Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
If not otherwise stated, regional breakdowns correspond to the most recent NUTS classification. There are agreements between Eurostat and Candidate countries as well as between Eurostat and EFTA countries, for which statistical regions have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS.
For more information on the versions in force, please see this website Overview.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
1. Usually Resident Population
2. Legal Residence Population
3. Registered Residence Population
4. Other
Population
X
X
Live births
X
X
Deaths
X
X
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
Acquisitions of citizenship
X
X
Loss of citizenship
Legally induced abortions
Late foetal deaths
X
X
Infant deaths
X
X
Marriages
X
X
Divorces
X
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
Population
Persons at their place of single or main residence in Germany according to German federal law on registration (BMG - Bundesmeldegesetz). Members of diplomatic services as well as their families are exempted from registration and are not included in the population. The same applies to persons for whom an exemption to register is stated in international agreements. Asylum seekers, refugees and people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data.
Live births
Is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart or pulsation of the umbilical cord.
Deaths
No exact definition by law – but the irreversible and complete functional failure of the entire brain was set as obligatory condition. A medical doctor has to testify every death.
Immigrants
Registrations of single or main residence in Germany with former place of residence abroad as recorded by the local residents' registration offices. According to the federal law on registration, registration is obligatory for everyone moving to Germany with the intention of staying more than 3 months. In some cases, persons staying less than 3 months register if they need a residence certificate e.g. for tax purposes. Asylum seekers, refugees and people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data. The statistical unit of the national immigration statistics is the immigration event.
Emigrants
Deregistrations of single residence in Germany with next place of residence abroad as recorded by the local residents' registration offices. According to the federal law on registration, deregistration is obligatory for everyone moving out of his/her residence without taking a new residence in Germany regardless of the intended duration of absence. Administrative deregistrations of persons who are not found anymore at their place of residence are included. Asylum seekers, refugees and people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data. The statistical unit of the national emigration statistics is the emigration event.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Acquisition of citizenship in Germany encompasses three different means:Naturalizations;Acquisition of German citizenship for Ethnic Germans (Spätaussiedler); andAcquisition of German citizenship through adoption of a non-German person by German parents or a German parent.The Federal Statistical Office publishes only data on acquisition of citizenship by naturalization. The national data include cases of naturalizations of persons abroad (restitution cases of forced denaturalizations during the Third Reich). Data provided according to european legislation refer to the resident population only.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Foetus does not show any evidence of life (see definition life birth), but birth weight is at least 500 grams or [since November 2018] duration of gestation is at least 24 weeks.
Infant deaths
Death during the first year of life of a live birth.
Marriages
Certifications of unions between two persons by a registrar's office.
Divorces
Decisions of German law courts. Divorces concerning members of foreign armed forces and diplomatic service are not taken into account.
3.4.3 Differences in statistical concepts and definitions between the statistics transmitted to Eurostat and those disseminated in the National Statistics Institute's website
Population
No difference.
Live births
No difference.
Deaths
No difference.
Immigrants
Differences between national statistics and statistics for Eurostat concern time criteria, inclusion of registrations and deregistrations with unknown place of previous/next residence and statistical unit.
Emigrants
Differences between national statistics and statistics for Eurostat concern time criteria, inclusion of registrations and deregistrations with unknown place of previous/next residence and statistical unit.
Acquisitions of citizenship
German figures include naturalizations of persons abroad. Data on acquisition of citizenship by 'Spätaussiedler' or by adoption are not disseminated by the Federal Statistical Office.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Not available.
Infant deaths
Not available.
Marriages
Not available.
Divorces
Main difference concerns time criterion.
3.5. Statistical unit
If not otherwise stated, number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
Statistical population
Population
Persons actually living in private households or instituions at their place of their single or main residence
Live births
Live births of persons registered at the place of single or main residence of the mother.
Deaths
Deaths of persons registered in their place of their single or main residence.
Immigrants
Immigrants who move their usual place of residence from abroad to Germany.
For German citizens this is based on official migration flow statistics. The statistical unit is the immigration or emigration event.
For Non-nationals this is based on the Central Register of Foreigners. The statistical unit is the immigrating or emigrating person.
Asylum seekers and refugees are included in the data if they meet the 12 months criteria. In 2022 and 2023 people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are considered as immigrants regardless of the 12 months criteria. In 2022 this also applies to Ukrainian citizens with an application still pending at the end of 2022 and temporary protection granted by mid 2023. In 2023 people who are applying for temporary protection can be identified and are considered as immigrants.
Emigrants
Emigrants who move their usual place of residence from Germany to abroad.
Asylum seekers, refugees and people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data if they meet the 12 months criteria.
For German citizens this is based on the official migration flow statistics. The statistical unit is the immigration or emigration event.
For Non-nationals this is based on the Central Register of Foreigners. The statistical unit is the immigrating or emigrating person.
Acquisitions of citizenship
National: persons living in Germany or abroad who were naturalized during the reference period
European: persons living in Germany who acquired the german citizenship
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
All births that fulfill the criteria of 3.4.2. registered at the place of single or main residence of the mother.
