More than a third of EU citizens living in Germany are considering leaving the country, driven primarily by high living costs and a feeling of not belonging. The findings come from a study commissioned by Germany's Migration and Integration Commissioner Natalie Pawlik, who presented the results on Tuesday.
According to the study, which combines original survey data with the latest available statistics, there were approximately 5.1 million people with citizenship from another EU country living in Germany as of the end of 2023. That figure has nearly doubled since the end of 2010. By nationality, Romanian and Polish citizens make up the largest groups, followed by Italians, Bulgarians, and Croatians.
Among those who migrated to Germany from 2010 onwards, the primary reasons for moving were job seeking or having already secured employment in Germany, cited by 48.5 percent, and family reunification such as joining a spouse, cited by 28.8 percent. According to the most recently available data, 2.7 million EU citizens are currently in employment in Germany.
However, 35 percent of the EU citizens surveyed are now considering leaving, and 13 percent have already taken initial steps towards doing so. The most commonly cited reasons for wanting to leave are the cost of housing in Germany, named by 42 percent, and the general cost of living, cited by 36 percent. Nearly 39 percent said they simply do not feel at home in Germany.
Discrimination was cited as a reason for considering departure by just under 15 percent of respondents overall. However, among people from Southern Europe, that figure rose sharply to 28 percent, nearly double the overall average.
Pawlik noted that while EU citizens are legally equal in Germany, in practice they frequently encounter language barriers, obstacles to labour market access, and discrimination. "Anyone who comes to Germany, works here, and helps shape our society has the right to genuine participation," she said. "We need better access to language courses, consistent protection against labour exploitation, and zero tolerance for discrimination."
Pawlik warned that Germany cannot afford to drive away a third of its EU citizens through poor conditions. She also identified the recognition of migrants' qualifications as an area requiring significant improvement. The study was based on data analysis, qualitative expert interviews, and an online survey of 1,000 EU citizens. The research period ran from March 2024 to October 2025.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
