Syrian arrivals in Germany nearly halved since al-Assad was ousted

The number of new arrivals from Syria in Germany has declined significantly since the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year, slumping by 46.5% in 2025, the federal statistical office said on Friday.

According to the preliminary figures, some 40,000 Syrian nationals migrated to Germany between January and September, down from some 74,600 in the same period last year.

At the same time, the number of Syrians living in Germany who returned home rose by 35.3% to 21,800, up from 16,000 in 2024.

The development may not come as a surprise after more than a decade of civil war finally came to an end last year when the al-Assad regime was ousted by an Islamist-led rebel alliance on December 8, marking the collapse of a dynasty that had ruled the country for over 50 years.

However, as the first anniversary of al-Assad's ouster nears, the situation in Syria remains fragile, with hopes for a better future dampened by repeated fatal clashes, including between government troops and minorities.

Meanwhile, Germany's new government, which took office in May, has vowed to clamp down on migration, with recent comments by Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggesting he is eager for Syrians to return home.

The German statistical office said applications for asylum filed by Syrians were also down by some 67% compared to the same period last year, reaching 19,200 by the end of September.

However, Syrians remained the largest group among those seeking asylum in Germany, accounting for 21.9%.

According to a 2024 census, some 1.22 million people with Syrian roots lived in Germany last year, 81% of whom immigrated themselves. Another 19% were born to Syrian parents in Germany.

The average age in the group is 26.6 years, and 57% are male, according to statistical office.

Some 24% of the group have German citizenship.