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.

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 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 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 - 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.

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;

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.

Between 1820 and 1957, more than six million people emigrated from Germany to the United States. The period with the highest levels of migration came during the 1850s and the 1880s, and over 250 thousand documented migrants came to the US from Germany in 1882 alone. The reasons for these mass migrations were not linked to individual events, but were because of the improved access to trans-Atlantic travel, poor economic opportunities at home (particularly for farmers, who struggled with the rapid industrialization of Germany), and to escape religious persecution in Europe. The periods with the lowest levels of migration from Germany were between 1915 and 1945, and were likely caused by the First and Second World Wars, and also the Great Depression.

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.

Iceland Number of Immigrants: Germany data was reported at 407.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 361.000 Person for 2016. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Germany data is updated yearly, averaging 193.500 Person from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 415.000 Person in 2005 and a record low of 55.000 Person in 1986. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Germany data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland . The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G006: Number of Immigrants.

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.

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;

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.

The United States hosted, by far, the highest number of immigrants in the world in 2020. That year, there were over ** million people born outside of the States residing in the country. Germany and Saudi Arabia followed behind at around ** and ** million, respectively. There are varying reasons for people to emigrate from their country of origin, from poverty and unemployment to war and persecution. American Migration People migrate to the United States for a variety of reasons, from job and educational opportunities to family reunification. Overall, in 2021, most people that became legal residents of the United States did so for family reunification purposes, totaling ******* people that year. An additional ******* people became legal residents through employment opportunities. In terms of naturalized citizenship, ******* people from Mexico became naturalized American citizens in 2021, followed by people from India, the Philippines, Cuba, and China. German Migration Behind the United States, Germany also has a significant migrant population. Migration to Germany increased during the mid-2010's, in light of the Syrian Civil War and refugee crisis, and during the 2020’s, in light of conflict in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Moreover, as German society continues to age, there are less workers in the labor market. In a low-migration scenario, Germany will have **** million skilled workers by 2040, compared to **** million by 2040 in a high-migration scenario. In both scenarios, this is still a decrease from **** skilled workers in 2020.

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 22.05.2024 to 28.05.2024, 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, immigration regulation measures 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 German government´s immigration policy (dealing with the population´s concerns about immigration, how immigration policy goals and measures 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 the current number of refugees in Germany; short-term and long-term forecast regarding the advantages or disadvantages for Germany of accepting refugees; suitable measures to reduce the number of refugees in the long term (consistently and quickly deport rejected asylum seekers, carry out border controls within the EU, fight smuggling gangs that bring refugees to Europe illegally, grant refugees no or only very little financial support from the state, control the EU´s external borders more closely, ensure better living conditions in the countries of origin, improve living conditions in refugee camps outside the EU, examine asylum applications at the EU´s external borders); perception of problems in connection with refugees in the local area; naming specific problems (open); migration background: Born in Germany; parents born in Germany.

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; location size (BIK location size and political location size); federal state; survey area west/east.

(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

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.

Reference group for all OR´s are their portions in the Berlin population.

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.