Europe's most sought-after relocation spot for German expats is Switzerland.
Germany's favorite spot for expats in Europe continues to be Switzerland, overshadowing Austria and Spain. As per the Federal Statistical Office's reports at the start of 2023, a whopping 315,960 German residents were there. This represented a 1.5% increase, or approximately 4,660 more individuals, compared to the year prior. The statisticians commented, "The number of Germans residing in Switzerland has been on an upward trend for years."
Second on the list is Austria, the adjacent country. As of recent, around 225,010 German residents were reported living there. This figure showed a notable increase of 3.7%, or 8,280 individuals, compared to the previous year. The Federal Statistical Office explained, "Both countries provide ease in relocation for Germans due to their proximity and the absence of language barriers."
Bumping Spain down to third place is the first country outside the German-speaking area. At the start of 2023, around 125,790 German residents were staying there. However, this marked a significant decrease of 11.8%, or 16,840 people, compared to 2022.
Switzerland also holds the title as the European country where Germans most frequently acquire citizenship. In 2022, naturalizations reached an unprecedented high of 8,960. This represented a 12.8% increase compared to the prior year. Ranking second was Sweden, where around 1,320 Germans became citizens in 2022. This figure showed a 2.5% decrease compared to the previous year.
The number of Germans naturalizing in France witnessed a minimal dip. While around 430 Germans acquired French citizenship in 2021, the number decreased slightly to around 420 in 2022, as per the statisticians.
The Commission recognized the significant increase in German residents in Austria and Switzerland, attributing it to the ease of relocation due to proximity and language barriers. The Commission also highlighted Switzerland's status as the European country where Germans most frequently acquire citizenship.
