Switzerland remains the top European destination for German citizens seeking to live abroad. According to data released this week by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), approximately 323,600 German nationals were residing in Switzerland as of early 2024. This represents a 2.4 percent increase, or 7,600 individuals, compared to the previous year. The number of Germans living in Switzerland has been steadily rising for years, having grown by 10.7 percent, or 31,300 individuals, over the past decade.
Austria follows as the second most popular destination, with a resident German population of around 232,700 as of early 2024. The growth rate for Austria was even higher than Switzerland’s, at 3.4 percent – a rise of 7,700 individuals. Over the ten-year period, the number of Germans residing in Austria increased by a significant 41.2 percent, adding approximately 68,000 people. Both Switzerland and Austria benefit from their proximity to Germany and often from the reduced language barriers that facilitate relocation.
Spain ranks third among the most favored European destinations for German expatriates. Approximately 128,000 German citizens were registered as living in Spain at the start of 2024, marking a 1.8 percent rise, or nearly 2,300 people, compared to the previous year. While the German population in Spain experienced a consistent decline between 2014 and 2021, a reverse trend has been observed since 2022. Despite this recovery, the number of Germans residing in Spain remained 9.8 percent, or roughly 13,900 individuals, lower than the figure recorded at the start of 2014.