Infant deaths
Deaths of persons before their 1st birthday registered in their place of their single or main residence.
Marriages
The statistical population includes all civil marriages. The regional allocation is based on the place where the marriage took place (place of registration), i.e. the registry office where the marriage was concluded and recorded.
Divorces
Completed proceedings for divorce or annulment of a marriage that are legally binding. The regional unit refers to the place of residence used to determine the place of jurisdiction.
3.7. Reference area
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail (NUTS3).
National data on divorces are by Länder (NUTS1) only.
Migration data according to the definition of usual residence is available at the national level.
Data on acquisition of citizenship available at national level.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data according to Regulation (EC) 862/2007 are available sinde 2008.
Migration data according to the definition of usual residence is available since 2009.
Migration data by single citizenships and single countries of next/previous residence are available since 2014. Breakdowns by single countries of birth are available since 2020.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Population: number of persons;
Live births: cases of live births;
Deaths: cases of deaths;
Immigrants: Persons for non-nationals and immigration cases for nationals;
Emigrants: Persons for non-nationals and emigration cases for nationals;
Acquisitions of citizenship: Cases of acquisition of citizenship.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred.
The reference period for naturalizations is the year in which the naturalization certificate was issued.
For migration of non-nationals, the reference period is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
For migration of nationals, the reference period is the year in which the migration event is reported in the national statistics. On the one hand, this includes late registrations of migration events from the previous year. On the other hand, late registrations of migrations events from the current year are not included.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
For part of the statistics, data produced by the Statistical Offices of the Länder are used by the Federal Statistical Office.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Confidentiality of data is regulated by the Bundesstatistikgesetz and the data protection act.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
For the data on vital events, marriages and divorces of cells with less than 3 persons is not allowed.
Confidentiality for data on acquisitions of citizenship is from 2018 onwards assured by means of deterministic rounding. Numbers are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. As a consequence, differences between reported sums and the sum of individual cells may occur.
Population data by country of birth were calculated with a specific estimation method using the distribution of countries of birth by citizenship, age groups and sex from census 2022. The census data used to calculate the distribution were treated for confidentialtiy with the cell-key method.
The provided documentation on methodology describes the estimation method used for initial data delivery. In 2024 a new method for estimating immigration and emigration in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 was implemented. Results from reference year 2014 on are based on the new methodology. A review article on the new method will be published subsequently.
The provided documentation on methodology describes the estimation method used for initial data delivery.
In 2024 a new method for estimating immigration and emigration in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 was implemented. Results from reference year 2014 on are based on the new methodology. A review article on the new method will be published subsequently.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Results are based on statistical reporting by naturalization offices (mostly at NUTS 3, sometimes NUTS 2).
Data on acquisition of German citizenship by Ethnic Germans is centrally provided by the Federal Administration Office, based on procedural data on immigrating Ethnic Germans. There may be a time discrepancy between the start of the procedures reported in the statistics and the actual “handing over” of the German passport.
Data on adoptions are provided by the Youth Welfare Offices (mostly at county, i.e. NUTS 3) on non-German adoptees living in Germany or having arrived from abroad.
Statistics are based on administrative data on decisions on dissolutions of marriages provided by german law courts. Basic data are yearly transmitted by the law courts to the statistical offices of the Länder for validation and compilation:
Data are based on the cadastral land registers of the Länder at community level. Changes in surface of administrative units due to a modification of the borders of administrative units are taken from the legal act modifying the administrative units.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Information on quality documentation is available on our homepage:
European definition is implemented. Code of practice is applied.
Country of birth
Country of birth is the country where the person was born. Code of practice is applied.
Country of birth of the mother
Country of birth is the country where the mother was born. Code of practice is applied.
Country of previous usual residence
European definition is implemented. Code of practice is applied.
Country of next usual residence
European definition is implemented. Code of practice is applied.
Deaths
Definition of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 is implemented. Code of practice is applied.
Divorce
Not available.
Emigrants
The 12 months-criteria from Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 is applied. Code of practice is applied.
First-time marrying person
Not available.
First-time registering partner
Not available.
Foetal death
Not available.
Foreign-born
Definition of Regulation (EU) No 351/2010 is implemented under consideration of the place of occurence. Code of practice is applied.
Immigrants
The 12 months-criteria from Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 is applied. Code of practice is applied.
Infant death
Not available.
Late foetal death
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Level of development
Not available.
Live birth
Definition of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 is implemented. Code of practice is applied.
Live birth order
Not available.
Marriage
Not available.
Native born
Definition of Regulation (EU) No 351/2010 is implemented under consideration of the place of occurrence. Code of practice is applied.
Person contracting legal union for first-time
Not available.
Regional
Commission Regulation (EU) No 868/2014 amending the annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) is applied.
Registered partnership
Not available.
Registered partnership legally dissolved
Not available.
