At the close of 2024, approximately 461,000 individuals in Germany received standard benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG), according to data released Wednesday by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This figure included roughly 25,200 individuals from Ukraine.
Compared to 2023, the number of recipients decreased by around ten percent, representing a reduction of 52,700 people.
Eligibility for these benefits is determined for foreign nationals residing within German territory who meet the requirements outlined in § 1 of the AsylbLG. Benefits are categorized as either standard or supplementary. At year-end 2024, 64 percent of standard benefit recipients were male and 36 percent were female. Roughly 29 percent were minors, 69 percent were between the ages of 18 and 64 and approximately one percent were 65 years or older.
The majority of recipients originated from Asia (47 percent), followed by Europe (31 percent) and Africa (17 percent). The most common countries of origin were Turkey (16 percent), Syria (14 percent), Afghanistan (11 percent) and Iraq (7 percent). Five percent of all benefit recipients at the end of 2024 were from Ukraine.
In addition to standard benefits, the AsylbLG also allows for supplementary benefits to be granted in specific need situations. These include provisions for illness, pregnancy and childbirth, the provision of employment opportunities, other services and benefits outlined in chapters 5 through 9 of the Social Code XII (SGB XII) and Part II of SGB IX. Approximately 252,300 individuals received supplementary benefits at the close of 2024, including roughly 13,000 who were eligible solely for these supplementary benefits.
