A YouGov poll indicates that migration and economic factors are primary drivers for potential emigration.
More than half of German citizens are considering moving abroad, according to a YouGov survey reported by Die Welt. The survey revealed that migration issues and economic difficulties are the main reasons individuals are contemplating leaving Germany.
The poll showed that 31% of respondents would “definitely” move abroad if they had complete freedom of choice, unhindered by job, personal, or financial considerations. An additional 27% stated they would “probably” leave. Conversely, 22% responded “probably not,” and 15% said they would “definitely not” consider relocating.
Among those who expressed general or potential interest in moving abroad, 36% indicated that the thought of leaving Germany had become more frequent in recent months.
Within this group, 61% identified the country’s immigration situation as a significant factor. Furthermore, 41% cited Germany’s ongoing recession as a reason to consider emigration. Political concerns were also evident, with 29% pointing to the rise of the right-wing AfD party and 22% mentioning the perceived military threat from Russia.
Twelve percent of respondents were concerned about a potential decline in US protection of Europe due to Donald Trump’s presidency, while 36% cited “other reasons” for wanting to leave.
The survey indicated that respondents considering emigration most often preferred other German-speaking countries as destinations. Switzerland was the top choice at 30%, followed by Austria at 23%. Spain (22%) and Canada (17%) were also popular options.
Germany is the only G7 nation that has not recorded economic growth in the past two years, making economic recovery a central priority for the government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that Germany will continue to underperform its G7 counterparts in 2025, with an expected growth rate of just 0.1%.
Despite the economic slowdown, Germany remains the leading EU destination for asylum seekers. In 2024, the country received over 237,000 applications, accounting for more than a quarter of all claims filed across the bloc’s 27 member states.
Earlier this month, Berlin implemented stricter border controls to reduce the number of asylum seekers entering the country, reversing the open-border policy adopted by Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2015.
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