According to the latest research findings presented by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), one in four residents in Germany now possesses a migratory background. In absolute terms, as of 2025, this category encompasses approximately 21.8 million people. The proportion of such citizens within the total population has risen by 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous year’s figures, reaching 26.3%.
To interpret this data accurately, it is essential to consider the definition adopted by the researchers: individuals with a migratory background are those who either immigrated to Germany themselves after 1950 or are the children of immigrants whose both parents moved to the country. The primary instrument for collecting this information is the microcensus—a regular sample survey covering approximately one per cent of the population, which allows for the formation of a representative picture of ongoing processes without the need for a full-scale census.
Almost 20 Per Cent Are First-Generation Immigrants
Statistical analysis confirms that approximately one in five residents has personally experienced the journey of immigration. In 2025, the number of first-generation immigrants reached 16.4 million, a 1.7% increase over 2024 data. Despite the overall growth, experts note a distinct trend: the rate of increase in new residents was significantly lower than during previous periods of the most intensive migratory waves.
The geographical structure of first-generation migratory flows remains relatively stable. The leading positions in terms of arrivals continue to be held by Poland (1.5 million people) and Turkey (1.5 million). These are followed by Ukraine (1.3 million), Russia (1.0 million), and Syria (1.0 million). Concurrently, a growth in the group of direct descendants of immigrants—individuals born within German territory but whose parents arrived after the middle of the last century—is recorded. The population of this second generation stood at 5.4 million, demonstrating a three per cent growth over the past year, which indicates high dynamics within already established groups.
Number of Immigrants Up 67 Per Cent Since 2005
In a long-term retrospective, the changes appear even more substantial. Since 2005, the number of persons with a migratory background has increased from 13.0 to 21.8 million, which is equivalent to a 67% increase in percentage terms. Over two decades, the share of the population with a migratory background in the total composition of the country’s residents has increased by approximately 10 percentage points. This shift has fundamentally altered contemporary German society, as well as the structure of educational and professional institutions.
Analysts have paid particular attention to the age composition of these groups. One of the key findings of the study is that individuals with a migratory background are significantly younger compared to the general population. The disparity is most evident when comparing generations: among young people and adults aged 25 to 34, more than one in three has migratory roots. Conversely, among those over the age of 65, this figure is only approximately 14% (one in seven). The educational attainment of young immigrants (aged 25–34) is also noteworthy: one-third of them hold an academic degree. However, statistics also highlight problem areas—a comparable number of young people from this group lack vocational training and are not currently involved in the education process.
Only Private Households at Primary Place of Residence Considered
The results presented refer to the average annual population living in private households (in 2025, this figure was 82.7 million people). It is important to note the methodological limitations: the study does not include individuals in collective accommodation, such as temporary refugee centres or specialised social institutions.Furthermore, the adopted methodology is quite strict regarding classification. Individuals with a migratory background do not include so-called “mixed” cases—those where only one parent immigrated. In 2025, this group comprised 4.2 million people, or about five per cent of the population. If this category of citizens were included in the diversity analysis, the real level of integration and migratory influence on modern Germany would prove to be even more extensive than the primary figures indicate.
Source: DPA
