More than a quarter of people living in Germany have an immigrant background, according to new official figures released on Monday.

Data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany shows that around 21.8 million residents, or 26.3 per cent of the country’s 84 million population, were either born abroad.

The data shows that at least one parent immigrated to the country.

The figure marks a slight increase of 0.5 percentage points compared to 2024, reflecting a continued, though moderating, upward trend.

The statistics are based on the agency’s annual microcensus, which surveys roughly one per cent of the population across a wide range of socio-economic topics.

According to the data, about 20 per cent of people in Germany are first-generation immigrants.

In 2025, this group totalled 16.4 million people, representing a 1.7 per cent increase from the previous year, a slower growth rate than in earlier periods.

Among first-generation immigrants, the largest groups came from Poland and Turkey, with approximately 1.5 million people each.

They are followed by nationals from Ukraine, at 1.3 million, and from Russia and Syria, at around 1 million each.

The number of people born in Germany to immigrant parents also continued to rise, reaching 5.4 million in 2025, an increase of 3 per cent compared to the previous year.

The latest figures highlight the growing diversity of Germany’s population and underscore the long-term demographic impact of migration on Europe’s largest economy. 

(dpa/NAN)