What proportion of Germany's voting population has a migrant background?
New Data Highlights Demographic Trends Among Germany’s Eligible Voters
12% of Eligible Voters Had a Migrant Background in 2023
Newly released figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) shed light on the demographic composition of Germany’s voting population. As of 2023, 12 percent of eligible voters in Germany had a migrant background, an increase from 9 percent in 2013.
On International Migrants Day (December 18), Destatis reported that out of 17.1 million residents aged 18 or older with a migrant background—25 percent of the total population—only 7.1 million were eligible to vote in federal elections. This is due to many residents lacking German citizenship, despite living in Germany for much or all of their lives.
According to Destatis, individuals are classified as having a “migrant background” if they or at least one parent migrated to Germany after 1950.
Naturalisation Boosts Migrant Representation Among Voters
In 2023, Germany recorded its highest number of naturalisations in 23 years, with most new citizens originating from Syria, Greece, and Romania. The implementation of the dual citizenship law in June 2024 is expected to significantly increase the number of eligible voters with migrant backgrounds in upcoming years, including for the 2025 Bundestag election.
Limitations of the Data for Predicting the 2025 Election Outcome
While the figures indicate a growing proportion of voters with migrant backgrounds, Destatis cautioned that the 2023 data provides only approximate insights into the impact of these demographic changes on the February 2025 snap election. The organisation noted that additional factors will likely shape the voting population in the lead-up to the election.