Separation
Not available.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
11.2.1. Quality assessment: Type of duration of stay used when counting a person as a migrant according to Article 2(b) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
1. Actual duration of stay of at least 12 months
2. Intended duration of stay of at least 12 months
3. Actual and intended duration of stay of at least 12 months
4. Other. Please specify
Nationals
Immigrants
X (By assumption, German immigrants intend to stay at least 12 months)
Emigrants
X (estimated)
EEA citizens
Immigrants
X (partly estimated)
Emigrants
X (partly estimated)
Non EEA citizens
Immigrants
X (partly estimated)
Emigrants
X (partly estimated)
11.2.2. Quality assessment of the definition of acquisitions of citizenship according to Article 3(d) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
1. Acquisitions of citizenship granted to persons having their usual residence in the territory of the Member State
2. Other. Please specify
Acquisitions of citizenship
Based on administrative data with full coverage
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Population statistics are needed for a wide range of users for political, administrativ, scientific and economic purposes and are of general interest for the overall society.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
All mandatory data are provided, if data quality is sufficient. Migration data for persons aged 95 or older is of insufficient quality for a further single year breakdown, therefore results are aggregated for this age group.
Voluntary data are partially provided.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy and special cases (Inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister,...)
Population
Population figures are calculated using the component method. The final results are based on a complete count of vital events and migrations events registered by the registrars and residents' registration offices respectively and on the census 2022. All the final flow data are checked regarding double counting, completeness of variables and plausibility of information. Data are less accurate with growing time lag since the last census because of the cumulation of errors in the flow statistics over time, particularly because of underreporting of emigration. After each census, data are adjusted to the new census starting with the census year. The last adjustment occured recently with the census 2022.
Asylum seekers, refugees and refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data.
Live births
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Births abroad of resident women might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
Asylum seekers, refugees and refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Deaths
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Deaths abroad of resident population might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
Asylum seekers, refugees and refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Immigrants
Administrative data sources are used for both nationals (migration flow statistics based on data from registration offices) and non-nationals (data from the Central Register of Foreigners).This provides complete coverage of the target population. However, specific accuracy restrictions remain:
Imputations are necessary when there is less than 12 months between arrival date and the date of data delivery to the statistical office. Ex Post analyses show that the imputation is overall good but less reliable for countries with small numbers of migrants to Germany.
Imputations are also used when the sequence of migration events in the central register of foreigners is not plausible (up to 10% of cases).
For nationals, imputations are further needed in a number of cases to address missing data on the duration of stay abroad.
There can be an overcoverage of arrivals in the Central register of foreigners when a person is registered more than once. Large efforts have been undertaken by the migration authorities with the use of biometric data to reduce these cases.
Reasons for "unknown" in immigration figures:
Concerning the breakdown of immigrants by citizenship, the category „unknown applies if information was implausible or missing in the data transmitted by the local registration offices / in the Central Register of Foreigners.
Concerning the breakdown by country of birth, the category „unknown“ applies if information on country of birth was implausible or missing in the data transmitted by the local registration offices / in the Central Register of Foreigners and no imputation was carried out.
Concerning the breakdown by country of previous residence, there has been an increase in the proportion of immigrants with an unknown country of previous residence from reference year 2016 on. This is because German citizens who register again after not having been registered for some time in Germany are since 2016 included in the immigration figures.
Emigrants
Administrative data sources are used for both nationals (migration flow statistics based on data from registration offices) and non-nationals (data from the Central Register of Foreigners).This provides complete coverage of the target population. However, specific accuracy restrictions remain:
There is probably some undercoverage due to persons leaving Germany without deregistration. Missing emigration events are partially rectified through administrative deregistrations, which are taken into account in emigrations data. In those cases there can be a time gap between departure and administrative deregistration so that the patterns of deregistrations may timely differ from the emigration pattern.
Imputation with rate of stay methods are methods are necessary when there is less than 12 months between arrival date and the date of data delivery to the statistical office. Ex Post analyses show that the imputation is overall good but less reliable for countries with small numbers of migrants to Germany. Imputations with rate of stay methods are also used when the sequence of migration events in the central register of foreigners is not plausible (up to 15% of cases).
An undercoverage or overcoverage -in particular for nationals - can result from assumptions to classify departures with an unknown place of destination in internal or international migration.
Reasons for the categoy "unknown" in emigration figures:
Concerning the breakdown of emigrants by citizenship, the category "unknown" applies if information on citizenship was implausible or missing in the data transmitted by the local registration offices / in the Central Register of Foreigners.
Concerning the breakdown by country of birth, the category "unknown" applies if information on country of birth was implausible or missing in the data transmitted by the local registration offices / in the Central Register of Foreigners and no imputation was carried out.
