Official figures indicate a decline in the number of individuals residing in Germany who have refugee status, marking the first decrease observed since 1991. Data as of July 2024 reveal approximately 50,000 fewer residents with refugee status compared to the end of 2023.
According to information obtained through a parliamentary inquiry by the Left Party, the total number of individuals with refugee status in Germany stood at 3.545 million at the close of 2023. This figure has since reduced to 3.495 million by July 2024. Among this population, 688,518 individuals hold refugee status based on the Geneva Convention, with the majority possessing temporary residency permits (80.9 percent).
Approximately 17 percent have been granted permanent residency. The remaining 1.9 percent are either tolerated or their status remains undetermined. The largest proportion of those with refugee status originate from the Near and Middle East, with Syrian refugees representing the dominant group (291,645). Refugees from Iraq (91,295) and Afghanistan (89,330) follow in the second and third positions respectively.
While some might view the decline as a positive development, Clara Bünger, spokesperson for domestic and refugee affairs for the Left Party, cautioned against such interpretations. “This certainly isn’t cause for celebration” she stated. Given the multitude of ongoing global crises driving displacement, she suggested the decrease is primarily attributable to stricter border controls and heightened security measures implemented along the European Union’s external borders.
Bünger asserted that the reduced numbers contradict claims of a crisis necessitating erosion of existing EU asylum law. She emphasized the ongoing need to focus on integration, participation and access to employment opportunities for refugees, rather than prioritizing restrictive border policies.
