The total number of refugees residing in Germany saw a slight decline of approximately 20,000 in the first half of 2026, reaching 3.507 million people. This figure, reported by the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” citing a response from the Federal Government to an inquiry by the Left faction in the Bundestag, attributes the reduction to a combination of deportations, voluntary departures, and naturalization.
The Federal Government states that the continuous decrease in new asylum seekers from Ukraine is particularly noteworthy. According to the government response, only 3,919 Ukrainians applied for protection in June 2026-a trend observed despite large-scale Russian attacks on civilians. When accounting for the 31,662 recorded departures of Ukrainians during this period, the net increase in Ukrainian refugees in Germany during the first half of the year was only 20,857. This contrasts sharply with the net increases of 88,000 refugees from Ukraine during the entire year of 2025, and 108,000 in 2024. Currently, around 1.35 million Ukrainians are living in Germany.
In light of these developments, Clara Bünger, the refugee policy spokesperson for The Left, is calling for the Federal Government to change course. She noted that very few people are arriving from Ukraine. Bünger strongly criticized the government for adhering to what she described as “shabby plans” concerning the return of newly registered Ukrainian refugees, specifically regarding the Asylum Seekers Benefit Law. She asserted that the notion that Ukrainian individuals are entitled to the highest level of social benefits is demonstrably false and constitutes an insult to victims of the ongoing war.
The planned legislation concerning a “change of legal status,” which would restrict new Ukrainian refugees to receiving benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefit Law, remains stalled because the federal government and the states cannot agree on funding issues.
Regarding the overall refugee population, the Federal Government reports that approximately 438,000 people (12.5%) hold an insecure or undetermined status, while everyone else legally possesses some form of right of residence. Countering this, Bünger stated, “Almost 90% of the refugees living in Germany have a right of residence.” She argued that instead of continually debating further legislative tightening and deportations, which she claimed strengthens the AfD party, efforts should be focused on quickly integrating and employing people who have fled to Germany.