Concerning the breakdown by country of next residence, there has been an increase in the proportion of emigrants with an unknown country of destination from reference year 2016 on. This is related to a change in handling departures without deregistration. In most cases, it is assumed that emigrants return to their country of citizenship. For citizens of countries with a high proportion of asylum seekers (e.g. Syria, Afghanistan), the assumption of a return to the country of citizenship was not applied in reference years since 2016.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Full coverage with administrative data of high quality.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Late foetal deaths abroad of infants born to resident mothers might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Infant deaths
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Deaths abroad of infants born to resident mothers might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Marriages
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Marriages of partners residing in Germany, but marrying abroad might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Divorces
Basically all relevant decisions are transmitted to the statistical offices. Data are based on legal decisions and were thoroughly checked for legal decision. They are further checked by the statistical offices of the Länder.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the repective law court.
13.2. Sampling error
Sampling error
Population
Population data are calculated using the component method. The results of the Census 2022 are used as population base for the calculation. The Census is based on administrative data and a sample survey of ca. 12% of the population (10,6 Million). The relative standard error for population on national level is 0,016%. The data used for intercensual updates are based on full coverage administrative data.
Live births
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data.
Deaths
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data.
Immigrants
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data.
Emigrants
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data.
Acquisitions of citizenship
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
No survey data used – full coverage administrative data.
Infant deaths
No survey data used – full coverage administrative data.
Marriages
No survey data used – full coverage administrative data.
Population data are calculated using the component method. The results of the Census 2022 are used as population base for the calculation. The Census is based on administrative data and a sample survey on ca, 12% of the population. Coverage error of Census is documented in the census metadata.
The data used for intercensual updates are based on full coverage administrative data.
Live births
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data.
Deaths
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data.
Immigrants
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data. Completeness is good of most variables with the exception of duration of stay abroad for nationals returning to Germany.
For non-nationals, country of birth is not available from the Central Register of Foreigners until 2020. Therefore, from 2014 to 2020 information on the country of birth is imputed on basis of migration flow statistics.
Information on the country of previous residence is not available in the Central Register of Foreigners; it is imputed on the basis of the migration statistics in every reference year.
Emigrants
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data. Completeness is good for most variables.
For non-nationals, country of birth is not available from the Central Register of Foreigners until 2020. Therefore, from 2014 to 2020 information on the country of birth is imputed on basis of migration flow statistics.
Information on the country of next residence is not available in the Central Register of Foreigners; it is imputed on the basis of national migration statistics.
Acquisitions of citizenship
No survey data used, full-coverage administrative data.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
No survey data used – full coverage administrative data.
Infant deaths
No survey data used – full coverage administrative data.
Marriages
No survey data used – full coverage administrative data.
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (In the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data collection is regulated by a federal law. Data collection, validation and compilation is conducted by the statistical offices of the Länder using coherent methods, so that data are comparable between regional units.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparability - over time
Population
Population data are basically comparable between two censuses. After each census, there is an adjustment of the base of population data, so that post census data are not fully comparable with pre-census data. There are accordingly breaks in series in 2011 and 2022. Furthermore, population development is from reference year 2016 on not fully comparable with the previous years because of methodological changes in the way deregistrations of German citizens with an unknown place of next residence are taken into account.
Following Census 2022 a new estimation method is used for estimating population by country of birth.
Live births
High comparability over time due to constant definitions and collection methods.
Deaths
High comparability over time due to constant definitions and collection methods.
Immigrants
For non-nationals, the country of birth is imputed on the basis of migration flow statistics from 2014 to 2019. From 2020 on, the characteristic is available in the Central Register of Foreigners.
Emigrants
Deregistrations of nationals to an unknown place of residence were not taken into account until 2015 and are partly taken into account since 2016.
As in the case of immigration, the country of birth is only available in the Central Register of Foreigners from 2020 on. Therefore, for non-nationals, the country of birth is imputed on the basis of official migration statistics in reference years before 2020.
Acquisitions of citizenship
No reported cases of lack of data comparability over time since 2000.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Due to changes of definitions in in 1994, 2009 and 2018 comparison over time is slightly limited. Collection methods remain constant.
Infant deaths
High comparability over time due to constant definitions and collection methods.
Marriages
High comparability over time due to constant definitions and collection methods.
Divorces
Basically data are comparable over time since German reunification.
Surface in km2
Data are not comparable at regional level after changes in territorial classification.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
There are differences between national data and data provided to Eurostat (migration data according to Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and total population for union purposes according to Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013) due to the use of the definition of usual residence with the 12 months criteria for the data for Eurostat.
Comparing data on residence permits of 12 months or more from the Residence Permits Statistic to International Migration Statistic (flows/stocks) has several limitations. The main reasons for the differences between data on first residence permits issued and immigration flows are:
In Germany, there is a legal distinction between a residence permit and some other form of authorization to stay. For example, authorizations to stay delivered to asylum seekers are not counted as residence permits. Therefore, persons may have immigrated in the reference year without having received a first residence permit in the reference year. Furthermore, immigrants in the reference year may have received a residence permit for less than 12 months in the reference year or a residence permit was granted to them with a certain time lag in a following year. Moreover, the use of different states of the Central Register of Foreigners (31 December 2021 for RP; 30 June 2022 for IM) can result that late registrations can be included in the Migration Statistic but not in the Residence Permits Statistic.
