Official government figures released on Friday indicate that the number of refugees living in Germany has fallen slightly for the first time in over a decade.
The data, provided in response to a parliamentary query from The Left party, shows the refugee population dropped by around 50,000 in the first half of 2025—falling from approximately 3.55 million at the end of 2024 to about 3.50 million.
The figures cover refugees with different residency statuses, ranging from recent arrivals to long-term residents, and also include people displaced from Ukraine. The decline is attributed to deportations, voluntary returns, and naturalisations.
In 2024 alone, Germany granted citizenship to 83,150 Syrians, according to the Interior Ministry. Out of the current 3.5 million refugees, about 492,000 remain in uncertain legal situations, including asylum seekers and those under temporary protection. As of the end of July, roughly 1.27 million Ukrainians were living in Germany.
Clara Bünger, a lawmaker from The Left party, cautioned that the decrease should not be seen as a success. She argued that the global drivers of displacement are stronger than ever, but fewer people in need of protection are managing to reach Germany due to the European Union’s tightened external borders.
“The drop in absolute numbers in Germany only highlights the absurdity of talk about a so-called emergency used to justify suspending EU asylum law,” Bünger said.