At the close of 2024, Germany registered approximately 3.3 million individuals seeking protection within the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR). According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Monday, this figure represents a rise of roughly 132,000 individuals, or 4.1 percent, compared to the previous year. Individuals seeking protection are defined as foreign nationals residing in Germany based on grounds relating to international law, humanitarian concerns, or political reasons.
Approximately 2.7 million individuals (2.5 million in 2023) held humanitarian residence titles at the end of 2024, representing 82 percent of all individuals seeking protection and indicating recognition of their protection status. A further 427,000 (455,000 in 2023) were awaiting decisions on their asylum applications, while 171,000 held a rejected protection status, rendering them subject to deportation. Of these, 136,000 were under tolerated status, a figure that has decreased significantly from 157,000 in 2023 and 219,000 in 2022, attributable to the implementation of a new residence law.
The introduction of the “Chancen-Aufenthalt” (Opportunity Residence) law at the end of 2022 has contributed to the reduction in tolerated statuses. This law allows individuals with tolerated status for at least five years to apply for an 18-month residence permit with the potential for a permanent residence perspective under certain conditions, removing them from the category of individuals seeking protection.
The largest groups of individuals seeking protection originated from Asia and Europe, with approximately 1.5 million individuals each. These included Ukrainians (1.099 million; a 12.5 percent increase year-on-year), Syrians (713,000; a 0.2 percent increase), Afghans (348,000; a 7.7 percent increase), Iraqis (190,000; a 5.2 percent decrease) and Turks (157,000; a 3.7 percent increase). Together, these five nationalities account for almost three-quarters of all individuals seeking protection. Substantial numbers also sought refuge from violence and persecution from Africa (277,000) and the Americas (22,000).
Notable increases in 2024 were observed among Colombian (a 45.7 percent rise to 9,000) and Venezuelan (a 22.7 percent increase to 9,000) individuals seeking protection, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian migration from South America. Conversely, the number of Georgian individuals seeking protection decreased by 23.5 percent to 15,000, partly due to a migration agreement between Germany and Georgia that designates Georgia as a country of origin, allowing for expedited asylum procedures.
Ukraine remained the primary country of origin for newly arrived individuals seeking protection in 2024, with 138,000 first-time arrivals, nearly three times the number from Syria (49,000).
At the end of 2024, individuals seeking protection had an average age of approximately 32 years and had been residing in Germany for around 6.5 years. Women accounted for 45 percent of the total and 27 percent were children and adolescents under 18. Significant demographic variations exist based on nationality; for example, Ukrainian individuals seeking protection were predominantly female (59 percent) and had an average age of 35. Syrian and Afghan individuals seeking protection were predominantly male (64 and 65 percent respectively) and were, on average, younger (28 and 27 years old respectively).
Average durations of residence varied; Ukrainian individuals had resided in Germany for 2.8 years (reflecting arrivals following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022), while Syrian and Afghan individuals had been in Germany for over six years and Iraqi and Turkish individuals for over eight years.
Individuals seeking protection constitute a significant portion of the overall foreign-born population from their respective countries of origin. For example, 82 percent of Ukrainians residing in Germany were individuals seeking protection, 73 percent of Syrians and 79 percent of Afghans. In contrast, only 10 percent of the Turkish population in Germany sought protection.
Regional differences are also apparent; in eastern German states such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt, individuals seeking protection represent a larger percentage of the foreign-born population compared to the national average.