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Refugees and asylum in Germany - statistics & facts

A person is defined as a refugee if they have to flee their home country because of a well-founded fear of persecution or violence, according to the UN Refugee Agency. The persecution may occur due to race, religion, nationality or political opinion. The violence may be ethnic, tribal or religious, but it can also peak as war. For these reasons, refugees cannot return home. If they seek sanctuary in another country by applying for asylum, which includes legal protection and financial assistance from the government of said country, they become asylum seekers. International refugee law is governed by the 1951 Geneva Convention, expanded by the 1967 Protocol for refugees worldwide.

Reasons for seeking asylum

Germany saw an annual increase in the total number of asylum applications from 2010 onwards, with figures highest in 2016. This can be traced back to an influx of migrant arrivals to the country during 2015 to 2016. War violence in countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, to give just two examples, led both individuals and families to flee their homes in search of safety in Europe. Precisely on the way to desired protection and security, migrants often faced dangerous and physically demanding travel routes, especially if they trusted smugglers.

Asylum applications

Currently the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has the most first-time asylum applications, followed by Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Decisions regarding asylum applications in Germany are regulated by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge or BAMF). These decisions include granting legal status as a refugee, subsidiary protection and rejection. As of 2022, most of those applying for asylum in Germany were from Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.

Support for refugees

While the number of refugees arriving in Germany may change depending on developments both in their home countries and in Germany. The government must create a budget for several years ahead to ensure that refugees can be given the support they require. This has already been put in place, with expenditure including various aspects. Among them, ongoing financing for the admission and registration procedures, as well as support for German states and municipalities accommodating refugees.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 21, 2023

Key insights

Number of asylum applications in Germany
87k
German federal state with most first-time asylum applications
North Rhine-Westphalia
Share of rejected asylum applications in Germany, based on formal decisions
25.6%
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Number of first asylum applications in Germany from January 2022 to October 2023

Demographics

Number of first asylum applications in Germany 2022-2023

Number of deportations from Germany from 2008 to 2022

Crime & Law Enforcement

Number of deportations from Germany 2008-2022

Number of pending asylum applications in Germany from 2009 to 2023

Politics & Government

Number of pending asylum applications in Germany 2009-2023

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