On the contrary, first residence permits may have been issued to persons already having their usual residence in Germany (e.g. persons who immigrated in a previous year and only received an authorization to stay). Additionally, first residence permits can be issued to persons who did not immigrate for a minimum of 12 months. These can be persons who did not stay for the expected duration of the residence permit or imputed cases (as the actual duration of stay is used to calculate immigrants, the duration of stay has to be imputed for persons who arrived in the second half of the reference year). In a few cases, first residence permits are issued to children of third-country nationals born in Germany during the reference year.
In addition to most of the above-mentioned reasons, differences between the stocks of long-term residence permits and the stocks of third country nationals result in part from the differences between the population figures from intercensal population update and the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR).
15.4. Coherence - internal
The demographic balance based on national definition is consistent as the component method is being used.
Differences between population change and the balance of vital and migration events (according to national statistics) occur when the data providers (local residents' registration offices, registrars of vital events) send corrections to former delivered data to the statistical office after the original data was finally compiled. Events which took place prior to the previous year and are first transmitted by the registration offices in the reporting period are taken into account as a statistical adjustment.
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
There are usually only final yearly results.
As part of the grant project 2022-DE-POP-MIG Migration data has been revised for reference years 2014–2022 in Octobre 2024.
Population data may be revised when they are rebased after a census. Thus population data for 2010–2013 were revised after Census 2011.
The data delivered in December 2023 for 2022 are pre-census 2022 results and will be revised with post-census data.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Population data provided in December 2023 were pre-census and were revised in September 2024 with post census data.
18.1. Source data
List of data sources
Population
Census 2022;
National statistics on migration and vital events;
Data on acquisition of citizenship data from the local residents' registration offices
Live births
Registrar's offices.
Deaths
Registrar's offices.
Immigrants
Residents' registration offices for nationals;
Central Register of Foreigners for non-nationals.
Emigrants
Residents' registration offices for nationals;
Central Register of Foreigners for non-nationals.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Naturalization statistics: local naturalization offices
Data on immigrating Ethnic Germans: Federal Administration Office
Adoption Statistics: Youth welfare services
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Medical practices, hospitals.
Late foetal deaths
Registrar's offices.
Infant deaths
Registrar's offices.
Marriages
Registrar's offices.
Divorces
Law courts.
Surface in km2
Not available.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
National migration statistic and vital events statistics: Local regsitration offices (Meldebehörden) and registrar's offices (Standesämter) send data on events they registered (arrivals, departures, administrative deregistrations, change of residence status, births and deaths) on an ongoing basis to the statistical offices of the Länder.
Central Register of Foreigners: 31.12. and 30.06., collection on 30.06. is exclusively used for the calculation of migrants according to Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.
Acquisition of citizenship: yearly.
18.3. Data collection
Migration statistics and vital events: Data is collected in a decentralised procedure based on electronic data transmission from the local residents' registration offices (Meldebehörden) and and registrar's offices of vital events (Standesämter) to the statistical offices of the Länder. The data is transmitted online using a coherent XML-standard (XMeld and XPersonenstand). After compilation and validation of the data by the statistical offices of the Länder, the Federal statistical office compiles the national results. Corrections to previously sent data are also delivered by local residents' registration offices or registrar’s offices, if applicable.
Central Register of Foreigners: The Federal Statistical Office receives a biannual extract of the register from the Federal Office for Migration and Asylum.
Statistics on naturalizations: data is collected by the statistical offices of the Länder from the naturalization offices using a standard electronic questionnaire.
18.4. Data validation
Migration:
For the national statistics on migration flows and vital events, data delivered more than once are deleted. Missing or not plausible variables are either inquired from the data providers or imputed. Variables are coded using statistical classifications (e.g.classification of territorial units, classification of countries). Corrections to previous data received from the data provider are processed and, if relevant, taken into account in the calculation of population figures and the production of the final results.
Data from the Central register of foreigners are checked for missing and implausible information and for extreme changes against the previous year. Missing or implausible variables are imputed. Variables are coded using statistical classifications (e.g.classification of territorial units, classification of countries). Reasons for extreme changes are cleared with the data provider.
Data on naturalizations are checked for double counting, missing and implausible variables. Missing or not plausible variables are either sought from the data provider or imputed. Variables are coded using national statistical classifications (e.g.classification of territorial units, classification of countries).
18.5. Data compilation
No further data compilation for vital events. Population data are compiled using the component method.
Immigrants:
A non-national with an arrival in Germany in the reference year is counted as an immigrant if there was no departure within 12 months after arrival and the last place of residence for at least 12 months was abroad. Estimations with previous year's rates of stay are necessary if there is less than 12 months between arrival date and the date of data delivery to the statistical office or if the sequence of arrivals and departures is not plausible.
A national with arrival in Germany in the reference year is counted as an immigrant if the duration of stay abroad was more than 12 months. Imputations are necessary for missing information on duration of stay abroad.
