The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) has released data indicating a notable shift in migration trends for Ukrainian nationals in Germany throughout 2023

While approximately 277,000 Ukrainians arrived in Germany during the year, a significant portion—over 56 percent—subsequently departed the country, leaving around 121,000 Ukrainian nationals still residing in Germany by the year's end. This figure accounts for the net migration rates, which experienced an 87 percent drop compared to the previous year.

The significant decrease in net migration rates from Ukraine is evident when contrasting 2023's figures with those of the preceding year, marked by the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. In 2022, nearly one million Ukrainians migrated to Germany, with approximately 960,000 remaining in the country after accounting for departures.

Despite the gradual decline in migration rates over the two-year period, the net migration figure for 2023 remained higher than pre-war levels. In comparison to 2021, which saw a net migration of 6,000, and 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which recorded 7,000 net migrants, 2023's net migration to Germany stood at 121,000.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to be a driving force behind migration to Germany. Two years after the commencement of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser reaffirmed the country's commitment to supporting Ukrainian nationals, citing the protection of 1.4 million individuals from the war, with 1.14 million still residing in Germany.

Notably, a demographic shift is observed among Ukrainian immigrants to Germany. According to preliminary data from the micro census, 61 percent of immigrants from Ukraine in both 2022 and 2023 were female, with minors accounting for 34 percent of the total. In 2023, a new trend emerged, with approximately 40 percent of immigrants being single parents with their children.

The age composition of Ukrainian immigrants also saw changes in 2023 compared to the previous year. While women and girls still constituted the majority of immigrants, their proportion decreased from 63 percent in 2022 to 53 percent in 2023. Similarly, the percentage of minors decreased from 35 percent in 2022 to 28 percent in 2023, while the proportion of immigrants aged between 18 and 60 increased from 54 percent to 61 percent over the same period.

In terms of population representation, Ukrainians in Germany have seen a significant increase. From comprising 0.2 percent of the population in January 2022, the Ukrainian population rose to 1.4 percent by October 2023, totaling 1.15 million individuals.

Geographically, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Lower Saxony are the most populated states by Ukrainians, although the concentration varies across regions, with Hamburg, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania hosting the highest proportions of Ukrainian residents. Conversely, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein, and Brandenburg exhibit lower proportions of Ukrainian population.

By fLEXI tEAM