The Migration Report 2022 , Date: 2024.01.10, format: Migration report, area: Authority

Source: © iStock | Kasia Biel (cover image)

The Migration Report 2022, compiled by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, was presented by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Community on January 10, 2024. In addition to comprehensive migration data on Germany, the report contains a European comparison of migration and asylum migration patterns. It addresses the phenomenon of irregular migration and provides information on the structure and development of the population with a migration background in Germany.

Key results

Historically high immigration due to the admission of refugees from Ukraine

In 2022, a total of around 2.7 million people (2,665,772) migrated to Germany and 1.2 million (1,203,683) people moved away – resulting in a net migration of +1,462,089. Compared to 2021, net migration has more than quadrupled, recording its highest level since recording of migrations began in 1950.

The Russian war against Ukraine starting on February 24, 2022 triggered one of the largest refugee movements within Europe since the end of the World War II. Since the beginning of the war, over 1 million refugees from Ukraine have arrived in Germany, predominantly women and children. In order to provide these people rapid protection, the EU Council activated the "Temporary Protection Directive" (2001/55/EC) for the first time on March 4, 2022. Refugees from Ukraine can enter Germany without a visa and are not required to go through the asylum procedure; they are granted humanitarian protection status on the basis of Section 24 of the Residence Act. In 2022, a total of 828,885 people was admitted with this protection status.

Migration mainly from or to European countries

For years, migration patterns to and from Germany have been characterised by immigration from and emigration to other European countries. The share of immigrants from European countries increased significantly to 76.2 percent in 2022 (2021: 63.8 percent). This primarily reflects the high level of immigration from Ukraine. As a result of this development, the share from EU member states has declined, despite an increase from these countries in absolute numbers. 24.6 percent of immigrants came from EU member states (2021: 46.7 percent). Europe was also the main destination region for emigration, with 71.0 percent of people moving from Germany to another European country in 2022 (2021: 67.9 percent). 47.2 percent emigrated to EU member states (2021: 54.0 percent).

Immigration for humanitarian reasons

In 2022, 217,774 people filed a first-time asylum application, significantly more than in 2021 (148,233, +46.9 percent). 24,791 (11.4 percent) of the asylum applications submitted in 2022 were for children under the age of 1 born in Germany. In 2021, this share was even higher at 17.5 percent. In 2022, 192,983 asylum applications (88.6 percent) were therefore cross-border asylum applications (2021: 122,354).

Family reunification of third-country nationals

A total of 93,960 residence titles for family reasons were issued to individuals who entered in 2022 (2021: 84,095). Compared to the previous year, the number rose by 11.7 percent. In 11,060 cases, these were family members of persons entitled to protection¹ who came to Germany as part of family reunification. Their share of total family reunification was 11.8 percent. More than half (57.6 percent) of all residence titles issued for family reasons concerned the reunification of spouses or partners, while a significant third (32.4 percent) involved underage children.

Educational migration

In 2022, a total of 60,395 residence titles for educational purposes were issued to people who entered Germany in the same year (2021: 47,255). Compared to the previous year, the number rose by 27.8 percent. In 44,690 cases, these were people who migrated to Germany for the purpose of studying. With a share of 74.0 percent, this is the largest group in educational migration. Compared to the previous year, this figure rose by 23.8 percent (2021: 36,100). The second-largest group, with a share of 13.3 percent, comprises 8,045 people who migrated to Germany from third countries for vocational trainings (2021: 5,420, +48.4 percent). 4,240 people migrated for measures aimed at the recognition of a foreign qualification (2021: 3,260; +30.1 percent) and 3,425 for other educational purposes (2021: 2,475; +38.4 percent).

Increase in labour migration from non-EU countries

With the Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz – FEG), a significant legal change for labour migration to Germany came into force on March 1, 2020 with the aim to make Germany more attractive for skilled professionals from third countries. At the same time, however, the spreading COVID-19 pandemic slowed down international mobility and thus the influx of labour migrants. An increase in numbers has been recorded again since 2021. In 2022, 73,065 people entered Germany and received a residence title for labour migration. This corresponds to an increase of 77.8 percent compared to 2021.

Analyzing the structure of labour migration to Germany in 2022 reveals that the majority of employees from third countries are skilled professionals with a recognised qualification (definition according to Section 18 AufenthG) (a total of 38,820 people or 53.1 percent). 61.0 percent or 44,595 of the immigrants are in a broader sense those with a qualified occupation. Accordingly, 39.0 percent are those with an occupation without a clearly definable qualification level.

Immigration of ethnic German resettlers

Since 2013, there has been a slight increase in the migration of ethnic German resettlers and their family members due to legal changes that have made family reunification easier in particular. In 2020, however, only 4,309 people were registered as ethnic German resettlers by the Federal Office of Administration, which in turn can be explained by restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, as in the previous year, the number of registered ethnic German resettlers was back at the 2019 level (7,010).

Germany is the number one destination country in Europe

In a European comparison (total and asylum migration in absolute figures), Germany remains the main destination country for migration. Spain, France, Italy and Poland also record a high share of immigration in the EU.

28.7 percent of the German population has a migration background

According to figures from the Microcensus, 23.8 million people lived in private households in Germany in 2022 who did not have German citizenship from birth, or who had at least one parent to whom this applied. This corresponds to a population share of 28.7 percent of people with a migration background. More than half of them are German citizens, and almost two thirds migrated themselves. People with personal experience of immigration have lived in Germany for an average of around 21 years, but more than one-third (39.7 percent) have lived in Germany for fewer than ten years. According to the new, alternative concept of "people with immigration history", their number was around 20.2 million in 2022. This includes people who migrated themselves or whose both parents have immigrated to Germany since 1950.

Footnote

The Migration Report is only available in German.

This download is available in other languages, too.

• Migrationsbericht 2022 (German)