Germany Divided

People & origins

Naturalisations

Foreign nationals who became German citizens, per 1,000 inhabitants, 2025

In the record year 2025, 3.92 people per 1,000 inhabitants became German citizens in the former West, 2.6 times the rate of 1.50 in the East. The five eastern states accounted for 18,478 of the 321,830 naturalisations recorded by the 16 states (5.7%).

< 2.832.834.375.927.46≥ 9.01

Inner-German border 1949–1990 ·16 states · 2025

Former West

3.92

excl. Berlin

Former East

1.50

excl. Berlin

Berlin

10.55

Germany

3.86

Figures in per 1,000

The East stands at 38% of the West's level (2025).

By state

Former WestFormer EastBerlin
  1. Berlin10.55
  2. Hamburg6.15
  3. Bremen4.96
  4. Bayern4.50
  5. Nordrhein-Westfalen4.23
  6. Baden-Württemberg3.54
  7. Niedersachsen3.52
  8. Rheinland-Pfalz3.47
  9. Hessen3.19
  10. Schleswig-Holstein2.90
  11. Saarland2.69
  12. Brandenburg1.83
  13. Thüringen1.77
  14. Sachsen-Anhalt1.37
  15. Sachsen1.29
  16. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern1.28

2025

Notes & caveats

  • Rates per 1,000 inhabitants on 31.12.2025 are our calculation. Much of the gap reflects the smaller foreign population in the East (see "Foreign population").
  • Destatis notes that some districts' 2025 reports were late or incomplete, so state totals may be revised.
  • Naturalisations are published by state only. Naturalisations of Germans living abroad (11,515 in 2025, handled by the Federal Office of Administration) are not assigned to a state and are left out.
Show the table
StateSide2025
Saarlandwest2.69 per 1,000
Berlinberlin10.55 per 1,000
Brandenburgeast1.83 per 1,000
Mecklenburg-Vorpommerneast1.28 per 1,000
Sachseneast1.29 per 1,000
Sachsen-Anhalteast1.37 per 1,000
Thüringeneast1.77 per 1,000
Schleswig-Holsteinwest2.90 per 1,000
Hamburgwest6.15 per 1,000
Niedersachsenwest3.52 per 1,000
Bremenwest4.96 per 1,000
Nordrhein-Westfalenwest4.23 per 1,000
Hessenwest3.19 per 1,000
Rheinland-Pfalzwest3.47 per 1,000
Baden-Württembergwest3.54 per 1,000
Bayernwest4.50 per 1,000