Syria-born residents in Germany increasingly choose citizenship over return

The number of Syrian nationals living in Germany is declining, not due to voluntary return to Syria, but primarily because of a surge in naturalizations. As of the end of November 2023, there were 940,401 Syrians in Germany, more than half of whom—512,348—held recognized protection status. Compared with roughly 974,000 Syrians registered in 2022, this gradual decrease is attributed to large numbers obtaining German citizenship rather than leaving the country.

In 2024 alone, a record 291,955 people were naturalized in Germany, including more than 83,000 Syrians. Despite the official end of the Syrian civil war, debates continue in Germany about repatriation policies. The CSU party has called for an aggressive deportation campaign to Syria, which it claims is now stable enough for returnees. Some deportations have already taken place.

However, the humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire. Around 70% of the population still depends on aid, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described Syria’s conditions as worse than Germany’s in 1945. Official statistics show that only 3,707 Syrians left Germany voluntarily with state support by November 2023. Although 10,253 Syrian nationals are reported as obliged to leave, most are tolerated and remain in Germany.

The number of asylum applications by Syrians decreased significantly following the regime change in December 2024. Meanwhile, opposition parties like the Greens and The Left advocate for residency rights for vulnerable groups such as Yazidi survivors of genocide, stressing the responsibility to protect those who suffered in Syria and Iraq.

This data underscores a trend where Syrians in Germany prefer integration through naturalization over returning to a still-crisis-ridden homeland. Policy discussions continue to balance humanitarian concerns with political pressures for repatriation amid persistent challenges in Syria.