Migration and Integration
Germany is a popular destination for immigration and the country prioritises an active policy of integration. Germany provides shelter for refugees and is active around the world to combat the causes of people becoming refugees.
At a glance
At home in Germany
Germany is a popular destination for immigrants. Migrants make an important contribution to its social and economic development.
1955
1955
Strong economic growth leads to a shortage of labour in Germany in the mid-1950s. Recruitment agreements with Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia, and Yugoslavia follow.
1964
1964
The millionth migrant worker, called “Gastarbeiter”, is welcomed to Germany. Recruitment is halted in 1973 with the oil crisis. Now around four million foreigners are living in Germany.
1990
1990
Immigration increases rapidly in 1990 with the fall of the Iron Curtain and the wars in former Yugoslavia. Moreover, 400,000 people of German origin arrive in Germany from Central and Eastern Europe.
1997
1997
Alongside migrant workers, since the mid-1980s ever more asylum seekers have been coming to Germany. From 1997 the Dublin Convention determines responsibilities of the EU states regarding asylum procedures.
2005
2005
The “Microcensus” offers the very first opportunity to survey the migratory background of the population. According to the census, in 2015 every fifth person in Germany has a migratory background.
2014
2014
More than 200,000 people apply for asylum in Germany in 2014. For the first time, almost half a million more people move to Germany than leave it in the same period.
2015
2015
The civil wars in Syria and Iraq lead to increased flows of refugees towards Europe. During the course of the so-called “refugee crisis”, around 890,000 people apply for asylum in Germany. That number falls again in subsequent years.
2020
2020
A new Skilled Labour Immigration Act comes into force. Now, skilled workers with a foreign qualification in any profession can get a visa or a residency permit.
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Second place
According to the OECD, Germany is the second most popular country for immigration after the USA.
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21.2 million people
The number of men and women with a migration background living in Germany.
11.2 million people
The number of people living in Germany with a foreign passport.
© picture alliance
128,900 naturalizations
Brexit, amongst other things, led to a sharp rise in naturalizations in 2019.
© picture alliance/ZB
166,000 asylum-seekers
Far fewer people sought political asylum in Germany in 2019 than in previous years.
