Switzerland is the top emigration destination for Germans, followed by Austria and Spain. In addition, more and more Germans are opting for Swiss citizenship.
Emigrants from Germany most frequently move to Switzerland in Europe. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden, at the beginning of 2022 almost 311,300 German citizens were resident in the neighboring country. Their number has been increasing for years. Compared to 2021, however, the increase was less than one percent.
Neighboring Austria follows in second place among the most popular emigration destinations for Germans in Europe. A good 216,700 Germans lived there at the beginning of 2022. However, at four percent, the increase compared to the previous year was higher than in Switzerland. The third largest group of German citizens lived in Spain at the beginning of 2022. A good 142,600 Germans lived there – two percent more than at the beginning of 2021.
Switzerland is also the country in Europe whose citizenship Germans acquired most frequently: in 2021 the number of Germans who accepted Swiss citizenship reached a new high: a total of 7940 naturalizations were recorded – 14 percent more than a year earlier. Sweden was second in terms of naturalizations: almost 1,350 Germans became Swedish citizens in 2021, five percent fewer than in the previous year.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
