Germany Sees 45% Drop in Net Immigration in 2025 Amid Declining Asylum Seekers and EU Migration

Germany experienced a significant decline in net immigration in 2025, with figures dropping 45% to 235,000 people compared to 430,000 the year before, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt). Overall immigration fell by 13% to around 1.48 million, the lowest since 2014 excluding the pandemic years, while emigration decreased slightly by about 2% to 1.25 million.

Key contributors to this drop include a marked reduction in asylum seekers from major source countries. Net immigration from Syria declined by 67%, from Afghanistan by 41%, and from Ukraine by 21%. Notably, Ukrainian refugees benefit from temporary protection, not asylum processes. Additionally, fewer migrants arrived from certain EU countries, resulting in a negative migration balance with the EU — a net loss of 54,000 people, especially due to departures to Poland and Bulgaria. Migration from the Netherlands and Romania increased slightly.

The number of Germans emigrating rose, with a net loss of approximately 97,000 nationals, primarily moving to Switzerland, Austria, and Spain. Internal migration within Germany saw about 996,000 moves across state borders, a slight 1% decline. Brandenburg recorded the highest population gain (+9,000), whereas Berlin lost 12,000 residents, alongside population losses in Thüringen and Nordrhein-Westfalen.

The comprehensive data emphasizes evolving migration patterns for Germany, characterized by fewer arrivals driven by shrinking asylum seeker numbers and changing intra-European flows. The statistics reflect shifting demographic dynamics with implications for regional population distributions and migration policy discussions.

According to reports, "one significant reason for this decline is the reduced number of asylum seekers from key source countries". Berlin, identified as the biggest loser among states in terms of population migration, highlights this demographic challenge with a loss of 12,000 people.

Overall, these trends mark a notable transformation in German migration, with 2025 figures showing a sharp decline in net immigration after prior years of higher inflows, particularly peaking in 2022. Further monitoring will be essential to understand future demographic and policy implications.