Germany overview August 2025

Increased funding for integration courses

The German government announced that it will allocate substantially more funding for integration courses in 2025 than initially planned. The total budget for this yearwill rise to approximately €1.066 billion, representing an increase of €302.8 million.

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, 122 800 people started an integration course in the first four months of 2025. With the increased budget now in place, the government aims to guarantee continued access to the courses throughout 2025, particularly for the large number of participants from Ukraine, Syria, and Afghanistan.

Ongoing growth in migrants' employment and contributions

Public debates around Germany's new citizen's income ('Bürgergeld') often ask whether it discourages people, especially migrants, from entering the labor market. A new analysis by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) finds no evidence to support this assumption. On the contrary, data show that employment rates among people with a migration background have risen significantly since the introduction of basic income support.

The analysis finds that since the introduction of basic income support in 2005, Germany's migrant employment rate has increased to 70% - one of the highest in the EU. Furthermore, the number of employed people with a migration background more than doubled between 2005 and 2023 (by 6.3 million, an increase of +116%). In that same time frame, among migrants without a refugee background, the share of benefit recipients dropped from 8.7% to 5.4%. Find out more.

Majority of international students intend to stay in Germany

A new DAAD Skilled Labour Study reveals that two-thirds of international students want to remain in Germany after graduation, with half considering starting their own business. Despite their high motivation to stay, though, only one-third of students said they feel well prepared for entering the German job market. Many are in need of support with accessing career services, language support and professional networks.

To address these challenges, the DAAD launched the "Campus Initiative International Experts" and has supported over 100 German universities since 2024. Backed by €120 million in federal funding until 2028, the initiative strengthens career services, language and professional training, internships, and coaching programmes.

The study "Arrive, study, stay: How international students see their future in Germany" is part of the DAAD's Benchmark International University (BintHo) project. A summary of key findings is available in the DAAD Skilled Labour Factsheet (English).

Survey on migrants' return and onward migration intentions

The newly established International Mobility Panel of Migrants in Germany (IMPa) is a research initiative seeking insights into the causes and patterns of migration. In its first research 'wave' (December 2024 to April 2025), a survey was distributed to approximately 50 000 migrants across the country. Respondents, all of whom arrived in Germany before 2 April 2024, were aged 18 to 65 and registered in the Federal Employment Agency's data.

57% of respondents said they plan to stay in Germany permanently. 12% see their stay as temporary and a further 30% remain undecided. A key finding is that those migrants who are highly educated, economically successful, and well-integrated linguistically are more likely to consider leaving Germany. Job satisfaction, family ties, and successful social integration were all found to increase a person's likelihood of staying. View more results.

Afghan refugees in Germany

Afghanistan has been one of the main countries of origin for refugees in Germany for over 30 years, with the number of asylum applications increasing significantly since 2021, and Germany is the third largest host country for Afghan refugees worldwide.

By the end of 2024, according to statistics recently published by Mediendienst Integration, approximately 461 000 people from Afghanistan were living in Germany. 282 700 had at that time been granted protection status. The employment rate among Afghans who are refugees was 42% in November 2024, slightly below the average of other major refugee groups. An increasing number are participating in vocational training programmes.

Since 2021, Germany has introduced special admission programmes for former local staff and particularly vulnerable Afghans. By March 2025, over 34 800 people had arrived under these schemes. Mediendienst Integration shares further statistics and information on the integration of Afghan refugees on its website.