Wiesbaden (dpa) – According to the Federal Statistical Office, more people were naturalised in Germany in 2023 than ever before since figures were first recorded in 2000. The number of naturalisations increased by 19 percent as compared to the previous year. In absolute figures, some 200,100 foreign nationals from 157 different countries were naturalised in 2023. The most common countries of origin were Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Romania and Afghanistan, which together accounted for over half of all naturalisations. A number of requirements have to be met to gain German citizenship, including eight years of residence in Germany with the right of residence (five years from 27 June 2024 and three years in exceptional cases), proficiency in German, and sufficient income to cover one’s own living expenses.
