Where Do People Arriving from Abroad Settle in Germany?

Key Takeaways

• Germany recorded strong external migration in 2024. It had a net gain of 430,183 people, with every federal state showing positive inflows.
• Most arrivals are concentrated in a few large states, led by Nordrhein-Westfalen (88,846 net gain) and Bayern (67,844), where larger economies offer more job opportunities.
• Berlin stands out as a key entry point despite its size, with a net gain of 41,862. It attracts younger and international residents, especially with its startup scene and global city environment.
• Smaller states such as Saarland (5,468) and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (7,259) receive fewer migrants, mainly due to smaller economies and fewer entry opportunities.
• People moving from abroad tend to settle where jobs, services, and international communities are already concentrated.

External Migration* by German Federal State

Stay tuned!

Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

Stay tuned!

Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

Germany recorded a migration surplus in 2024, with 430,183 more people arriving from abroad than leaving. These figures reflect registered cross-border moves and include German citizens, foreign nationals, and refugees.

However, these arrivals are not spread evenly. A few states account for most of the gains:

• Nordrhein-Westfalen (88,846)
• Bayern (67,844)
• Berlin (41,862)
• Baden-Württemberg (40,515)

States like Nordrhein-Westfalen and Bayern lead mainly because of their size and economic strength. They offer more jobs, more companies, and a wider range of industries, which makes them the most likely destinations for newcomers.

Which Federal States Drive Germany’s Economy? ->

Berlin stands out for a different reason. While smaller in size, it records a high concentration of arrivals, with a net gain of 41,862.

This is partly about who moves there. Cities like Berlin attract younger people and international residents, groups that tend to move more often.

Berlin also plays a dual role. It is a major entry point for people arriving from abroad, but at the same time, it loses residents to other parts of Germany, with a net internal migration loss of 14,755.

This reflects how the city works in practice. With its startup scene, universities, and large international communities, Berlin is often the easiest place for newcomers to settle first. English is widely used, and many entry-level opportunities are based there.

Berlin hosts the largest number of unicorns in Germany ->

Employment by Federal State in Germany ->

Over time, some of these residents move on to other regions for long-term jobs, lower costs, or different living conditions. In that sense, Berlin often acts as a starting point rather than a final destination.

At the other end, states like Saarland (5,468) and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (7,259) recorded much smaller net gains.

The difference comes down to scale. Larger states handle far more arrivals each year, while smaller states receive fewer people overall.

This reflects how migration decisions are made. People moving from abroad tend to choose places with bigger job markets and established international communities. Smaller states are less likely to attract these first moves, even though they still see positive inflows.

Even so, every federal state in Germany recorded a positive net external migration balance. This means international migration supports population growth across the entire country, even if most arrivals concentrate in a few key regions. People do not choose locations randomly. Instead, they move to places where it is easier to find work, settle in, and build a life.