Berlin – Germany’s Federal Statistical Office revealed on Friday a marked decline in the number of Syrian refugees arriving in the country during 2025, alongside a rise in those returning to Syria.
According to the figures, the number of Syrians who entered Germany between January and September 2025 fell by 46.5%, with only 40,000 new arrivals recorded, compared with 74,600 during the same period in 2024.
At the same time, the number of Syrians leaving Germany rose by 35.3%, reaching 21,800 departures in the first nine months of this year, compared with 16,100 a year earlier. As a result, the net Syrian migration balance dropped sharply to 18,100, down from 58,500 in 2024, according to the Frankfurter Rundschau.
The newspaper reported that asylum applications from Syrians have fallen by 67% in 2025, with 19,200 applications submitted by the end of September compared with 58,400 the previous year. Despite the steep decline, Syrians remain the largest group of asylum seekers in Germany, accounting for 21.9% of total applications during the same period.
By the end of July, data showed that 26,200 Syrian asylum applications had been submitted across the European Union – a 69% drop compared with the previous year. Syria now ranks as the third-largest country of origin for asylum seekers in the EU, making up 7% of total applications, behind Venezuela (14%) and Afghanistan (9%). Notably, 61% of all Syrian asylum requests in the EU were filed in Germany.
Related: Germany Divided Over Deportations of Syrian Refugees
Considering this decline, political debate in Germany has intensified over the issue of Syrian refugees, particularly concerning voluntary returns and forced deportations.
Last Saturday, the Bild newspaper reported tensions between Germany’s Interior and Foreign Ministries over the issue. Citing official sources, it said the Interior Ministry is pressing to implement the coalition agreement that calls for deportations to Syria, starting with refugees convicted of crimes.
However, this stance contrasts with that of Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who, during his recent visit to Damascus, said that returns to Syria were only possible in very limited cases. During his trip, Wadephul reportedly witnessed the extensive destruction and collapse of much of Syria’s essential infrastructure.
A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry confirmed that Berlin is holding talks with Damascus on an agreement to enable deportations. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, he added, has resumed reviewing asylum applications from Syrians – particularly those of single men considered fit for work.
