- Immigrant Times
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 15
REFUGEES IN GERMANY
Refugees in Germany feel less welcome, but all aim for citizenship
By DIW Berlin*
With the rise of the far-right AfD party, public attitude toward refugees has become less welcoming
August 2025: Ten years after Angela Merkel's ‘We can do it’ statement, many refugees in Germany feel less welcome than when they first arrived. At the same time, concerns about xenophobia are growing. Three recent studies by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin)* on refugees who came to Germany between 2013 and 2019 show that refugees feel discriminated against in some areas of the labour and housing markets.
Nevertheless, their willingness to naturalise is high. Another key finding is that the development opportunities of children born in Germany to refugees depend on social conditions, rather than the refugee experience itself.
The feeling of welcome among refugees has been steadily declining since 2018, while concerns about xenophobia have increased significantly. The results on perceived discrimination in the labour and housing markets are particularly striking. When looking for housing, three out of ten refugees report discrimination – mostly based on ethnic origin, religion or physical characteristics.
There are differences depending on gender, level of education and region: male refugees perceive discrimination much more strongly in eastern Germany than in western Germany. “Perceived discrimination is not an isolated case for refugees – especially when looking for housing. This not only jeopardises their integration, but also social cohesion”, summarises study author Ellen Heidinger. Transparent allocation procedures and anonymous applications could create equal opportunities.
Citizenship
Almost all refugees who came to Germany between 2013 and 2019 aspire to naturalisation – a clear sign of their long-term intention to stay. The proportion of naturalised persons rose from 2.1 per cent (2021) to 7.5 per cent (2023), the number of applications tripled to 25.7 per cent, and a further 65.4 per cent intend to apply for naturalisation. Less than two per cent do not plan to apply.
The 2024 reforms to nationality law will shorten the residence period for naturalisation, but at the same time increase the requirements for economic independence. Particularly vulnerable groups – such as single parents or the low-skilled – will be held back. “Naturalisation is a key step towards social participation. But the reform threatens to exclude precisely those who would benefit most from it. This squanders valuable opportunities for integration,” said study author Jörg Hartmann.
Children
Children born in Germany to refugee mothers show no differences from other children in Germany in terms of birth weight, length, caesarean section frequency and breastfeeding behaviour. However, developmental differences in language, motor skills and social behaviour become apparent in early childhood. These can largely be explained by the mother's mental health, education and employment status, as well as access to institutional care. ‘It is not the mothers' own experiences of flight, but rather social and structural living conditions that are decisive for developmental opportunities,’ explains study author Sabine Zinn.
Fazit
Ten years after the high level of refugee migration, Sabine Zinn takes stock and finds the results mixed: "After ten years, most male refugees have entered the labour market. However, female refugees are particularly less likely to be employed. Most refugees aspire to become naturalised citizens – a sign that they want to stay in Germany permanently. However, structural barriers continue to exist, which make participation difficult. These lie primarily in a lack of targeted education and labour market integration."
* German Institute for Economic Research
Founded in 1925, DIW Berlin (the German Institute for Economic Research) is one of the leading economic research institutes in Germany. The institute analyses the economic and social aspects of topical issues, formulating and disseminating policy advice based on its research findings. A member of the Leibniz Association, DIW Berlin is independent and primarily publicly funded.
Further reading: Foreign nationals in German states and cities || Housing asylum seekers || Immigration in Europe's North || Immigrants in Italy ||
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