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Lower Saxony

State · Germany

Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2025
1,084,595
Share of Germany
7.7%
With a residence title for employment
28,240
Change on 31 Dec 2024
-0.8%
Largest nationality
Ukraine
Foreign residents, 31,084,59531 Dec 2025
Year by year
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 movement386,205
  2. International law, humanitarian or political reasons248,980
  3. Permanent residence title169,640
  4. Family reasons78,055
  5. Application for a residence title pending51,680
  6. Neither tolerated nor permitted36,735
  7. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure34,770
  8. Employment28,240
  9. Education and training21,295
  10. Tolerated stay (Duldung)20,190
  11. Special residence rights and national visas8,540
  12. Exempt from the permit requirement260
Residence statusResidentsShare
EU free movement386,20535.6%
Permanent residence title169,64015.6%
Employment28,2402.6%
Education and training21,2952.0%
Family reasons78,0557.2%
International law, humanitarian or political reasons248,98023.0%
Special residence rights and national visas8,5400.8%
Application for a residence title pending51,6804.8%
Tolerated stay (Duldung)20,1901.9%
Permission to reside during the asylum procedure34,7703.2%
Neither tolerated nor permitted36,7353.4%
Exempt from the permit requirement2600.0%
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

Most common nationalities on 31 December 2025.

Foreign residents by nationality
  1. Ukraine126,980
  2. Syria97,685
  3. Poland96,515
  4. Türkiye94,475
  5. Romania80,010
  6. Iraq44,760
  7. Bulgaria35,080
  8. Afghanistan32,700
  9. Netherlands29,250
  10. Italy28,165
  11. Russia21,645
  12. Kosovo20,730
  13. Serbia20,505
  14. Greece17,800
  15. India14,925
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. Region Hannover225,335
  2. Emsland52,315
  3. Göttingen42,385
  4. Osnabrück (district)40,995
  5. Braunschweig (city)36,735
  6. Hildesheim33,585
  7. Osnabrück (city)31,870
  8. Harburg29,810
  9. Cloppenburg26,690
  10. Grafschaft Bentheim26,530
  11. Stade26,315
  12. Wolfsburg (city)26,115
  13. Diepholz25,910
  14. Salzgitter (city)25,090
  15. Oldenburg (Oldenburg) (city)24,180
  16. Vechta24,025
  17. Hameln-Pyrmont22,210
  18. Leer19,110
  19. Celle18,760
  20. Schaumburg18,090
District or cityForeign residentsEmploymentHumanitarian
Region Hannover225,3356,12046,995
Emsland52,3151,0959,130
Göttingen42,3852,2808,490
Osnabrück (district)40,9956356,680
Braunschweig (city)36,7352,3456,350
Hildesheim33,5858059,120
Osnabrück (city)31,8701,0206,985
Harburg29,8108105,000
Cloppenburg26,6903855,080
Grafschaft Bentheim26,5303403,975
Stade26,3156107,065
Wolfsburg (city)26,1151,0356,005
Diepholz25,9104256,625
Salzgitter (city)25,0904156,195
Oldenburg (Oldenburg) (city)24,1807807,705
Vechta24,0256055,130
Hameln-Pyrmont22,2105056,325
Leer19,1102904,705
Celle18,7604256,085
Schaumburg18,0902704,575
Gifhorn17,5755003,755
Lüneburg17,1454654,865
Cuxhaven16,8953204,360
Rotenburg (Wümme)16,8854403,445
Peine16,4803055,080
Delmenhorst (city)16,4201753,740
Goslar16,1606453,830
Verden15,5554854,250
Aurich15,4553503,720
Heidekreis15,1753753,375
Oldenburg14,8902253,190
Nienburg (Weser)13,9451854,680
Northeim13,3903103,535
Wilhelmshaven (city)12,0352753,905
Ammerland11,8902303,110
Wolfenbüttel11,1752603,105
Wesermarsch10,8001702,120
Helmstedt9,6952002,680
Osterholz9,0452002,710
Uelzen8,4002901,905
Emden (city)7,4552052,205
Holzminden6,9501652,275
Friesland6,9001052,420
Wittmund4,235851,425
Lüchow-Dannenberg3,990801,075
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 20241,093,105
First arrivals from abroad61,820
Repeat arrivals from abroad15,860
Births8,030
Moves in from elsewhere in Germany46,375
Departures abroad32,010
Deregistrations abroad22,960
Deaths3,595
Moves to elsewhere in Germany47,005
Net migration from abroad22,710
Foreign residents, 31 Dec 20251,084,595
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