Germany immigration statistics 1991-2023

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.

Number of immigrants in Germany from 1991 to 2023 (in millions)

Characteristic	Number of immigrants in millions
2023	1.93
2022	2.67
2021	1.32
2020	1.19
2019	1.56
2018	1.59
2017*	1.55
2016**	1.87
2015	2.14
2014	1.46
2013	1.23
2012	1.08
2011	0.96
2010	0.8
2009	0.72
2008	0.68
2007	0.68
2006	0.66
2005	0.71
2004	0.78
2003	0.77
2002	0.84
2001	0.88
2000	0.84
1999	0.87
1998	0.8
1997	0.84
1996	0.96
1995	1.1
1994	1.08
1993	1.28
1992	1.5
1991	1.2

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Release date

June 2024

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Region

Germany

Survey time period

1991 to 2023

Supplementary notes

The figures on migration data from registration authorities include registration adjustments, which were conducted due to the introduction of the personal tax ID number. The migration numbers from Germany from 2008 to 2011 are therefore only partly comparable with the respected previous or following year, according to the source.
** The results for 2016 are not completely comparable to figures from previous years due to methodology changes and technical developments. The precision of the results is limited due to discrepancies in connection with registration and reporting of those seeking protection.
Figures have been rounded.

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