Germany Sees Sharp Drop in Migration but Record Rise in Naturalizations in 2024

Germany experienced a significant shift in migration patterns in 2024, with net migration falling by over 35% compared to the previous year, according to official migration reports presented in early February. The net migration balance stood at around 430,000 people, down from approximately 663,000 in 2023. This decline was driven by reduced immigration from major source countries such as Ukraine, Romania, Turkey, Poland, and Syria. For instance, Ukraine remained the top immigrant source with 221,570 arrivals (13.1%), followed by Romania and Turkey.

While immigration dropped to about 1.69 million and emigration remained stable at 1.26 million, asylum applications also plunged by 30.2%, falling to 229,751. Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey remained the largest groups applying for asylum, although in much smaller numbers than prior years. Nevertheless, Germany still received the highest number of asylum applications in the European Union, totaling 250,550.

Despite the lower migration inflow, Germany saw a record high in naturalizations, with 292,020 people acquiring German citizenship, representing a 45.9% increase from 2023. This surge is largely attributed to citizenship reforms that lowered the residency requirement from eight to five years, making naturalization more accessible. Consequently, the foreign population in Germany rose to about 12.4 million, comprising 14.8% of the total population—the highest since 1990.

Additionally, migration for educational and employment purposes remains robust, with visa issuance for work increasing by 9.2% and significant growth in student visas. Preliminary data suggest migration numbers may continue to decline through 2025, reflecting changing migration dynamics.

These developments underscore Germany's evolving migration landscape, balancing reduced inflows and asylum requests with an unprecedented acceleration in citizens' naturalizations, driven by legal reforms.