances on the Rejection of Different Refugee Groups. Soziale Welt. The corresponding dataset is available at: https://doi.org/10.25592/uhhfdm.17594 Abstract of the Article: This study focuses on the prevalence of the rejection of refugees in the German population and the factors that contribute to such negative attitudes. According to Integrated Threat Theory, people aim to protect their status in society by devaluing and rejecting outgroups that are perceived as threatening. Using data from a German population survey (N = 1,461), we address the extent to which the rejection of the influx of asylum seekers is influenced by the subjective perception that refugees pose a threat to the German economy, culture, security, or social cohesion. We differentiate between refugees from Arab, Central African, and Eastern European countries and analyze to what extent threat perceptions and the rejection of immigration differ depending on refugees’ home region. Results show that a) different threat perceptions relate to the rejection of different refugee groups, with refugees from Arab countries being the most affected group, and b) the extent to which people perceive threats by refugees is dependent on respondents’ social circumstances such as financial difficulties and experiences of marginalization. The implications of these findings for communication efforts to improve the social integration of refugees into the German society are discussed.

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;

Syrian nationals are not only the largest refugee group in Germany but also the third largest group of foreigners living in Germany. The naturalization trend among this group has been very pronounced in the last two years and is expected to increase sharply in the coming years. However, little is known about their political interest in German politics.1 Given the importance of “political interest” as an indicator of social integration and future active citizenship, this paper examines the extent to which Syrian refugees are interested in German politics and how local conditions at the time of arrival influence refugees' interest in German politics. We focus on three dimensions of the neighborhood context theory (social networks, economic situation, and political environment) in combination with traditional political participation theory. The empirical strategy relies on the exogenous allocation of refugees across federal states, which can be used to identify the effect of local characteristics on refugees' political interest. We use in our analysis a nationally representative sample in Germany (IAB-BAMF-SOEP-Refugee-Sample). Our findings suggest that ethnic social networks play a significant role in boosting newly arrived refugees' interest in German politics. Moreover, a higher unemployment rate among the foreign population is associated with an increase in political interest among Syrian refugees. We also confirm that a high political interest among the native population in Germany leads to a higher political interest among Syrian refugees. These results show that more attention needs to be paid to the integration of Syrian refugees and underline the need to reassess the efficiency of the distribution policy for Syrian refugees.

In the second quarter of 2025, there were 227,349 children and young people enrolled in German schools who left Ukraine due to Russia's invasion. Figures have increased since 2022.

Year-by-year data about UNHCR's populations of concern originating from Germany. Populations of concern include refugees, asylum seekers, internally-displaced people (IDPs), returned IDPs, returned refugees, stateless people, and others of concern.

IntroductionSince the 2015/16 refugee influx to Germany and other European countries, these host societies have been challenged with the integration of culturally distant refugees. These recent arrivals can strategically invest their time in activities promoting their integration, thereby rendering time use as a channel of integration. Refugees are a vulnerable group that differs from other immigrants with respect to their migration motivation, experience, and conditions in the receiving countries. Accordingly, refugees might also differ from other immigrants with respect to their time use. This might play a role in explaining differences in refugees' and other immigrants' integration outcomes.MethodsUsing a cluster analysis approach, this contribution (1) descriptively examines whether and to what extent refugees' time use differs from that of other immigrants and the host-country population in Germany and (2) examines the role of refugees' legal status for their time use. The study examines time allocation to different activities of refugees, other first-generation immigrants, and native Germans, using data collected from 2016 to 2019 of the German Socio-Economic Panel, including the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees and the IAB-SOEP Migration Sample.Results and discussionResults from (1) the cluster analysis approach show different clusters of time use patterns for the three population groups of refugees, other immigrants, and natives. For native Germans and other immigrants, the dominant time use cluster is characterized by full-time investment in employment activities. For refugees, the dominant time use pattern is characterized by low overall invested hours to the measured activities (low activity cluster). In contrast to the other two groups, a cluster of refugees predominantly allocating their time to employment activities is not found. Pooled analyses (2) of the role of refugees' legal status show some evidence that those who have a form of protection status, in comparison to those who have asylum seeker status, have a lower probability to display childcare- and household-related activities than to report low activity. However, fixed effects analyses show that refugees receiving a positive decision on their asylum application do not change with respect to their time use patterns.

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.

This data set contains a subset of variables of a population survey that was conducted in September 2022 using an online access panel. The data set contains all variables that were part of the topic "Refugee Policy Preferences in Germany" as well as control variables (age, gender, educational level, migration background, religious affiliation, region of living, and voting intention).

