Germany's population has surpassed 84 million for the first time, Germany's Federal Statistical Office has revealed.
According to the latest press release issued by Destatis, as of June 30, 2022, the number of people living in Germany increased by 843.000, or 0,1% compared to the end of 2021, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.
Destatis pointed out that such extensive population growth was also recorded in 1992 when borders were opened in Eastern Europe and in 2015 when large numbers of migrants left their country to reach Germany.
"The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that after German reunification, such a large population increase was recorded in 1992 (+700.000), when the borders were opened in Eastern Europe and there was the war in Yugoslavia, and in 2015, when migrants fled to Germany (+978.000)", it is stated in the Destatis press release.
It was highlighted that this increase is due, among other things, to the war in Ukraine, a large number of refugees finding shelter in Germany.
The data shows that approximately 750.000 citizens of Ukraine entered Germany in the first half of 2022. At the end of June 2022, the number of Ukrainian women in Germany increased by 501.000 compared to the end of 2021, while the number of men living in Germany increased by 248.000.
Destatis also showed that there were more deaths than births, but the loss was offset by the number of refugees. According to the latter, deaths exceeded births in Germany by 161.000 in the first half of 2022.
German authorities said a total of 115.402 asylum applications were submitted from January to August, 3.0172 more than last year. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees said the country registered a further 17.216 further applications, representing 12,9% of all applications registered in August 2022.
"In the period January-August 2022, a total of 132.618 people applied for asylum in Germany (115.402 initial applications and 17.216 subsequent applications). Compared to the same period of the previous year (85.230 initial applications), this means an increase of 35,4%", it is stated in the press release of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.