Record number of naturalisations in Germany in 2023

In 2023, Germany recorded the highest number since the start of statistical surveys in 2000, with around 200.100 naturalisations. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that the number of naturalisations increased by 31.000 compared to the previous year; this represents an increase of 19 %. Already in 2022, the number of naturalisations had increased by 37.000 (+ 28 %) compared to the previous year.

Who are the new Germans?

People from 157 different nationalities were granted German citizenship in 2023. Syrian nationals were the largest group of naturalised persons (38 %). Together with the naturalisations of nationals from Türkiye, Iraq, Romania and Afghanistan, these five nationalities accounted for more than half (56 %) of all naturalisations.

Naturalisations of Syrians are rising sharply

With 75.500 persons, Syrian nationals were the largest group of naturalised persons in 2023. This represents an increase of 27.100 people (+ 56 %) compared to the previous year. The sharp increase in naturalisations of Syrians is linked to the high level of migration of Syrian applicants for protection between 2014 and 2016, who now qualify for naturalisation. These include, inter alia, sufficient language skills and a minimum period of residence.

Syrian naturalised persons were on average 24.5 years old and 64 % male. They lived in Germany for an average of 6.8 years before their naturalisation. Around 28.000 (37 %) of naturalised Syrians were spouses and minor children who were co-naturalised without fulfilling the minimum period of residence.

Turkish and Iraqi nationals were the second largest group, each with 10.700 naturalisations. While the number of citizenships of Iraqi nationals increased by 3900 (+ 57 %), the number of naturalisations of Turkish nationals decreased by 3500 (-25 %). Romanian citizens saw an increase from 600 (+ 8 %) to 7600 naturalisations and Afghan nationals from 2300 (+ 55 %) to 6500 naturalisations.

Slight increase in naturalisations from Ukraine

The number of naturalisations of Ukrainian citizens slightly increased by 300 (+ 6 %) in 2023 to 5900. This is a small increase compared to the previous year, after the naturalisations of Ukrainian citizens almost tripled from 1.900 to 5.600 from 2021 to 2022 due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Ukrainian naturalisations accounted for 3 % of all naturalisations in 2023.

Methodological note

The naturalisation statistics of the Federal Statistical Office cover naturalisation procedures completed in the reporting year. These are independent of the time taken to process applications for naturalisation. In 2023, naturalisations were possible after eight years of residence in Germany, which could be reduced to seven and six years in the case of special integration benefits. Under certain conditions, family members could also be naturalised earlier.

Further detailed information on the 2023 naturalisation statistics of the Federal Statistical Office is available.