decreasing number of Germans migrating to the United States
It appears that the allure of The Dreamland, aka the USA, has decreased for Germans. The latest statistics show that less Germans are permanently settling in the USA. On the flip side, more Americans are seeking German citizenship.
Data from the Federal Statistical Office indicates that approximately 9,200 Germans migrated to the USA in 2023. Apart from the COVID years, this number is at its lowest in two decades. In contrast, about 12,300 Germans shifted base to the USA in 2003.
In spite of the decrease, the USA remains one of the top choices for German immigrants. Only Switzerland (21,000) and Austria had a higher number of German immigrants last year.
In 2023, there were around 520,400 Germans residing in the USA, which is 11% less than a decade ago. However, the number of US citizens in Germany has increased by 29%. In 2023, around 125,800 US citizens called Germany home.
The Office of Immigration Statistics reported that around 4,200 Germans became US citizens in 2022. This figure has remained somewhat stable over the years, with data for 2023 yet to be released.
Conversely, the number of Americans becoming German citizens has surged more than eightfold from 2003 to 2023. Approximately 2,000 Americans became German citizens in 2023.
fewer German-American unions
The Federal Office explains that most of the increase in German citizenship for Americans are "old" and "restitution" cases, meaning former German citizens whose citizenship was revoked due to political, racial, or religious reasons between 1933 and 1945, and their descendants, were granted citizenship.
The number of marriages between Germans and US citizens has been on a downward trend over the past 20 years. In 2003, around 1,740 such couples tied the knot, while in 2023, the figure dropped to around 1,230, a decrease of 29%.
Despite the decrease in permanent German settlement in the USA, the USA continues to be a top destination for German migration, ranking third behind Switzerland and Austria in 2023. This decrease in German-American migration may contribute to fewer German-American unions, as the number of marriages between Germans and US citizens has decreased by 29% over the past 20 years.
