One in four Hamburg parliament members reports migration background

For the first time, the Hamburg Parliament (Bürgerschaft) has surveyed its members about their migration background. The voluntary survey, which saw participation from 102 of the 121 lawmakers, revealed that 29 individuals, approximately 24%, reported having a migration background.

This reported percentage is notably lower than the overall proportion of residents in Hamburg who have a migration background, which stands at 42% according to the Statistical Office North. The Parliament's chancellery noted that the figures are only comparable to a limited extent.

A key reason for the discrepancy lies in the eligibility requirements for parliamentary seats. While the city's population statistics include individuals with foreign citizenship residing permanently in Hamburg, including children, only adult German citizens are eligible to be elected to the Bürgerschaft. This distinction affects the comparability of the data.