More Germans are leaving their homeland than ever before. Official data shows nearly 270,000 people emigrated in 2024.
The problem is, most of them are well-educated professionals aged 25 to 49. Frustration with bureaucracy, high taxes, and rising insecurity is prompting many to start new lives abroad.
What was once a rare choice is becoming a growing trend among skilled workers, the self-employed, and entrepreneurs.
Their story reflects a wider trend. Figures from the Federal Statistical Office show emigration in 2024 was nearly double that of 2010. The 25–49 age group—the most economically active—is particularly affected. “Since the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve seen a significant increase in demand for emigration,” says Christoph Heuermann, founder of the consultancy Staatenlos.
The pace shows no signs of slowing. Between January and April 2025 alone, more than 93,000 Germans have already emigrated, putting the country on track for a potential new record by year’s end.
