Soaring Foreign Population in Saxony-Anhalt: A Closer Look
Increase in International Residents in Saxony-Anhalt - Increase in Non-Germans Residing in Saxony-Anhalt
Things are heating up in Saxony-Anhalt, with a noticeable spike in the number of foreign residents. According to the Foreigner Central Register, by the end of 2024, a whopping 189,100 foreign men and women were calling Saxony-Anhalt home - that's a 4.3% bump from the previous year, as reported by the Halle-based Statistical Office.
The lion's share of these new arrivals hail from Ukraine (19.1%), Syria (15.7%), and Poland (7.6%).
Saxony-Anhalt: A Snapshot
Situated in eastern Germany, Saxony-Anhalt has traditionally been a predominantly ethnic German region with a dwindling population. The state has little by way of indigenous ethnic minorities and has experienced a steady decline in inhabitants since the mid-20th century, losing about 20% of its residents between 1960 and the early 21st century.
Post-World War II, Germany has witnessed numerous waves of immigration, from ethnic German repatriates from Eastern Europe to guest workers from Southern Europe, asylum seekers during the Yugoslav Wars, and refugees from the 2015 European migrant crisis. Today, about 29.7% of Germany’s population is of foreign descent, including foreigners, naturalized citizens, and ethnic German repatriates.
Ukrainians in Saxony-Anhalt
The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine have driven many to seek refuge in Germany, including Saxony-Anhalt. Though we don't have specific numbers for the state, it's clear Ukrainians represent a newer foreign group arriving as refugees and temporary migrants in Saxony-Anhalt - a trend echoed in broader German immigration patterns.
Syrians in Saxony-Anhalt
Syrians are a significant portion of the refugees admitted to Germany during and after the 2015 migrant crisis. While their presence in Saxony-Anhalt may be smaller compared to larger western states - given the state's generally low foreign population - Syrians are among the established refugee communities in Germany, including in the historically less immigrant-populated eastern states.
Poles in Saxony-Anhalt
Poles, taking advantage of EU freedom of movement since 2011, form one of the largest Eastern European immigrant groups in Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, they make up part of the foreign workforce and migrant population, albeit in smaller numbers than in other industrialized German states. Given the state's industrial and agricultural profile, some Poles may be employed in these sectors.
In summary, while Saxony-Anhalt has a predominantly ethnic German population with a sparse foreign population overall, we see continuing influxes of Ukrainians, Syrians, and Poles - mirroring larger German immigrant trends. With ongoing conflict in Ukraine and refugee crises around the globe, it's a trend that shows no signs of slowing down.
- The community policy in Saxony-Anhalt should address the increasing foreign population, particularly the steadily growing numbers of Ukrainians, Syrians, and Poles.
- Vocational training programs could be designed to cater to the needs of the newly arrived foreign population, such as Ukrainians, Syrians, and Poles, to help them integrate into the local workforce.
- The recent general-news reports suggested that the number of Syrian refugees residing in Saxony-Anhalt, though smaller compared to larger western states, is slowly increasing and becoming an established community.
- The politics of Saxony-Anhalt, with its traditional ethnic German population and dwindling numbers, are undergoing a significant transformation as a result of the increased presence of foreign populations like Ukrainians, Syrians, and Poles.
