Germany’s Migrant Population Reaches 21.2 Million, Census Data Reveals
Germany’s statistical office, Destatis, has released the first results of the 2024 microcensus, showing that the country’s migrant population has reached a record high of 21.2 million, or 25.6% of the total population.
According to the data, the number of people with a migration background, including those who have immigrated to Germany themselves or have at least one parent who did so, has increased by 873,000, or 4%, to 21.2 million. This represents a significant increase of nearly one percentage point in the proportion of the population with a migration background, from 24.7% in 2023 to 25.6% in 2024.
The data also shows that the number of people who have immigrated to Germany themselves, known as the first generation, has increased by 582,000, or 4%, to 16.1 million, representing almost one in five people in Germany. The number of people born in Germany to two parents who immigrated to the country, known as the second generation, has increased by 291,000, or 6%, to 5.2 million, representing about 6.3% of the total population.
The data also reveals that the age distribution of the migrant population is significantly younger than the general population, with 34% of the 20- to 39-year-old age group having a migration background, compared to 14% of the over-65 age group. The average age of the migrant population is 38.2 years, compared to 47.4 years for the general population.
The main reasons for immigration to Germany between 2015 and 2024, according to a survey, were flight, asylum and international protection (31%), employment (23%) and family reunification (21%). A further 8% of immigrants said they had come to Germany for education or training.
The data is based on the 2022 census and the microcensus, which was conducted in 2024. The results show a significant difference in the number of people with a migration background, with the actual number being 908,000 lower than previously estimated, mainly due to a decrease in the number of people with a migration background from Syria, Afghanistan, the Ukraine and Iraq.
The discrepancy is attributed to the impact of refugee movements on the registration of foreign nationals, with some people registering in Germany but then leaving the country and others not registering at all. This phenomenon has been known from previous population studies.