Dramatic proportion of foreigners in BW: Where do the fewest people live?

Dramatic proportion of foreigners in BW: Where do the fewest people live?

Around 2.05 million foreigners currently live in Baden-Württemberg, which corresponds to 18.2 percent of the total population of around 11.25 million residents. These figures illustrate the unfairly distributed foreign population in Germany, as larger cities in particular have a higher number of foreign nationals. In contrast, there are more rural regions where the rate is significantly lower. This is reported by the Schwäbische Zeitung, which highlights the variability in the quota of foreigners between urban and rural areas.

There are significant differences in the foreign population in Baden-Württemberg. According to Statistics BW, the fewest foreigners live in the Neckar-Odenwald district and the Main-Tauber district, where the proportion is 12.5 percent in each case. The Sigmaringen district is also below this at 12.8 percent. In contrast, more urban areas such as the urban district of Pforzheim with 31.3 percent and the cities of Heilbronn (30.6 percent) and Mannheim (27.8 percent) record higher proportions. Stuttgart also has a significant foreign population at 27.4 percent.

Countries of origin of foreigners

The largest group of foreign nationals comes from Turkey with 268,730 people, which corresponds to 13.4 percent of the foreign population and 2.4 percent of the total population of Baden-Württemberg. Other common countries of origin are Romania, Ukraine, Italy, Croatia, Syria, Kosovo and Poland. Particularly noteworthy is the increase in Ukrainian nationality, which, with 177,675 people, represents the third most common foreign nationality in the country. This shows an increase of 10,750 in a year, reflecting the ongoing challenges in Ukraine.

In a nationwide context, Germany has been a significant destination for immigrants for years, with current statistics showing for 2023 that 663,000 more people immigrated to Germany than emigrated. In 2023, immigration totaled 1.9 million, with the majority of immigrants coming from Ukraine, followed by Romania and Turkey. However, at the same time, Germany recorded an increase in emigration, especially of Germans abroad, which led to a negative migration balance. A total of over 16 million immigrants live in Germany, which makes up around 20 percent of the population.

• Höchster Anteil ausländischer Bevölkerung:
  • Pforzheim: 31,3%
  • Heilbronn: 30,6%
  • Mannheim: 27,8%
  • Stuttgart: 27,4%
  • Karlsruhe: 20,6%
• Geringster Anteil ausländischer Bevölkerung:
  • Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis: 12,5%
  • Main-Tauber-Kreis: 12,5%
  • Landkreis Sigmaringen: 12,8%

The unequal distribution and the ongoing influx illustrate the importance of migration for the country's economic structure. While immigrants often settle in urban areas, rural regions present major challenges in terms of integration and infrastructure. It remains to be seen how these trends will evolve in the coming years, especially given the ongoing global and social changes that continue to influence migration.