New official data from Germany reveals a dramatic shift in migration patterns, with the number of Syrian nationals arriving in the country falling sharply in the first three quarters of 2025.
Steep Decline in Arrivals
According to Germany's Federal Statistical Office, known as Destatis, immigration of Syrian nationals to Germany fell by 46.5 percent in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The agency reported that approximately 40,000 Syrians arrived in Germany between January and September 2025. This figure is a significant drop from the 74,600 Syrian arrivals recorded during the first nine months of the previous year.
Increase in Departures
While new arrivals were declining, the data also showed a notable trend in the opposite direction. The number of Syrians leaving Germany saw a substantial increase. Destatis reported that departures of Syrians rose by 35.3 percent during the first nine months of this year. In total, 21,800 departures were recorded in that timeframe.
Political Context and Asylum Status
This statistical shift comes amidst significant political statements regarding the status of Syrian refugees. On Thursday, November 6, 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a statement declaring that the civil war in Syria had ended. Chancellor Merz further stated that, in the government's view, there were no longer grounds for granting asylum to Syrians in Germany based on the previous context of the conflict.
This policy position could have profound implications. At the end of 2024, Syrians seeking protection constituted the second-largest group of asylum seekers in Germany, trailing only behind those from Ukraine. The new data and political developments signal a potential turning point in Germany's approach to Syrian migration.
