In 2021, too, most Germans will be drawn to Switzerland. This was found out by the Federal Statistical Office in its most recent survey of the most popular European emigration destinations.

At the beginning of 2021, around 309,000 German citizens moved their place of residence to the neighboring German-speaking country. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to an increase of around 0.7 percent or 2,100 Germans.

A German-speaking neighboring country is also in second place among the most popular European emigration destinations: around 209,000 Germans moved to Austria in 2021. That is at least 8,700 more people than in the previous year.

The Federal Statistical Office assumes that “the change of residence for Germans is made easier by the physical proximity and the lack of a language barrier.” The tax breaks in Switzerland should also be an important decision-making criterion. Many people who have changed residence also give a much higher salary as one of the main reasons for a move.

Spain is in third place among the most popular European emigration destinations. Last year, around 140,000 German citizens decided to live where others vacation. Around 83,000 Germans moved to France in 2021. The Netherlands took fifth place with around 81,000 German emigrants.

The following countries are Belgium (40,000 Germans) and Italy (35,000 Germans). The neighboring countries in Northern Europe were also headed for by the Germans: 29,000 people dared to make a new start in Sweden in 2021, 26,000 Germans went to Denmark and just as many to Norway.

What citizenships do Germans accept?

Most emigrants exchanged their German passport for a Swiss one. The neighboring country to the south was able to record 6,900 naturalizations in 2020.

Sweden is in second place: in 2020, 1,400 Germans chose Swedish citizenship.