According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), which released an analysis covering EU and EFTA countries on Monday, Switzerland remains the most popular destination for Germans living abroad in Europe. In early 2025, an estimated 329,900 German citizens resided in Switzerland, making them the second-largest foreign group after Italians. This population count has been steadily increasing. Compared to the previous year, the growth registered 1.9%, or roughly 6,300 people. Over the past decade, the German population in Switzerland has grown by 10.7%, or about 32,000 people.
Holding the second spot in the country ranking is Austria. In early 2025, just over 239,500 German citizens lived there, establishing Germans as the largest foreign community in the Alpine republic. This country sees a faster rate of growth than Switzerland. Compared to 2024, the influx was 2.9%, totaling approximately 6,700 people, and nationwide, the German presence in Austria increased by 40.5%-or 69,000 people-over ten years. The proximity and common German official language shared by both Switzerland and Austria with Germany significantly reduce language barriers for German residents.
A considerable number of Germans also settled in Spain in early 2025, numbering approximately 131,800. Although the German population in Spain saw declining numbers for many years, a growth trend was observed starting in 2022. In 2025, the figure rose by 3.0% compared to the previous year, adding 3,800 people. However, when compared to ten years earlier, the German population in Spain was still slightly lower, having decreased by about 3,000 people (-2.4%).
Data on the reasons for Germans moving abroad-whether for study, work, or climate-was unavailable. However, a comparison of the age structure for 2025 showed distinct patterns: Austria presented a higher proportion of younger age groups, while Spain showed a greater concentration of older individuals. For instance, 13.3% of Germans in Austria belong to the 65-plus age group, whereas this share was double that percentage in Spain, accounting for 26.8%.
