In 2024, Germany granted a record number of people - 291 955, which is 46% more than in 2023. This is evidenced by the data of the federal statistical management of the country.
Significant growth is related to changes in the legislation: since June 2024, the term of residence required for naturalization has been reduced from eight to five years, and in some cases - even to three. This made it possible for many people who could not apply for citizenship before, finally obtaining it.
Among the new citizens are the largest group Syrians - 28% or 83 150 people, most of whom came to Germany as refugees in 2015–2016, when the country opened borders for hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East. The Turks (8%), Iraqi (5%), Russians (4%) and Afghans (3%) are followed.
The most sensitive growth was recorded among the Russians: their number among the naturalized increased from 1 995 in 2023 to 12 980 in 2024. Also, more than twice the number of Turks has increased - up to 22 525 people.
The new law also allows to keep their preliminary citizenship in receiving German, which is especially relevant for Turkish migrants and their descendants-the Gastarbiters of the 1960s and 1970s.
At the same time, the new coalition government of Germany, formed by conservatives and social democrats, plans to abolish some weakening and regain a minimum term of five years. Conservatives believe that citizenship should be granted at the end of the integration period, and too short dates can contribute to migration growth and cause dissatisfaction with the population.
