In a groundbreaking shift for Germany’s democracy, the upcoming federal election on February 23, 2025, will feature an unprecedented number of new citizens eligible to vote.
According to a survey conducted across all 16 federal states by Focus, over 500,000 former foreign nationals were granted German citizenship between October 2021 and December 2023, with Syrians making up the largest group. And that’s not the full picture—the figures for 2024 haven’t even been tallied yet.
Naturalizations Skyrocket Across Germany
The pace of naturalizations has been dizzying. Berlin alone plans to process 13,000 additional applications before the federal election. With demand surging, the process has been streamlined—gone are the usual one-on-one interviews with applicants.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, 51,187 individuals gained citizenship last year, with Syrians accounting for 22,720 of them. This reflects a sharp increase from previous years: 29,250 naturalizations were recorded in 2021, climbing to 40,824 in 2022, and surpassing 50,000 in 2023. If this trajectory continues, 2024’s numbers could be even higher.
A Potential Game-Changer at the Polls
By election day, as many as 700,000 first-time voters may have German passports, transforming them into a significant political force. A new citizenship law passed by the federal government ensures that naturalized individuals retain the right to vote in their countries of origin, as they no longer have to renounce their former nationality.
Once granted citizenship, new Germans gain full rights, including voting and standing for election. Specialist lawyer Martin Manzel explained to Focus: “As soon as the naturalization certificates are handed over, the acquisition of German citizenship is complete. From then on, every new German citizen may assert all rights, including the right to vote and to be elected.”
This growing group of voters could have a profound impact on Germany’s political landscape, with their voices likely to shape the country’s future in unexpected ways.
