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Essen (city)

City · North Rhine-Westphalia

Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2025
136,580
Share of Germany
0.97%
With a residence title for employment
4,260
Change on 31 Dec 2024
-1.9%
Rank in the state
4 / 53
Foreign residents, 3136,58031 Dec 2025
Data as at 31 Dec 2025
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Residence status

Foreign residents on 31 December 2025 by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners. Residence titles are grouped by purpose; EU citizens and their families hold rights under the Free Movement Act.

Foreign residents by residence status
  1. EU free movement36,130
  2. International law, humanitarian or political reasons28,860
  3. Permanent residence title26,735
  4. Family reasons12,230
  5. Application for a residence title pending10,155
  6. Neither tolerated nor permitted8,980
  7. Employment4,260
  8. Education and training3,565
  9. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure2,045
  10. Special residence rights and national visas1,840
  11. Tolerated stay (Duldung)1,480
  12. Exempt from the permit requirement295
Residence statusResidentsShare
EU free movement36,13026.5%
Permanent residence title26,73519.6%
Employment4,2603.1%
Education and training3,5652.6%
Family reasons12,2309.0%
International law, humanitarian or political reasons28,86021.1%
Special residence rights and national visas1,8401.3%
Application for a residence title pending10,1557.4%
Tolerated stay (Duldung)1,4801.1%
Permission to reside during the asylum procedure2,0451.5%
Neither tolerated nor permitted8,9806.6%
Exempt from the permit requirement2950.2%
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), foreign population from the Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Nationalities

The five most common nationalities on 31 December 2025.

Foreign residents by nationality
  1. Syria17,330
  2. Türkiye16,115
  3. Ukraine10,455
  4. Poland7,530
  5. Iraq5,810
Largest nationality
Syria
EU free movement
36,130
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), foreign population from the Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Arrivals and departures in 2025

Changes recorded in the register during 2025: first and repeat arrivals from abroad, departures abroad and moves within Germany.

Measure2025
Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2024139,170
First arrivals from abroad7,285
Repeat arrivals from abroad1,295
Births1,430
Moves in from elsewhere in Germany5,800
Departures abroad2,115
Deregistrations abroad2,685
Deaths375
Moves to elsewhere in Germany10,245
Net migration from abroad3,780
Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2025136,580
First arrivals from abroad, 2025
7,285
Departures abroad, 2025
2,115
Net migration from abroad, 2025
3,780
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), foreign population from the Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Districts and cities

Districts and district-free cities, 31 December 2025.

Foreign residents by district
  1. Köln (city)235,320
  2. Düsseldorf (city)190,660
  3. Dortmund (city)147,075
  4. Essen (city)136,580
  5. Duisburg (city)131,490
  6. Städteregion Aachen113,885
  7. Recklinghausen99,585
  8. Wuppertal (city)95,975
  9. Rhein-Erft-Kreis91,165
  10. Mettmann84,130
  11. Rhein-Sieg-Kreis81,270
  12. Rhein-Kreis Neuss78,475
  13. Gelsenkirchen (city)76,535
  14. Bonn (city)70,840
  15. Bielefeld (city)69,995
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), foreign population from the Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more