Germany’s latest police crime statistics (PKS) have reignited the migration debate, with new data showing a stark overrepresentation of foreign nationals in violent offences.
According to the figures, non-German suspects—particularly from Syria and Afghanistan—feature disproportionately in serious crimes. While foreign nationals account for around 15% of the population, their share of violent crime suspects is significantly higher.
The imbalance is especially visible at regional level. In several federal states, including Bavaria, Berlin, and Baden-Württemberg, roughly half of all suspects in violent crimes are non-German nationals, highlighting a widening gap between population share and crime involvement.
The disparity sharpens further when broken down by nationality. In Bavaria, data cited by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) shows Syrians with a crime rate approximately 16 times higher than that of German citizens, with Afghan nationals at around 14 times higher. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann attributed the trend directly to “high levels of immigration in recent years,” particularly among asylum seekers and individuals without legal residency status.
Sexual violence figures have added to the political pressure. According to reporting by Welt am Sonntag, police recorded 13,920 rape cases in 2025, up 9% from 12,771 in 2024—and a sharp rise from 8,106 cases in 2018.
The federal government has focused on legal reforms, with Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig proposing tougher penalties for the use of date rape drugs. Critics argue this fails to address underlying drivers. Hesse’s Interior Minister Roman Poseck acknowledged that suspects with a migration background are “significantly overrepresented,” linking the trend in part to differing social norms and attitudes towards women.
The figures are likely to intensify calls for stricter migration controls, as pressure mounts on Berlin to reconcile public safety concerns with its immigration policy.
