BERLIN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The proportion of people in Germany with a migration background rose to 25.6 percent in 2024, up from 24.7 percent the previous year, according to data released Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
In total, around 21.2 million people with a migration background lived in Germany in 2024, marking a 4 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The office defines "migration background" as first-generation migrants who moved to Germany themselves and second-generation migrants, whose parents immigrated to Germany since 1950.
The number of first-generation immigrants rose by 4 percent, reaching nearly 16.1 million in 2024. This group now makes up 19.4 percent of the total population in Germany. Meanwhile, the second-generation immigrant population grew by 6 percent, rising to approximately 5.2 million and accounting for 6.3 percent of the population.
People with a migration background tend to be younger than the general population. More than one-third of individuals aged 20 to 39 fall into this group.
Since 2015, Ukraine and Syria have been the leading countries of origin for new immigrants. Among survey respondents, the most common reasons cited for immigration during this period were fleeing conflicts, seeking asylum or international protection (31 percent), employment opportunities (23 percent), and family reunification (21 percent). ■