Net migration to Germany is continuing to slow, with the country experiencing the first reversal in labor migration from newer European Union member states in a decade over the past two years. The change has been driven mainly by three Balkan countries, according to an analysis by the Institute for German Economics based on data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office.
The study shows that increasing numbers of migrants are returning to their home countries, while the number of asylum seekers and newly arrived migrants is also declining.
Analysts say the trend is unlikely to be a short-term development. They point to demographic changes in countries of origin, which are reducing the pool of potential workers who could move to Germany in search of employment.
The report also highlights another emerging trend: more German citizens are leaving the country themselves.
In 2025, nearly 100,000 Germans emigrated, representing an increase of around 30% compared with 2023.
