According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), published based on preliminary results from the 2025 microcensus, 21.8 million people with a migration background live in the country. This represents 26.3% of the total population — more than a quarter of all residents.
The term “migration background” (Einwanderungsgeschichte) refers to people who themselves moved to Germany after 1950, or those whose both parents are immigrants.
Over the past 20 years, this figure has grown significantly: in 2005, there were 13 million such residents, meaning the increase amounts to 8.8 million people (+67%). Compared to 2024, the share rose by 0.5 percentage points.
Of the 21.8 million people, approximately 16.4 million are first-generation immigrants — those who came to Germany themselves.
Germany’s total population in 2025 stands at approximately 83–84 million (according to various estimates from Destatis and other sources).
These statistics reflect long-term demographic changes in the country driven by labour migration, family reunification, the reception of refugees, and births to immigrant families. Destatis notes that growth is observed both among immigrants themselves and among their descendants.