Refugees by country of asylum in Germany
Germany: Refugees by country of asylum was 2.75 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Germany, 1951–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Germany stood at 2.75 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 1,167.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Germany peaked at 2.75 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 83,500 people, in 1978.
That places Germany 3rd out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Germany, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 265,000 people | — |
| 1952 | 240,000 people | -9.4% |
| 1953 | 228,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1954 | 225,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1955 | 219,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1956 | 221,000 people | +0.9% |
| 1957 | 217,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1958 | 212,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1959 | 205,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1960 | 197,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1961 | 190,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1962 | 185,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1963 | 182,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1964 | 180,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 180,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 140,000 people | -22.2% |
| 1967 | 112,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1968 | 110,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 113,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 115,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 125,000 people | +8.7% |
| 1972 | 125,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 125,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 123,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 122,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 122,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 120,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 83,500 people | -30.4% |
| 1979 | 87,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 94,000 people | +8.0% |
| 1981 | 100,000 people | +6.4% |
| 1982 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 115,000 people | +15.0% |
| 1984 | 126,600 people | +10.1% |
| 1985 | 475,000 people | +275.2% |
| 1986 | 547,900 people | +15.3% |
| 1987 | 596,200 people | +8.8% |
| 1988 | 610,200 people | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 628,500 people | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 816,000 people | +29.8% |
| 1991 | 821,500 people | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 1.24 million people | +50.5% |
| 1993 | 1.42 million people | +14.7% |
| 1994 | 1.35 million people | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 1.27 million people | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 1.27 million people | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 1.05 million people | -17.1% |
| 1998 | 949,200 people | -9.5% |
| 1999 | 975,500 people | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 906,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2001 | 903,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 980,001 people | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 960,393 people | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 876,614 people | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 699,996 people | -20.1% |
| 2006 | 605,329 people | -13.5% |
| 2007 | 578,866 people | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 582,719 people | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 593,787 people | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 594,250 people | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 571,672 people | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 589,735 people | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 187,545 people | -68.2% |
| 2014 | 216,956 people | +15.7% |
| 2015 | 316,098 people | +45.7% |
| 2016 | 669,468 people | +111.8% |
| 2017 | 970,357 people | +44.9% |
| 2018 | 1.06 million people | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 1.15 million people | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 1.21 million people | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 1.26 million people | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 2.08 million people | +65.3% |
| 2023 | 2.59 million people | +24.9% |
| 2024 | 2.75 million people | +6.0% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 2.75 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 272.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Germany's 2.75 million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 40.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +275.2% | 126,600 people | 475,000 people |
| 2016 | +111.8% | 316,098 people | 669,468 people |
| 2013 | -68.2% | 589,735 people | 187,545 people |
| 2022 | +65.3% | 1.26 million people | 2.08 million people |
| 1992 | +50.5% | 821,500 people | 1.24 million people |
| 2015 | +45.7% | 216,956 people | 316,098 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 225,778 people | 205,000 people | 265,000 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 158,900 people | 110,000 people | 197,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 114,750 people | 83,500 people | 125,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 339,340 people | 94,000 people | 628,500 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.12 million people | 816,000 people | 1.42 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 768,670 people | 578,866 people | 980,001 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 632,660 people | 187,545 people | 1.15 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.98 million people | 1.21 million people | 2.75 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More population data for Germany
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8968 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1409 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 78,932 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1335 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3367 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 202.93 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.11 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Germany?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Germany was 2.75 million people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 2.75 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 83,500 people in 1978.
- How does Germany rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Germany ranks 3rd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,167.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.