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SOCIETY
TOPIC
SHAPING IMMIGRATION
As a destination for migrants, Germany is
or foreign parent. This group corresponds
now among the world leaders. The Organisa-
to a share of just over 20 percent of the total
tion for Economic Co-operation and Devel-
population, around 10.5 million of them im-
opment (OECD) established that in 2014 Ger-
migrated themselves. More than three quar-
many was the most popular immigration
ters of immigrants come from another Euro-
country in the world after the USA. Among
pean country. According to the Migration
the 34 OECD countries, immigration to Ger-
Report, in 2013 most immigrants came from
many has increased the most in recent
Poland and Romania. The largest ethnic mi-
years. Since Reunification in 1990, 21 million
nority in Germany is formed by the almost
people have come to Germany – with only 16
three million people with Turkish roots (in-
million moving away in the same period.
cluding 1.3 million German nationals).
2013 saw the highest level of immigration
since 1993 at 1.2 million people, and net mi-
Many first-generation immigrants came fol-
gration for the year was positive with a plus
lowing the labour recruitment agreement
of 437,000 people.
with Turkey in 1961 as unqualified workers.
Today immigrants of Turkish origin also in-
In total, 7.2 million people with a foreign
clude students, entrepreneurs and skilled
passport live in Germany. Yet around 16.4
workers. A further large group comes from
million people have a migratory background.
the former Yugoslavia or its successor states.
These include immigrants, foreigners born
Today, 56 percent of people with a migratory
in Germany and people with one immigrant
background have a German passport. In
Modern immigration society
Germany is the second-most popular
destination for immigrants in the world
after the United States. In 2014 altogether
some 16.4 million people in Germany
had a migratory background. There are
around four to five million Muslims living
in Germany – only roughly half of them
consider themselves religious, equating to
2.5 to 3 percent of the population.
Population according to migration status 2014
7.2 m
foreigners
9.2 m
people with
migratory
background and
German passport
64.5 m
Germans
without migratory
background
Source: German Federal Statistical Office
DIAGRAM