On behalf of the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government, the opinion research institute Kantar conducted a short survey in May 2021 on the attitudes of the German population towards the refugee situation. The focus is on attitudes towards refugee issues and the work of the Federal Government in this area. Interest in information on various topics (Corona, climate protection, sustainability, digitalisation, European policy, flight and asylum, pension policy); concern about refugee numbers; assessment on advantages and disadvantages of taking in refugees (short-term and long-term); assessment of progress made by the federal government in dealing with the refugee situation; assessment of new waves of refugees to Germany; assessment of measures to reduce the number of refugees in Europe in the long term (consistent and rapid deportation of rejected asylum seekers, border controls within the EU, combating gangs of traffickers, no or very little financial support for refugees, stronger control of the EU´s external borders, better living conditions in the countries of origin, improving living conditions in refugee camps outside the EU); attitude towards financial support for other EU countries so that refugees can be better cared for there. Demography: sex; age; region; education; occupation; household size; number of persons in the household aged 14 and over; party preference; voter eligibility; net household income. Additionally coded were: respondent ID; weighting factor; interview date; BIK city size; federal state; west/east; mobile vs. landline. Im Auftrag des Presse- und Informationsamts der Bundesregierung hat das Meinungsforschungsinstitut Kantar im Mai 2021 eine Kurzumfrage durchgeführt, die sich mit der Einstellung der deutschen Bevölkerung zur Flüchtlingssituation befasst. Schwerpunkt ist dabei die Einstellung zu Flüchtlingsfragen und der Arbeit der Bundesregierung in diesem Bereich. Interesse an Informationen zu verschiedenen Themen (Corona, Klimaschutz, Nachhaltigkeit, Digitalisierung, Europapolitik, Flucht und Asyl, Rentenpolitik); Sorge um Flüchtlingszahlen; Bewertung zu Vor- und Nachteilen der Flüchtlingsaufnahme (kurzfristig und langfristig); Beurteilung von Fortschritten der Bundesregierung bei der Bewältigung der Flüchtlingssituation; Einschätzung zu neuen Flüchtlingswellen nach Deutschland; Bewertung von Maßnahmen zur langfristigen Reduzierung von Flüchtlingen in Europa (konsequente und schnelle Abschiebung von abgelehnten Asylbewerbern, Grenzkontrollen innerhalb der EU, Bekämpfen von Schlepperbanden, keine oder nur sehr geringe finanzielle Unterstützung von Flüchtlingen, stärkere Kontrolle der EU-Außengrenzen, bessere Lebensbedingungen in den Herkunftsländern, Lebensbedingungen in Flüchtlingslagern außerhalb der EU verbessern); Einstellung zu finanzieller Unterstützung anderer EU-Länder, damit Flüchtlinge dort besser versorgt werden können. Demographie: Geschlecht; Alter; Region; Bildung; Berufstätigkeit; Haushaltsgröße; Anzahl Personen im Haushalt ab 14 Jahren; Parteipräferenz; Wahlberechtigung; Haushaltsnettoeinkommen. Zusätzlich verkodet wurde: Befragten-ID; Gewichtungsfaktor; Interviewdatum; BIK-Ortsgröße; Bundesland; West/Ost; Mobilfunk vs. Festnetz.

