DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
German news & articles
Record one in four people in Germany now has a migration background
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Record one in four people in Germany now has a migration background

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Little Germany, NYC: The rise and fall of a New York German communityLittle Germany, NYC: The rise and fall of a New York German community
Almost 70 percent of new German jobs filled by foreign workers in 2022Almost 70 percent of new German jobs filled by foreign workers in 2022
One-third of international students stay in Germany long-term, study findsOne-third of international students stay in Germany long-term, study finds
Population of Germany rises above 84 million for first time everPopulation of Germany rises above 84 million for first time ever
Racism remains widespread in Germany, new discrimination report concludesRacism remains widespread in Germany, new discrimination report concludes
Number of non-EU workers coming to Germany has tripled since 2011Number of non-EU workers coming to Germany has tripled since 2011
More than a quarter of Germany's population now has a migration backgroundMore than a quarter of Germany's population now has a migration background
German population stagnates for second year runningGerman population stagnates for second year running
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Aug 22, 2019
Abi Carter

Editor in chief at IamExpat Media

Abi studied German and History at the University of Manchester and has since lived in Berlin, Hamburg and Utrecht, working since 2017 as a writer, editor and content marketeer. Although she's happily taken on some German and Dutch quirks, she keeps a stash of Yorkshire Tea on hand, because nowhere does a brew quite like home.Read more

Around 20,8 million people with a migration background are now living in Germany, according to the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office, Destatis. That’s around one-quarter of the total population, which currently stands at 82 million. 

One in four in Germany has a migration background

Germany is clearly the place to be. According to statistics released by Destatis on Wednesday, the number of people with a migration background living in the federal republic in 2018 rose by 2,5 percent to a record 20,8 million. Now, one in every four people either migrated here or has at least one parent who was not born as a German citizen. 

Of these 20,8 million, 52 percent actually have German citizenship, half of them since birth. The other 48 percent possess foreign passports. 13,5 million people, therefore, were not born here in Germany, but migrated here during the course of their lives. 

Migrants come to Germany for family and work

Although refugees and asylum seekers tend to grab the headlines, especially after Angela Merkel’s 2015 decision to open Germany’s borders, only around 15 percent of these migrants came to the federal republic seeking asylum. Around half of this 15 percent came from the Middle East. 

Rather than asylum, immigrants named family (48%) and employment (19%) as their two most important motives for coming to Germany. Five percent also stated that they had come to Germany to study or for training. 

Those who have come to Germany for family reasons come mainly from Europe (72%), as did those who came to Germany because of their job or to look for a job (85%). Of those who came to study or for education and training, 40 percent came from Europe and another 38 percent from Asia.  

By Abi Carter