Germans are emigrating from the country: At least 1.2 million people (Germans and foreigners) left Germany to go abroad in 2022 alone. Last year’s statistics also show an increasing trend in the number of Germans who decide to emigrate to start a new life away from home, those who dream of living in warmer environments, as well as those who seek more favourable job opportunities abroad. While Germany continues to attract many immigrants from all over the world, there is a lesser-known but equally growing trend in the opposite direction: Germans who decide to leave their country. This trend has been captured by a documentary series Goodbye Deutschland! , broadcast by the VOX television channel. It tells the stories of people who have decided to move abroad to start a new life away from their place of birth.
Germans are emigrating from the country
No one would expect Germans to emigrate since their country has a strong economy, a stable social system and a high quality of life. Statistics however show that thousands of Germans decide to permanently emigrate to other countries every year.
It is estimated that every year, around 210,000 people with German citizenship aged 20 to 40 leave their country. Three quarters of them have a university degree, and the trend is growing, as shown by the
data from the Federal Statistical Office and the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB).
On the other hand, the number of people returning is constantly decreasing. Ten percent of people under 30 are also actively looking for work abroad.
Przeczytaj po polsku: Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland. Dlaczego Niemcy emigrują teraz z własnego kraju?
What’s the common destination for German emigrants?
Switzerland tops the list of the most popular countries in Europe for Germans to move to, followed by Austria and Spain. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office released on August 26, around 315,960 German citizens lived in the neighbouring country Switzerland at the beginning of 2023. That is around 1.5 percent, or 4,660 people, more than the previous year. “The number of Germans living in Switzerland has been growing for years,” statistics show.
Austria is the second most popular emigration destination. Around 225,010 Germans lived there. Germans are also moving to Poland. Last year, 4,080 Germans emigrated there. Poland is attractive to Germans because the cost of living is much lower than in Germany.
Read also: Train Travel from the UK to Poland: Everything You Need to Know
Why do Germans emigrate?
Several reasons motivate Germans to emigrate, which is a very difficult decision. The following are the main reasons. Better living conditions – many expats are looking for better job opportunities or a lower cost of living. Countries like Switzerland, the United States, Canada and Australia offer higher salaries, better working conditions or more living space, making them attractive destinations.
Climate and lifestyle – Some Germans decide to move to countries with a warmer climate, such as Spain, Portugal or Italy. Such migrations are often driven by a need to change the pace of life, seek relaxation and a better work-life balance.
Adventure and new experiences – Many Germans decide to emigrate to have completely new experiences. For young people who grew up in the stable but predictable Germany, living in distant countries is an exciting opportunity to get to know new cultures and gain unique experiences.
Goodbye Deutschland! – Stories of brave emigrants
The docuseries Goodbye Deutschland! , broadcast by the VOX channel, has been attracting crowds of viewers for years, showing the stories of Germans who have decided to radically change their lives. The program presents the fates of people who leave for work and those who simply want to try something new.
The series shows the everyday challenges that emigrants face: from difficulties with learning the language, through adaptation to new cultures, to trying to find one’s place in a completely different professional environment.
Each story is different, but they all have a common denominator – the courage to start over. The program shows that emigration is not always an easy decision. Viewers follow the ups and downs of the protagonists, as well as their successes and disappointments. For some, moving abroad turns out to be a dream come true, for others it is a challenge that they are not always able to cope with.