Germany Net Migration

Germany’s net migration has swung dramatically over the 66‑year series, moving from a positive balance of 212,666 in 1960 to a pronounced outflow of –334,072 in 2025, the fifth‑largest negative figure worldwide. The most pronounced inflow occurred in 2015, when 1,175,283 more people entered than left, reflecting the country’s role as a primary destination during the European refugee crisis. By contrast, the all‑time trough of –754,469 in 1998 marked the post‑reunification period when many East Germans emigrated and labor‑market adjustments intensified outflows. Compared with peers, Germany’s 2025 net loss exceeds Poland’s –330,820 and approaches Nepal’s –364,699, underscoring a shift from historic net immigration to a sizeable net emigration. The recent reversal suggests that tightening asylum policies, demographic ageing and slower economic growth are curbing inflows, and unless labour‑market reforms or targeted immigration incentives are introduced, the negative migration balance is likely to persist.