Almost one in four people with a migrant background in Germany

2023-04-22 09:08:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

As a result, the percentage of first- and second-generation immigrants in the population of the Federal Republic of Germany rose from 23 percent in 2021 to 24.3 percent last year. Especially the arrival of refugees from Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan caused this percentage of the population to increase, announces the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden.

The proportion of the population of direct immigrants increased by 7.3 percent, surpassing the number of those born in Germany as descendants of immigrant parents, who make up 4 percent of the population.

The basis for these figures is the last microcensus. It is a statistical survey that, unlike the large population census, is conducted at shorter intervals and in smaller surveys. As people with a migration history, the Federal Office defines people who have immigrated to Germany themselves since 1950 - the so-called first generation - as well as their direct descendants, also called the second generation.

More male than female migrants

About three-quarters of the 20.2 million people with a migration history have come to Germany themselves since 1950. 4.9 million people are direct descendants of these immigrants. In the male part of the population, the percentage of immigrants was slightly higher with 24.8 percent than in women with 23.8 percent. With an average age of 29.9 years, those who emigrated after 2013 are significantly younger than the population without an immigration background, whose average age is 47 years.

In the period from 2013, most immigrants, with 16 percent, came from Syria. Romania follows with seven percent and Poland with six percent. Ukraine is in fourth place with a participation of five percent, although according to the Federal Office Ukrainians, who emigrated last year, are not yet fully included in the microcensus.

The most important reasons for immigration in the period from 2013 were escape, asylum and international protection with a percentage of 27.9 percent. Then with a quota of 24.2 percent came immigration for reasons of employment and family reunification with 23.9 percent. Just over eight percent of emigrants since 2013 have come to Germany mainly for studies or further training and qualifications.

More people with a migration background

The percentage of people with a migration background in the German population is even higher.

Last year there were 28.7 percent or 23.8 million people. According to the definition of the Federal Statistical Office, a person has a migration background if he or at least one parent was not born with German citizenship.

More than half of the 12.2 million Germans with a migration background have German citizenship by birth. They have a migration background, because at least one parent is foreign, naturalized, German by adoption or repatriated. A total of 23 percent came to Germany as repatriates, 22 percent were naturalized./ DW