Syrian refugees slowly return from Germany, 1,867 assisted in 2025
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – German Interior Ministry said on Sunday that by the end of August 2025, 1,867 Syrians had left Germany with federal assistance.
The ministry told the German Press Agency dpa that the number of Syrian refugees returning from Germany has been slowly increasing, though the total remains relatively small.
Returns are also facilitated through state-level programs, while some Syrians depart without official support. Janine Lietmeyer, a board member of World Vision Germany who visited Syria in August, said families often face difficult decisions when considering a return.
She highlighted that relative normality in central Damascus contrasts sharply with the ongoing hardship in other regions, complicating reintegration.
Despite these returns, Germany continues to grant citizenship and protection to Syrians. In 2024, around 83,150 Syrians became German citizens, according to Interior Ministry data. Figures for 2025 have not yet been released.
At the same time, new asylum applications continue: between January and August, 17,650 Syrians applied for protection through the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
The trend underscores a complex dynamic in which some Syrians are returning voluntarily while many continue to seek refuge in Germany amid ongoing instability in parts of Syria.