Over Four Million Refugees and Displaced Persons Resided in Germany in 2025

Germany hosted over four million refugees and individuals seeking international protection in 2025, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) in observance of World Refugee Day. This figure encompasses individuals who fled their home countries, were internally displaced, or required protection.

Since 1950, around 3.3 million people have arrived in Germany seeking refuge. An additional 713,000 are recognized as having been displaced or expelled during World War II. A significant portion of the post-1950 arrivals, approximately 1.2 million, came between 2014 and 2021, with another 1.1 million arriving between 2022 and 2025. Earlier waves of migration include 476,000 people who fled to Germany between 1990 and 2000, partly due to the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia.

The average age of these refugees in 2025 was 39 years, with women constituting 45% and men 55% of the population. The primary countries of origin for refugees residing in Germany since 1950 are Ukraine and Syria, nations significantly impacted by recent conflicts. These two countries account for nearly half of all refugees in Germany.

Specifically, 25% of the 3.3 million immigrants who arrived since 1950 for reasons of flight, asylum, or protection were born in Ukraine, while 22% (732,000) came from Syria. Other significant countries of origin include Afghanistan (316,000), Iraq (186,000), Turkey (146,000), Poland (120,000), and Iran (117,000). The report also noted that individuals displaced by World War II, now averaging 85 years old, primarily reside in eastern German states.