THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Germany is increasingly becoming a diverse country, with the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) revealing that more than one-quarter of the population has a migration background.
As of 2024, 21.2 million people in Germany—representing 25.6% of the total population—are either immigrants themselves or the children of immigrants. This marks a notable increase from 2023, when individuals with migration backgrounds made up around 24.3% of the population. The growth reflects the continuing demographic shift in one of Europe’s largest and most influential countries.
According to Destatis, a person is considered to have a migration background if they or both of their parents were born without German citizenship and migrated to Germany after 1950. This includes both first-generation immigrants and their children born in Germany.
Why people are coming to Germany
When asked about their reasons for coming to Germany, 31% of respondents cited protection-related grounds, such as fleeing war or persecution and seeking asylum or international protection. Other significant reasons include:
• Employment opportunities (23%)
• Family reunification (21%)
• Education and vocational training (8%), particularly among those who arrived after 2015
Germany has played a key role in recent global refugee and migration dynamics, particularly during the 2015-2016 migration wave when Chancellor Angela Merkel famously declared, “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do this”), opening Germany’s doors to hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria.
Shifting migration patterns
Between 2015 and 2021, the majority of new arrivals came from countries such as Syria (716,000 people), Romania (300,000) and Poland (230,000). However, since 2022, the migration landscape has shifted significantly due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Germany has since received more than 1.18 million refugees from Ukraine and are beneficiaries of temporary protection as of the end of March 2025. This has made Ukraine and Syria the leading countries of origin for immigrants currently residing in Germany.
A younger and more diverse Germany
People with migration backgrounds also skew younger than the general population. Their average age is 38.2 years, almost nine years younger than those without a migration background, who have an average age of 47.4 years. This generational difference is even more pronounced among those with one immigrant parent—their average age is just 25 years, underscoring the growing presence of second-generation Germans with diverse roots.
The demographic trend presents both opportunities and challenges for Germany, particularly in areas such as education, workforce development, social integration and political representation, migration experts say.
African and Diaspora Implications
While the data didn’t provide a specific breakdown for African countries, previous studies have shown steady increases in the number of migrants from Africa, particularly from Eritrea, Nigeria, Ghana and Somalia. Many African migrants come for educational or professional reasons or to seek protection.
The growing diversity in Germany calls for more inclusive public policies and greater recognition of the contributions made by migrants and their descendants to German society, migration experts say. It also raises questions about how well institutions reflect this diversity, especially in education, media and politics.
Sola Jolaoso
