Ukrainians and Turks lead Germany’s foreign population across states
Ukrainian citizens are the largest foreign group across much of eastern and northern Germany, while Turkish citizens remain prominent in the west
Germany’s foreign population has changed significantly since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with Ukrainians now among the country’s largest groups of foreign citizens.
The map shows Ukrainian, Turkish, Romanian and Syrian citizens as the largest non-German nationality in different German states in 2024. Importantly, the figures refer to citizenship, not ethnic background or country of birth.
The map shows Ukrainian citizens as the largest foreign nationality in many northern and eastern states, including Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, as well as Lower Saxony.
Germany had about 1.33 million Ukrainian citizens at the end of 2024, up sharply from around 155,000 in 2021. The increase largely followed the arrival of people fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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Turkish citizens were still the largest foreign-national group in Germany overall in 2024, numbering about 1.54 million. The map shows them leading in several western states.
Germany’s large Turkish population has roots in decades of migration, particularly the recruitment of Turkish workers by West Germany beginning in the 1960s.
The citizenship figures do not include all people of Turkish background because many now hold German citizenship.
The map identifies Romanian citizens as the largest foreign nationality in Bavaria.
Across Germany, about 910,000 Romanian citizens were registered at the end of 2024. That made Romanians one of the country’s largest groups of EU citizens.
Germany’s Central Register of Foreigners recorded about 14.06 million foreign citizens at the end of 2024. The largest groups included around 1.54 million Turkish, 1.33 million Ukrainian and 910,000 Romanian citizens.
The figure had risen from about 10.92 million in 2018, showing how quickly Germany’s foreign population has grown in recent years.
The map therefore highlights two major migration stories. Turkish communities reflect decades of migration to Germany, while the rapid rise in Ukrainian citizens is largely a result of displacement following Russia’s invasion.
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This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
