Refugees in Germany Drop to 3.5 Million as Ukraine Arrivals Slow

The number of refugees living in Germany fell by roughly 20,000 in the first half of 2026, bringing the total to approximately 3.5 million, according to a response from the Federal Interior Ministry to a parliamentary inquiry by the Left party. The primary driver was a sharp decline in new arrivals from Ukraine and a rise in voluntary departures.

Ukrainian refugee numbers stabilising

In June 2026 alone, only 3,919 Ukrainians applied for protection in Germany — a tiny fraction compared to the surge seen in 2022. In the same six-month period, 31,662 Ukrainians left Germany. As a result, the total Ukrainian refugee population grew by merely 20,857 since January, compared with a rise of around 88,000 in all of 2025. About 1.35 million Ukrainian refugees currently reside in Germany.

Left party criticises proposed welfare cuts

The Left party's spokesperson on refugee affairs, Clara Bünger, criticised the government's plans to reclassify newly arrived Ukrainian refugees under the less generous Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act rather than the regular social welfare system. She argued that, with arrivals now so low, pushing ahead with such restrictions is disproportionate and counterproductive for integration. She also condemned the EU's border policy, noting that tens of thousands of people have drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe.