As of the end of 2025, an estimated 3.2 million people were registered as asylum seekers in the Foreigners Central Register (AZR) in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this figure represented about 3.9 percent of the country’s total population.
This marks a decrease in the number of registered asylum seekers compared to the end of 2024, dropping by 2.1 percent, or 68,000 people. Asylum seekers are defined by the Federal Office for Foreigners as individuals residing in Germany due to international law, humanitarian, or political grounds.
“Distribution and Demographics”
Statisticians noted that the largest concentrations of asylum seekers at the end of 2025 were found in Bremen (6.6 percent), Saarland (5.3 percent), and Berlin (5.2 percent). The lowest proportions were reported in Brandenburg (3.0 percent), Bavaria (3.0 percent), and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (3.3 percent).
Regarding nationality, Ukrainians remained the single largest group of asylum seekers (1.164 million), followed by Syrians (669,000) and Afghans (321,000). Collectively, these three nationalities accounted for two-thirds (66.5 percent) of all registered asylum seekers.
Furthermore, Destatis reported that 155,000 asylum seekers had entered Germany for the first time during 2025. The vast majority of these were Ukrainian nationals (93,000), representing 60.3 percent of all first arrivals. These were followed by 13,000 Syrians (8.3 percent) and 13,000 Afghans (8.1 percent).
Notably, for the first time since the Russian invasion, the number of male and female arrivals from Ukraine outnumbered the complementary group (51,000 men versus 43,000 women). This imbalance may be linked to the general exit ban placed on Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 22, which ended in August 2025. Preliminary migration data also indicates a sharp increase in arrivals from Ukraine between September and November 2025.
“Trends in New Arrivals”
Overall, the number of newly arrived asylum seekers at the end of 2025 was significantly lower-by nearly half (-46.4 percent, or 134,000 people)-than the previous year (289,000 people at the end of 2024). The decline was particularly strong for arrivals from Syria (-73.8 percent, a drop of 36,000 people to 13,000) and Turkey (-65.0 percent, a drop of 11,000 people to 6,000). Even for the largest group, Ukrainian arrivals saw a notable reduction of 32.5 percent (-45,000 people to 93,000).
“Legal Status and Shelter”
At the conclusion of 2025, the majority of asylum seekers (83.4 percent, or 2.7 million people, matching the 2024 figure) held a humanitarian residence permit, granting them recognized protection status. For most of this group, the status was time-limited (88.1 percent, or 2.4 million people). Only 11.9 percent (321,000 people) possessed a permanent recognized status.
Among those with recognized status, the most common permit was temporary protection (Article 24 of the Residence Act), granted in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, affecting 1.09 million people (40.4 percent). This was followed by refugee status under the Geneva Convention (500,000 people or 18.5 percent), and thirdly, subsidiary protection (373,000 people or 13.8 percent).
Separately, 361,000 people (a decrease from 427,000 in 2024) at the end of 2025 had an open status, meaning a final decision on their application was pending. Meanwhile, 178,000 people were registered with a denied status-either following an asylum refusal or the loss of their protection-making them mandatory emigrants (an increase from 171,000 in 2024). Of these, 140,000 people (78.8 percent) were granted temporary residency permits (“Duldung”). Furthermore, 14,000 people (7.8 percent) were considered latent mandatory emigrants, and 24,000 people (13.4 percent) were fully enforced mandatory emigrants. Latent mandatory emigrants can still challenge the basis for their required departure, whereas the basis for the remaining group is legally binding.
“Changes and Integrations”
Destatis noted that the largest percentage increase in residence permits compared to the previous year was seen in permits for sustainable integration (+42.5 percent; an increase of 18,000 people to 60,000). The biggest absolute increase was in temporary protection (+4.9 percent; an increase of 51,000 people to 1.09 million). The rise in permits for sustainable integration is related to the chance residence right, which was active from the end of 2022 until the end of 2025. This 18-month “trial stay” provided a pathway to residence for long-term people who were previously granted tolerated status, subject to certain conditions. Overall, the 60,000 people granted permits due to sustainable integration under Article 25b of the Residence Act include residents’ spouses, life partners, and minor children.