Emigrants:
Non nationals with a registered departure from Germany or an administrative deregistration in the reference year are counted as emigrants if there was no return to Germany within 12 months after arrival and the last place of residence for at least 12 months was in Germany. Estimations with previous year's rates of stay are necessary if there is less than 12 months between departure date and the date of data delivery to the statistical office or if the sequence of arrivals and departures is not plausible.
The number of nationals with a registered departure for abroad in the reference year is corrected for returns within 12 months. The number of returns in the following year has to be extrapolated using rates of return/rates of stay abroad from previous years. Cases of administrative deregistrations for an unknown destination are imputed into internal or international migration based on reregistration rates following administrative deregistration.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments of data at a macro level are applied.
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
1. Usually Resident Population
2. Legal Residence Population
3. Registered Residence Population
4. Other
Population
X
X
Live births
X
X
Deaths
X
X
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
Acquisitions of citizenship
X
X
Loss of citizenship
Legally induced abortions
Late foetal deaths
X
X
Infant deaths
X
X
Marriages
X
X
Divorces
X
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
Population
Persons at their place of single or main residence in Germany according to German federal law on registration (BMG - Bundesmeldegesetz). Members of diplomatic services as well as their families are exempted from registration and are not included in the population. The same applies to persons for whom an exemption to register is stated in international agreements. Asylum seekers, refugees and people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data.
Live births
Is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart or pulsation of the umbilical cord.
Deaths
No exact definition by law – but the irreversible and complete functional failure of the entire brain was set as obligatory condition. A medical doctor has to testify every death.
Immigrants
Registrations of single or main residence in Germany with former place of residence abroad as recorded by the local residents' registration offices. According to the federal law on registration, registration is obligatory for everyone moving to Germany with the intention of staying more than 3 months. In some cases, persons staying less than 3 months register if they need a residence certificate e.g. for tax purposes. Asylum seekers, refugees and people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data. The statistical unit of the national immigration statistics is the immigration event.
Emigrants
Deregistrations of single residence in Germany with next place of residence abroad as recorded by the local residents' registration offices. According to the federal law on registration, deregistration is obligatory for everyone moving out of his/her residence without taking a new residence in Germany regardless of the intended duration of absence. Administrative deregistrations of persons who are not found anymore at their place of residence are included. Asylum seekers, refugees and people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data. The statistical unit of the national emigration statistics is the emigration event.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Acquisition of citizenship in Germany encompasses three different means:Naturalizations;Acquisition of German citizenship for Ethnic Germans (Spätaussiedler); andAcquisition of German citizenship through adoption of a non-German person by German parents or a German parent.The Federal Statistical Office publishes only data on acquisition of citizenship by naturalization. The national data include cases of naturalizations of persons abroad (restitution cases of forced denaturalizations during the Third Reich). Data provided according to european legislation refer to the resident population only.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Foetus does not show any evidence of life (see definition life birth), but birth weight is at least 500 grams or [since November 2018] duration of gestation is at least 24 weeks.
Infant deaths
Death during the first year of life of a live birth.
Marriages
Certifications of unions between two persons by a registrar's office.
Divorces
Decisions of German law courts. Divorces concerning members of foreign armed forces and diplomatic service are not taken into account.
3.4.3 Differences in statistical concepts and definitions between the statistics transmitted to Eurostat and those disseminated in the National Statistics Institute's website
Population
No difference.
Live births
No difference.
Deaths
No difference.
Immigrants
Differences between national statistics and statistics for Eurostat concern time criteria, inclusion of registrations and deregistrations with unknown place of previous/next residence and statistical unit.
Emigrants
Differences between national statistics and statistics for Eurostat concern time criteria, inclusion of registrations and deregistrations with unknown place of previous/next residence and statistical unit.
Acquisitions of citizenship
German figures include naturalizations of persons abroad. Data on acquisition of citizenship by 'Spätaussiedler' or by adoption are not disseminated by the Federal Statistical Office.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Not available.
Infant deaths
Not available.
Marriages
Not available.
Divorces
Main difference concerns time criterion.
If not otherwise stated, number of persons.
Statistical population
Population
Persons actually living in private households or instituions at their place of their single or main residence
Live births
Live births of persons registered at the place of single or main residence of the mother.
Deaths
Deaths of persons registered in their place of their single or main residence.
Immigrants
Immigrants who move their usual place of residence from abroad to Germany.
For German citizens this is based on official migration flow statistics. The statistical unit is the immigration or emigration event.
For Non-nationals this is based on the Central Register of Foreigners. The statistical unit is the immigrating or emigrating person.
Asylum seekers and refugees are included in the data if they meet the 12 months criteria. In 2022 and 2023 people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are considered as immigrants regardless of the 12 months criteria. In 2022 this also applies to Ukrainian citizens with an application still pending at the end of 2022 and temporary protection granted by mid 2023. In 2023 people who are applying for temporary protection can be identified and are considered as immigrants.
Emigrants
Emigrants who move their usual place of residence from Germany to abroad.
