The 2019 Migration Report , Date: 2020.12.02, format: Migration report, area: Authority

Source: © iStock | Kasia Biel (cover image)

The 2019 Migration Report was compiled by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and presented on 2 December 2020 by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community. The report provides a European comparison of migration activity and the influx of asylum seekers in addition to comprehensive migration data for Germany. It looks at the phenomenon of irregular migration and offers information about the structure and development of the population with a migration background in Germany.

Main Results

Net immigration declines for the fourth year in a row

Total migration to Germany once again declined in the four years after 2015, when immigration reached a new record level due to the high number of asylum seekers accounting for an influx of about 2.1 million and net immigration of 1.1 million individuals. An influx of about 1.6 million and 1.2 million departures were recorded in 2019. Compared to the previous year, this amounts to a decline in immigration to Germany by 1.7 %, whereas the outflux increased by 3.9 %. Correspondingly, a net migration of +327,060 was recorded, a somewhat lower number than in 2018 (+399,680).

Migration mainly from or to European states

The migration activity in Germany is mainly characterised by immigration from and emigration to other European states. In 2019, 66.4 % of all migrants came from another European country, with 51.1 % coming from EU Member States and 15.3 % from other European states. Europe was the main target region also with regards to emigration. About two thirds of all departing persons in 2019 moved from Germany to another European country (67,2 %). Of these, 56.0 % moved to other EU Member States (2018: 54.3 %) and 11.2 % to other European countries.

Immigration on humanitarian grounds continues to decline

The asylum application numbers reflect the ongoing marked decline of forced migration: between 2016 and 2018, the numbers of first-time applications declined from 722,370 to 161,931 (-77.6 %); in 2019, the number of first-time asylum applications again declined by 12.0 % (142,509 first-time applications). Of these, 31,415 applications (22.0 %) were for children born in Germany under one year of age. This means that the number of asylum seekers declined to below the 2014 level (173,072 first-time applications) after having increased for nine consecutive years between 2008 and 2016.

Slight decline in family reunification

Migration for family reasons, too, has declined. In total, 96,633 of persons entering in 2019 have been granted a residence permit for family reasons. Compared to the previous year, the number of granted residence permits for family reasons declined by 0.5 % (2018: 97,129).

Slightly more students from abroad

The number of foreign students who started their course in Germany again increased slightly in 2019. Their number rose from 109,995 in 2018 to 110,974 in 2019 (+0.9 %). This means that 2019 is the year with the highest recorded number of foreign new students at German universities so far.

Again, slight increase of migration on economic grounds from non-EU countries

Looking at migration on economic grounds of persons from third countries (as per Articles 18 to 21 German Residence Act (AufenthG) old version), the past years reveal an almost continuous increase of immigrant numbers: in 2019, 64,219 persons arrived who received a work residence permit, which is a further increase of 5.5 % compared to the previous year (2018: 60,857). Of these, 39,394 (61.3 %) came to Germany to work in a qualified or highly qualified job; this includes holders of an EU Blue Card, intra-company transfers (ICT), researchers and self-employed persons. The main countries of origin of migrants on economic grounds are the Western Balkan states (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia including former Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania), the United States, Turkey and India.

Immigration of late resettlers at consistent levels

Following the steady decline from 2001 (about 98,500 persons) to 2012 (about 1,800 persons), a slight increase was recorded in subsequent years also regarding the immigration of late resettlers and their family members, which was due to legal changes that specifically facilitated family reunification. In 2019, 7,155 persons were recorded as immigrant late resettlers including family members. This roughly corresponds to the previous year (2018: 7,126 persons).

Germany is the number one destination country in Europe

Compared with the rest of Europe (total immigration and asylum seekers in absolute numbers), Germany continues to be a main destination country of migration and has in recent years significantly increased in appeal compared to the other European states. Other EU states with high immigration numbers include the United Kingdom, Spain, and France.

26 % of the German population have a migration background

In 2019, according to figures from the micro-census, 21.2 million people lived in German private households who themselves or at least one of whose parents did not have German citizenship since birth. This corresponds to a population share of people with a migration background of 26.0 %. More than half of these are German citizens. People who have immigrated themselves have lived in Germany for an average of around 21 years, but a good third of them (35.5 %) for less than ten years.

The Migration Report is only available in German.

This download is available in other languages, too.

• Migrationsbericht 2019 (German)