The short survey on current issues relating to migration / integration was conducted by the Verian opinion research institute on behalf of the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government. During the survey period from 27.02.2024 to 05.03.2024, the German-speaking population aged 14 and over was asked about their attitudes to migration and integration in telephone interviews (CATI). The focus is on attitudes towards refugee issues, immigration in general and the federal government´s immigration policy. Respondents were selected using a multi-stage random sample as part of a multi-topic survey (Emnid bus), including landline and mobile phone numbers (dual-frame sample). Agreement with statements on the topic of immigration to Germany (integration of immigrants into German society has been successful overall so far, there are already so many immigrants living in Germany that no more can be taken in, immigrants are causing a very sharp rise in crime in Germany, I think it´s good that Germany is becoming more culturally diverse through immigration, Germany needs immigration); satisfaction with various aspects of the federal government´s immigration policy (dealing with the population´s concerns about immigration, how the objectives and measures of immigration policy are explained to the population, efforts to date to integrate immigrants into the German labor market, efforts to date to find a European solution for immigration to Europe); concerns about current refugee numbers in Germany; short-term and long-term forecast regarding the advantages or disadvantages for Germany of accepting refugees; opinion on rather simplified or rather more difficult immigration regulations for different immigrant groups (refugees from Ukraine, refugees from Syria or Afghanistan, refugees from other countries, skilled workers from non-European countries); assessment of the payment card for refugees instead of cash as useful vs. not useful; perception of problems in connection with refugees in the local area; naming of specific problems (open). Demography: sex; age; education; occupation; household size; number of people in the household aged 14 and over; party preference; voting eligibility; net household income; survey via mobile or landline. Additionally coded: consecutive respondent number; weighting factor; interview date; city size (BIK city size and political city size); federal state; survey area west/east. Die Kurzumfrage über aktuelle Fragen zur Migration / Integration wurde vom Meinungsforschungsinstitut Verian im Auftrag des Presse- und Informationsamtes der Bundesregierung durchgeführt. Im Erhebungszeitraum 27.02.2024 bis 05.03.2024 wurde die deutschsprachige Bevölkerung ab 14 Jahren in telefonischen Interviews (CATI) zu ihrer Einstellung zu Migration und Integration befragt. Schwerpunkt ist dabei die Haltung zu Flüchtlingsfragen, zu Einwanderung allgemein sowie zur Einwanderungspolitik der Bundesregierung. Die Auswahl der Befragten erfolgte durch eine mehrstufige Zufallsstichprobe im Rahmen einer Mehrthemenbefragung (Emnid-Bus) unter Einschluss von Festnetz- und Mobilfunknummern (Dual-Frame Stichprobe). Zustimmung zu Aussagen zum Thema Einwanderung nach Deutschland (Integration der Einwanderer in die deutsche Gesellschaft ist bisher alles in allem gut gelungen, in Deutschland leben schon so viele Einwanderer, dass keine weiteren aufgenommen werden können, durch Einwanderer steigt die Kriminalität in Deutschland sehr stark an, ich finde es gut, dass Deutschland durch Einwanderung kulturell vielfältiger wird, Deutschland braucht Einwanderung); Zufriedenheit mit verschiedenen Aspekten der Einwanderungspolitik der Bundesregierung (Umgang mit den Sorgen der Bevölkerung zum Thema Einwanderung, wie Ziele und Maßnahmen der Einwanderungspolitik der Bevölkerung erklärt werden, bisherige Bemühungen zur Integration von Einwanderern in den deutschen Arbeitsmarkt, bisherige Bemühungen um eine europäische Lösung für die Einwanderung nach Europa); Sorgen über die aktuellen Flüchtlingszahlen in Deutschland; kurzfristige und langfristige Prognose hinsichtlich der Vorteile oder Nachteile für Deutschland durch die Aufnahme von Flüchtlingen; Meinung zu eher vereinfachten oder eher erschwerten Regelungen der Zuwanderung für verschiedene Zuwanderergruppen (Flüchtlinge aus der Ukraine, Flüchtlinge aus Syrien oder Afghanistan, Flüchtlinge aus anderen Ländern, Fachkräfte aus dem nicht-europäischen Ausland); Bewertung der Bezahlkarte für Geflüchtete anstelle von Bargeld als sinnvoll vs. nicht sinnvoll; Wahrnehmung von Problemen im Zusammenhang mit Flüchtlingen im räumlichen Umfeld; Benennung konkreter Probleme (offen). Demographie: Geschlecht; Alter; Bildung; Berufstätigkeit; Haushaltsgröße; Anzahl der Personen im Haushalt ab 14 Jahren; Parteipräferenz; Wahlberechtigung; Haushaltsnettoeinkommen; Erhebung per Mobilfunk oder Festnetz. Zusätzlich verkodet wurde: laufende Befragtennummer; Gewichtungsfaktor; Interviewdatum; Ortsgröße (BIK-Ortsgröße und politische Ortsgröße); Bundesland; Befragungsgebiet West/Ost.

The DACH region refers to the Central European area of Germany (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland (CH). In 2024, these countries had a combined population of 102.84 million people. Germany is, by far, the largest of the three countries, with a population of more than 84.72 million; almost ten times larger than those of Austria or Switzerland. Growth rates However, population growth across the region has been relatively slow during the past two decades, with Germany's population growing by fewer than two million since 2000, which is an increase of just two percent. In contrast, Austria's population has grown by roughly 12 percent, while Switzerland's has increased by over 20 percent, but the overall change in the DACH region's population is less than five percent due to the disproportionate amount of people in Germany. Migration The reason for low population growth is due to the historically low birth rates in Germany. Since 1972, Germany's death rate has consistently exceeded its birth rate, giving an overall natural decline. Austria and Switzerland have also experienced similar trends in some years, but generally see a natural increase. Because of this, population growth is often dependent on migration. The most significant rise in the DACH area's population came in around 2015, during the Syrian migrant crisis. In Europe, Germany took in the largest number of Syrian refugees during this period, while Austria had one of the highest acceptance rates in proportion to its population. This is in addition to the relatively high number of refugees Germany and Austria accept from other countries, especially Afghanistan. Not all migrants are refugees, however, as the high living standards in all three countries attract large numbers of economic migrants from the rest of the world, especially Southern and Eastern Europe.