Asylum seekers, refugees and people from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data if they meet the 12 months criteria.
For German citizens this is based on the official migration flow statistics. The statistical unit is the immigration or emigration event.
For Non-nationals this is based on the Central Register of Foreigners. The statistical unit is the immigrating or emigrating person.
Acquisitions of citizenship
National: persons living in Germany or abroad who were naturalized during the reference period
European: persons living in Germany who acquired the german citizenship
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
All births that fulfill the criteria of 3.4.2. registered at the place of single or main residence of the mother.
Infant deaths
Deaths of persons before their 1st birthday registered in their place of their single or main residence.
Marriages
The statistical population includes all civil marriages. The regional allocation is based on the place where the marriage took place (place of registration), i.e. the registry office where the marriage was concluded and recorded.
Divorces
Completed proceedings for divorce or annulment of a marriage that are legally binding. The regional unit refers to the place of residence used to determine the place of jurisdiction.
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail (NUTS3).
National data on divorces are by Länder (NUTS1) only.
Migration data according to the definition of usual residence is available at the national level.
Data on acquisition of citizenship available at national level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred.
The reference period for naturalizations is the year in which the naturalization certificate was issued.
For migration of non-nationals, the reference period is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
For migration of nationals, the reference period is the year in which the migration event is reported in the national statistics. On the one hand, this includes late registrations of migration events from the previous year. On the other hand, late registrations of migrations events from the current year are not included.
Overall accuracy and special cases (Inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister,...)
Population
Population figures are calculated using the component method. The final results are based on a complete count of vital events and migrations events registered by the registrars and residents' registration offices respectively and on the census 2022. All the final flow data are checked regarding double counting, completeness of variables and plausibility of information. Data are less accurate with growing time lag since the last census because of the cumulation of errors in the flow statistics over time, particularly because of underreporting of emigration. After each census, data are adjusted to the new census starting with the census year. The last adjustment occured recently with the census 2022.
Asylum seekers, refugees and refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data.
Live births
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Births abroad of resident women might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
Asylum seekers, refugees and refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Deaths
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Deaths abroad of resident population might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
Asylum seekers, refugees and refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection are included in the data.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Immigrants
Administrative data sources are used for both nationals (migration flow statistics based on data from registration offices) and non-nationals (data from the Central Register of Foreigners).This provides complete coverage of the target population. However, specific accuracy restrictions remain:
Imputations are necessary when there is less than 12 months between arrival date and the date of data delivery to the statistical office. Ex Post analyses show that the imputation is overall good but less reliable for countries with small numbers of migrants to Germany.
Imputations are also used when the sequence of migration events in the central register of foreigners is not plausible (up to 10% of cases).
For nationals, imputations are further needed in a number of cases to address missing data on the duration of stay abroad.
There can be an overcoverage of arrivals in the Central register of foreigners when a person is registered more than once. Large efforts have been undertaken by the migration authorities with the use of biometric data to reduce these cases.
Reasons for "unknown" in immigration figures:
Concerning the breakdown of immigrants by citizenship, the category „unknown applies if information was implausible or missing in the data transmitted by the local registration offices / in the Central Register of Foreigners.
Concerning the breakdown by country of birth, the category „unknown“ applies if information on country of birth was implausible or missing in the data transmitted by the local registration offices / in the Central Register of Foreigners and no imputation was carried out.
Concerning the breakdown by country of previous residence, there has been an increase in the proportion of immigrants with an unknown country of previous residence from reference year 2016 on. This is because German citizens who register again after not having been registered for some time in Germany are since 2016 included in the immigration figures.
Emigrants
Administrative data sources are used for both nationals (migration flow statistics based on data from registration offices) and non-nationals (data from the Central Register of Foreigners).This provides complete coverage of the target population. However, specific accuracy restrictions remain:
There is probably some undercoverage due to persons leaving Germany without deregistration. Missing emigration events are partially rectified through administrative deregistrations, which are taken into account in emigrations data. In those cases there can be a time gap between departure and administrative deregistration so that the patterns of deregistrations may timely differ from the emigration pattern.
Imputation with rate of stay methods are methods are necessary when there is less than 12 months between arrival date and the date of data delivery to the statistical office. Ex Post analyses show that the imputation is overall good but less reliable for countries with small numbers of migrants to Germany. Imputations with rate of stay methods are also used when the sequence of migration events in the central register of foreigners is not plausible (up to 15% of cases).
An undercoverage or overcoverage -in particular for nationals - can result from assumptions to classify departures with an unknown place of destination in internal or international migration.
Reasons for the categoy "unknown" in emigration figures:
Concerning the breakdown of emigrants by citizenship, the category "unknown" applies if information on citizenship was implausible or missing in the data transmitted by the local registration offices / in the Central Register of Foreigners.
Concerning the breakdown by country of birth, the category "unknown" applies if information on country of birth was implausible or missing in the data transmitted by the local registration offices / in the Central Register of Foreigners and no imputation was carried out.
Concerning the breakdown by country of next residence, there has been an increase in the proportion of emigrants with an unknown country of destination from reference year 2016 on. This is related to a change in handling departures without deregistration. In most cases, it is assumed that emigrants return to their country of citizenship. For citizens of countries with a high proportion of asylum seekers (e.g. Syria, Afghanistan), the assumption of a return to the country of citizenship was not applied in reference years since 2016.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Full coverage with administrative data of high quality.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Late foetal deaths abroad of infants born to resident mothers might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Infant deaths
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Deaths abroad of infants born to resident mothers might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Marriages
Full coverage administrative data with high quality, including checks for completeness and plausibility. Marriages of partners residing in Germany, but marrying abroad might be underestimated in case they are not reported.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the respective registrar's office.
Divorces
Basically all relevant decisions are transmitted to the statistical offices. Data are based on legal decisions and were thoroughly checked for legal decision. They are further checked by the statistical offices of the Länder.
The category “unknown” can occur if the relevant information was not transmitted by the repective law court.
Population: number of persons;
Live births: cases of live births;
Deaths: cases of deaths;
Immigrants: Persons for non-nationals and immigration cases for nationals;
Emigrants: Persons for non-nationals and emigration cases for nationals;
Acquisitions of citizenship: Cases of acquisition of citizenship.
No further data compilation for vital events. Population data are compiled using the component method.
Immigrants:
A non-national with an arrival in Germany in the reference year is counted as an immigrant if there was no departure within 12 months after arrival and the last place of residence for at least 12 months was abroad. Estimations with previous year's rates of stay are necessary if there is less than 12 months between arrival date and the date of data delivery to the statistical office or if the sequence of arrivals and departures is not plausible.
A national with arrival in Germany in the reference year is counted as an immigrant if the duration of stay abroad was more than 12 months. Imputations are necessary for missing information on duration of stay abroad.
Emigrants:
Non nationals with a registered departure from Germany or an administrative deregistration in the reference year are counted as emigrants if there was no return to Germany within 12 months after arrival and the last place of residence for at least 12 months was in Germany. Estimations with previous year's rates of stay are necessary if there is less than 12 months between departure date and the date of data delivery to the statistical office or if the sequence of arrivals and departures is not plausible.
The number of nationals with a registered departure for abroad in the reference year is corrected for returns within 12 months. The number of returns in the following year has to be extrapolated using rates of return/rates of stay abroad from previous years. Cases of administrative deregistrations for an unknown destination are imputed into internal or international migration based on reregistration rates following administrative deregistration.
List of data sources
Population
Census 2022;
National statistics on migration and vital events;
Data on acquisition of citizenship data from the local residents' registration offices
Live births
Registrar's offices.
Deaths
Registrar's offices.
Immigrants
Residents' registration offices for nationals;
Central Register of Foreigners for non-nationals.
Emigrants
Residents' registration offices for nationals;
Central Register of Foreigners for non-nationals.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Naturalization statistics: local naturalization offices
Data on immigrating Ethnic Germans: Federal Administration Office
Adoption Statistics: Youth welfare services
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Medical practices, hospitals.
Late foetal deaths
Registrar's offices.
Infant deaths
Registrar's offices.
Marriages
Registrar's offices.
Divorces
Law courts.
Surface in km2
Not available.
Yearly.
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (In the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
Data collection is regulated by a federal law. Data collection, validation and compilation is conducted by the statistical offices of the Länder using coherent methods, so that data are comparable between regional units.
Comparability - over time
Population
Population data are basically comparable between two censuses. After each census, there is an adjustment of the base of population data, so that post census data are not fully comparable with pre-census data. There are accordingly breaks in series in 2011 and 2022. Furthermore, population development is from reference year 2016 on not fully comparable with the previous years because of methodological changes in the way deregistrations of German citizens with an unknown place of next residence are taken into account.
Following Census 2022 a new estimation method is used for estimating population by country of birth.
Live births
High comparability over time due to constant definitions and collection methods.
Deaths
High comparability over time due to constant definitions and collection methods.
Immigrants
For non-nationals, the country of birth is imputed on the basis of migration flow statistics from 2014 to 2019. From 2020 on, the characteristic is available in the Central Register of Foreigners.
Emigrants
Deregistrations of nationals to an unknown place of residence were not taken into account until 2015 and are partly taken into account since 2016.
As in the case of immigration, the country of birth is only available in the Central Register of Foreigners from 2020 on. Therefore, for non-nationals, the country of birth is imputed on the basis of official migration statistics in reference years before 2020.
Acquisitions of citizenship
No reported cases of lack of data comparability over time since 2000.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Due to changes of definitions in in 1994, 2009 and 2018 comparison over time is slightly limited. Collection methods remain constant.
Infant deaths
High comparability over time due to constant definitions and collection methods.
Marriages
High comparability over time due to constant definitions and collection methods.
Divorces
Basically data are comparable over time since German reunification.
Surface in km2
Data are not comparable at regional level after changes in territorial classification.
